ToF Tidbits - 12 July 08

Just a few bits and pieces that I think are worth mentioning:

This past week saw the Newmarket July meeting. I had three runners at the meet; Spitfire, Alfathaa and Unleashed. I was home on Wednesday afternoon to see Spitfire take 2nd in the Toteswinger Handicap, a class 2 heritage handicap over 6 furlongs. He had shown decent enough form in the past and had Frankie Dettori on board. I put my money where my mouth is and put some each way money on him. Good for me! He was 2nd by only 3/4 of a length.
It was Alfathaa and Unleashed's turns on Thursday. I wanted to have a bet on them both, as they both looked to have great chances, but I completely forgot! Unleashed ran in the Bahrain Trophy, a listed event over 1m5f. He too lost by 3/4 lengths, but was 4th.
Alfathaa ran in the 4.20, a class 2 conditions stakes over a mile. I have always had a lot of faith in Alfathaa and I believe he is still improving. He led for long time, racing keenly, but was beaten by Generous Thought to finish second by, you guessed it, 3/4 lengths.

2yo filly Acquiesced made her debut on 3 July in a maiden at Newbury. She ran an excellent 2nd losing only by a short head to Starlarks. She is owned by Mrs J Wood and trained by Richard Hannon.

Silver Moose broke the $200k mark in prize money yesterday when he won an allowance optional claiming race at Monmouth Park. He is owned and trained by Edwin Thomas Broome. Congrats to him. Silver Moose is one of my favourites :o)

Eastern Anthem ran 3rd today in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Silver Cup Stakes, a listed handicap over 1m6f at York, behind Yellowstone and Gull Wing. I really quite fancied him in this and he came off a good performance in a listed event at Goodwood last month. It was the first time he tried this distance and it looked like it was just a furlong too far for him, especially in the heavy ground. A decent performance, but he should do better next time out. He will win a listed event in time.

Callwood Dancer is about to try to equal her performance in the Nassau S when she takes onfive of her Nassau rivals in a 7-horse field in the $300k Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine. She beat Quiet Jungle by a nose last time, but today Quiet Jungle has a 8 pound advantage, Callwood Dancer carrying 121 to Quiet Jungle's 113. I know she can do it. C'mon girl!

Weekend Afterthoughts 31 May/1June 08

I already posted on Callwood Dancer, who became a G2 winner on Saturday.

O Devil broke his maiden on Saturday in race 9 at Prairie Meadows. It was his fourth lifetime start. He beat Heaven Waits into second by 4 lengths. He led throughout and drew off driving.

Bluesbdancing, one of my favourite race mares, finished third in the Your Ladyship S at Arlington yesterday behind Magnetic Miss and Modjadhi. She now has earnings of over $400k

Unfortunately I saw on the chart that Meer Kat was vanned off after his race at Hollywood Park. I sincerely hope he is ok and that whatever injury he sustained is not too serious.

A Nose Is Enough For Callwood Dancer

I felt that Callwood Dancer would be able to get some black type in yesterday's Nassau S, a G2 race for 3yo and upward fillies and mares at Woodbine over 1 1/16m on the turf, but she really did show she is a gutsy filly. She surpassed my expectations by winning and I can't tell you how pleased I am that she did!

I remember picking her for my 2004 crop. She was in the Goffs sale and on the Goffs website they sometimes have pictures next to the results that are taken at the sale. There was one of Callwood Dancer that caught my eye, she has this lovely liver chestnut colour and she looked very elegant. I loved her named too, so one to follow she became.

She raced twice in the UK as a two-year-old and although winless she ran decent enough with a third in her first race and a second in her second and last race there, both at Windsor. She transferred to Harlequin Ranches in the summer and finished her 2yo campaign with consistent performances in Canada, but remained a maiden.

She grew into a nice three-year-old and broke her maiden first time out in May 2007. She was once again very consistent, winning a further two races and showing in another two. That she has once again improved as a four-year-old is a definite. She won on her return in a allowance race at Woodbine by half a length and her trainer and owner believed in her enough to enter her into the Nassau S against the likes of Sealy Hill. I was in doubt whether she would be quite up for such a jump in class, but boy, am I glad they did!

She set the pace straight out of the gate. With no other frontrunner in the race, she could do pretty much what she wanted. The pace was slow over the first four furlongs, which obviously suited her fine. Quite a European way of racing; start slow and speed up later, I like it. Quiet Jungle rallied to try and get passed her and it looked like she would, but Callwood Dancer would just not give up and prevailed by a nose. The favourite Sealy Hill was maybe a little unlucky in running and was going well at the finish 1 1/4 lengths behind Quiet Jungle.

She won for owner Harlequin Ranches and trainer Roger Attfield. She was bred by Quay Bloodstock in Ireland.

So far she has run 13 races, 5 firsts, 1 second and 5 thirds.

Story from Thoroughbred Times