Diamond Jubillee Celebrations 2012
 

Next year is HM The Queen's 60th year as Monarch after coming to the throne on February 6, 1952, at the death of her father King George VI. 

Her Majesty will officially start her Diamond Jubilee Celebrations by attending the Investec Derby on Saturday, June 2, 2012.

The government has moved the May Bank holiday to June 4 and added an additional national holiday of Tuesday, June 5, to provide a four-day weekend to celebrate The Queen's reign.

The Queen will sail along the Thames on the Royal Barge with a flotilla of up to 1,000 boats on June 3.
 
On June 4, a BBC concert will be held at the Palace with tickets available on public ballot.

That evening The Queen will ignite the national beacon and a chain of 2,012 beacons will be lit across the UK.

The weekend will conclude with a carriage procession and service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral. 

It is a real coup and boost for British racing that The Queen has chosen to begin her 60 years on the throne with the Investec Derby.

Posted May 6, 2011

Derby Festival Crowds Are Up

Final figures for the two-day Investec Derby Festival do not include attendance on The Hill, but are calculated on paying guests.

The Friday is official Ladies' Day featuring the Investec Coronation Cup and Investec Oaks.  More than 2,700 payers attended the warm. sunny and windy event.

Saturday is the Investec Derby day.  It's grandstand crowd was up 16% with an additional 6,000 bringing paying attendees to 43,000.

For the two-day weekend, an estimated 120,000 attended - up by 10,000.

This is a proud achievement for the Managing Director of Epsom Downs Racecourse, Rupert Trevelyan, in his second year in office.  

Trevelyan noted that, though The Queen's horse Carlton House came up short, his "strong in-house team - particularly on marketing" did not.

His team must have done a good job as there were far fewer ticket touts accosting arrivees.

The weekend attracted enormous pre-publicity due to strong Royal presence, powerful public support for Her Majesty's horse, Carlton House, to win her first Derby for her, the sale of The Tote to Betfred and the High Court/Appeals Court case brought against jockey Kieran Fallon by owners of the deserted Native Khan which was a cliffhanger until Saturday morning.    

Fallon, Carlton House and Native Khan lost. 

It is questionable that the public will be well served by the sale of The Tote to Betfred instead of its racing industry rival.

What is definite is that the Investec Derby Festival has been an incredible success which deserved to be chosen to open The Queen's Diomond Jubillee Celebration next year on June 2.

Posted June 6, 2011



Latest Ratings Post-Derby
  Frankel (left) and Black Caviar lead world.

St Nicholas Abbey and Pour Moi scored the highest performance ratings of the Investec Derby Festival on 122 - St Nicholas for the Coronation Cup and Pour Moi for the Derby, according to Phil Smith, BHA Head Handicapper.

Though Midday, runner-up in the Coronation Cup, ran below her rating of 121, she will keep it.

The second and third in the Derby, Treasure Beach and Carlton House, rate 121 and 120.  Native Khan who was fifth went up to 118.

Dancing Rain achieved 112 for her victory in the Investec Oaks.  The second, Wonder Of Wonders, is on 110 and Blue Bunting who should have finished third remains on the 1000 Guineas rating of 114. 

Though the Derby Festival races were intriguing, they were only of average performance quality.

The horses from it lead the current Middle Distance category of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

The Milers far out perform them with Frankel on 130, Canford Cliffs on 127 and Worthadd on 123.

St Nicholas Abbey and Pour Moi can take on higher-rated horses such as So You Think (126) and Workforce (128) in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot though Pour Moi is a doubtful participant.

Last year, Ascot's ratings proved to be the year's talent indicators. 

Seven races over the five-day meet will be part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Posted June 6, 2011

Pour Moi Accelerates Into History

As predicted in our preview, if Carlton House did not perform to his best in the Investec Derby, France's Pour Moi would be the likely winner.

The Group 1 race of 1m 4f 10y, on an extraordinarily demanding Turf course, is the fourth Classic of the season three-year-old colts at Epsom Park.

The other three Classics for males and females were the mile races, 2000 and 1000 Guineas, and Friday's Oaks for females which is run on the same demanding course at the same mid distance.

The lead up to the iconic Derby was frought with controversy and suspense topping off the excitement.

There was more excitement for the public this year, because The Queen might have had her first Derby winner with Carlton House at 85 years of age.

Though exciting, the pleasure was offset by the High Court and Appeals Court case involving Kieran Fallon's breach of contract to ride Native Khan whom he dumped for Coolmore/Ballydoyle's Recital.

Rumour has it that Fallon was offered a winning hand by trainer Aiden O'Brien of St Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup, Wonder Of Wonders in the Oaks, Recital in the Derby and a possible return as Ballydoyle's principal jockey.  Of course, he had to drop Native Khan.

The Courts stopped Fallon from riding Recital and left him forbidden to ride any horse against Native Khan (as proscribed in the written contract with NK's owners).

Native Khan acquired Johnny Murtagh, canny hero of the Oaks, and rose to a crowd favourite. 

Ballydoyle found Ireland's Champion jockey Pat Smullen to ride Recital and did NOT want to know about the unpleasantness.

O'Brien had five horses in the race.  For him to put in so many horses, it means that one would be a pacemaker and he is unsure of which of the others was progressive enough to win.   

The public bet on quirky Recital since he had been chosen for Fallon.

I would have advised punters that they were taking a serious gamble if O'Brien was unsure of his own horses.

Only French trainer Andre Fabre was super confident of his horse Pour Moi and the market responded.

It was touch and go for betting favourite Carlton House after injuring his ankle on the gallops early in the week, but he seemed to make a quick recovery and was declared.

His trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, was mildly cautious and jockey, Ryan Moore, was seriously nervous.

The horse seemed fine despite sweating and he performed a scintillating Zenyatta dance at the stalls - they share Street Cry as sire so we now know where their musicality comes from.

Things went wrong for him in the widest stall 13.  The horse was put in first of the 13 and his jockey seemed deeply agitated if not scared.

When the stalls opened, Carlton House left last and had to catch up.

Young Joseph O'Brien, son of Aiden, set a fine even pace on Memphis Tennessee up and down and around all the curving course.

The experienced jockeys kept the better horses towards the centre and rear of the pack.  That included most of the O'Brien horses, Godolphin' Ocean War, Native Khan, Carlton House and Pour Moi.

Pour Moi's 19-year-old jockey Mickael Barzalona said he stayed close to them.

Initially, the horses were strung out until they came to the final curves and down the dip before Tattenham Corner when horses started to get in each others' way.

Carlton House was forced wide on two curves and on the straight with some accidental interference from the less experienced horses. 

Native Khan also was caught in pockets.

With O'Brien's pacemaker controlling the race, the Ballydoyle horses had the best chances to win and place. 

And win Treasure Beach nearly did. 

Carlton House finally got a clear run and seemed to slow up a furlong out before digging in again.  It cost him his chance to win and we learned later that he lost a shoe at that point.

In the end, it was the brilliant acceleration of Pour Moi following in Carlton House's wake that took the race by a head over Treasure Beach with Carlton House in third by ¾ lengths.

The two never even saw him coming.

Memphis Tennessee was fourth, Native Khan fifth and Recital another 2 lengths behind in sixth. 

Ballydoyle took three of the top six placements and had to be satisfied with not winning.

Andre Fabre's confidence was justified in Pour Moi and he has set a training course for the the ultimate French prize of the Qatar Arc de Triomphe via the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris July 14.

Barzalona won the Derby on his first try and could barely contain his youthful exhuberance.

Carlton House's connections were regretful that the race went against their colt and Moore was incensed over the problems he encountered with lower-rated horses falling back on his and interfering with his run.

Moore made a strong point that there should be minimum performance standards for Derby entrees in the future and officials reacted positively.  One can hope.

This Derby was not the best I have seen, but it was a thriller and the crowds loved it. 

No matter which horse one supported, the best horse in the race did win on the day.

The handicappers will not be so kind to the horses or the race, but we have seen several very nice, progressive colts who will win big races in the future.

And I cannot wait to see Carlton House do the Zenyatta dance again at the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Posted June 6, 2011

Godolphin Win Opens Derby Festival
Antara with Frankie Dettori and trainer Saeed bin Suroor won a thrilling openner at the Investec Derby Festival in The Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3), 1m 114y on firm lush Turf, at Epsom Racecourse.

The second favouite Timepiece (Zamindar USA) blasted out of the stalls setting a frantic pace along the rail, but weakened when passed by First City and Clinical.

Last year's winner and favourite, Antara GER (Plantini GER), followed three leaders in sixth out of eight until the final two furlongs when Dettori started a smooth move forward.

Timepiece weakened and Antara cut down First City and Clinical winning by 3/4 lengths in a beautifully-timed race by Dettori. 

The popular jockey obliged the crowd with his winner's circle leap before happy owner Sheikh Mohaammed and his large entoourage.

Dettori described the ground as "amazing - it is like galloping on a snooker table."

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor was thrilled with the five-year-old mare and is planning to move her up to Group 1 category later this Summer after a rest.

Last year they took her straight to Royal Ascot after this hard race and found the meet was too soon.

Three-year-old Clinical will probably go on to the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot as she loves the course or the Pretty Polly in Ireland and First City's trainer David Simcock is looking for a listed race for the mare.

Time was slow at 1.43.72 and the winner went off at 15.8.


St Nicholas Abbey Rallied

It looked as if Midday (Oasis Dream) had put The Investec Coronation Cup (Group 1), 1m 4f 10y on firm Turf, to bed when the favourite St Nicholas Abbey IRE (Montjeu IRE) pulled himself together under Kieran Fallon's powerful control and lengthened out to secure a 1 length lead on the mare at the post.

It was a strange race in that none of the five jockeys wanted to lead. 

Unfortunately, the genuine 12f and off-the-pace specialist, Dandino (Dansili), was put in the lead and eventually burnt himself out with stablemate Indian Days (Daylami IRE) close behind finishing fourth and last respectively.

It was a bold move for Tom Queally to take Midday forward about 2f out exposing her in front and losing her chance for a deadly final kick.  

St Nick lost his action and was floudering.  It might have worked, but his jockey never gives up and is one of the most powerful in racing.

One understands why Fallon is in demand as a jockey seeing how he dominated the failing four-year old colt into doing what he did not think he could do driving him into a scintillating close.

The colt finally came into his own giving his trainer Aiden O'Brien all sorts of ideas for his future.  The King George might be St Nick's next race.  He is quoted at 10.1 for the Arc de Triomphe.

His owner Michael Tabor thought that Midday might have lost, because she went too soon but was grateful for the victory.    

Her trainer, Henry Cecil, said "She ran a great race and she'll come on again.  She's a horse that gets better as the summer goes on."

Clowance (Montjeu IRE), who had not raced in 208 days and is in foal to Oasis Dream, took third in her final career race with James Given's two boys, Dandino and Indian Days, behind her.

They posted another slow time of 2m 37.18s.


Dancing Rain Danced Past The Pack
  In fact, the 20.1 filly Dancing Rain IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) led the pack from start to finish in one of the most audacious jockey gambits (Johnny Murtagh) one could imagine in The Investec Oaks Group 1), 1m 4f 10y on firm Turf.

Even more surprising is that Murtagh got away with it.

Out of Stall 7, his filly shot in front of the 12 others setting a leisurely pace with second favourite Wonder Of Wonders USA (Kingmambo USA) stalking a length away and favourite Blue Bunting USA (Dynaformer USA) in sixth or seventh.

Nothing wrong with any placements until just past  Tattenham Corner when the big, leggy chestnut quickened the pace and extended. 

From that point on, it was catch up - only none could catch her.

WOW tried and tried, but lost by ¾ lengths. 

Blue Bunting had other ideas.  Once on the straight, she acted up on ground she did not like. 

It took all Frankie Dettori's strength in a long battle to bring her to hand for a stunning acceleration and close.

She would have made third, but unfortunately Dettori made one of his few mistakes in dropping his hands before the post.  

He was given a ten-day ban for failing to ride out third.  Punters were very unhappy.

Frankly, Blue Bunting proved that she could have won that race if she had not left herself with too much to do at the end.  Of all present, she was the only one who had the abiliy of closing down Dancing Rain who is a very impressive filly.

It is likely they will meet again in the Irish Oaks. 

Izzi Top (Pivotal) got third as a result of Dettori's rare mistake with WOW taking second.   

Jessica Harrington's Siren's Song IRE (Azamour IRE), ending in seventh, also really impressed but nothing jockey Fran Berry did could quell her keeness from the paddock to the course.  PMS?

  Dancing Rain's trainer William Haggis was happy to take credit for the successful race tactics, but hinted that Murtagh does what he chooses to do. 

One has to wonder why the other jockeys did not catch on.  

This is only Murtagh's first Oaks despite having won three Derbys. 

Both trainer and jockey clearly have a sense of humor.

Haggis rarely has Classic horses, but has managed to win one Derby and one Oaks which is more than many trainers could ever say.

He would like to take her to the Irish Oaks, but she would have to be supplemented.

Despite Murtagh's cheeky lead, Dancing Rain really was the best filly on the day and looks to have a bright future.  

She is a big, strong, pacy looker.  This success is in only her fourth race and Haggis would like her to train on at four. 

Her owners looked as if it would not take much arm twisting given they are willing to supplement her for the Irish Oaks.

She and Blue Bunting have disposed of the Ballydoyle threats on British soil.  Can they do it at the Curragh?  And will Siren's Song calm down enough to run a proper race.

It is wise to remember that floundering colts like St Nicholas Abbey are much more maleable than excitable, determined fillies.


Hooray!
  Speedy mare Hooray (Invincible Spirit IRE) managed not to lead The Investec Surrey Stakes (Listed Race), 7f on good Turf, from the beginning.

It is unusual for her to be restrained.  Once her jockey Seb Sanders gave her her head, she pulled free from her five competitors winning by 1¼ lengths over Lord Of The Stars.


Fallon's Folly

The High Court is allowing Kieran Fallon to ride Recital in the Derby but Native Khan's owner has appealed the decision and Fallon will learn his fate Saturday morning.

Trainer Aiden O'Brien who is at the heart of the controversy says it has "nothing to do with" him.  "There are plenty of jockeys around."

Many in the public sympathise with NK's owner and think it is time that jockeys had to honour contracts.

Interestingly, Native Khan is moving up in the betting and many are rooting for Johnny Murtagh on him if Crowded House fails to win.


Too Many Jockeys

The Turkish-owned, handsome grey Native Khan was in need of a jockey for the Derby.

Trainer Ed Dunlop laments the loss of Kieran Fallon to ride Ballydoyle's Recital.

More's the pity in that NK is one of the betting favourites and a solid stayer.

Update:  Ooops!

Whilst Johnny Murtagh has been hired to ride the colt, NK's Turkish owner took Kieran Fallon to the High Court for an injunction to prevent his riding Recital in the Derby for Ballydoyle on the grounds of breach of a written contract.

Native Khan did not deserve to be ditched nor did his connections deserve the aggro.

Fallon will learn his fate tomorrow. 


Dettori On Ocean War

Frankie Dettori is sure he is in with a chance to win the Derby on Godolphin's Ocean War. 

Their Casamento has been diverted to the shorter distance Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly Sunday.


Compounded Mystery

Ever since the stunning victory of Carlton House USA (Street Cry IRE) in the 10f Group 1 Dante Stakes at York last month, he leapt to undisputed favourite for the £1,250,000 Group 1 InvestecGo Derby Saturday June 4 at Epsom, Surrey. 

Only three-year-old entire colts and fillies can compete in the Classic of 1m 4f 10y.  No fillies are entered.

Carlton House has had only three career starts - two as a juvenile and the Dante this year at three.  He lost only his first race when he placed second.

From U.S. standards, he is relatively inexperienced to tackle the mid-distance Derby of 1m 4f (12f, 1½m).

But Turf racing does not require so many pre-Derby trials.  Horses can either do the distance and handle course or they cannot. 

Talent, balance, stamina, speed and good jockeyship are essential to win on this demanding course.

Carlton House was bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum at Darley as was his sire Street Cry (Machiavellian USA). 

His late dam is Talented by the legendary Bustino out of Triple Reef by Mill Reef.  One cannot have better breeding lines.

Street Cry was a favourite for the Kentucky Derby, but an injury kept him out of it.  Later, he won the Dubai World Cup and has sired many robust horses including successful sire Street Sense and Zenyatta who is foal to Bernardini.

Sheikh Mohammed gave Carlton House to HM The Queen and she engaged Sir Michael Stoute to train him.  Ryan Moore is his jockey.

The Queen is a keen horsewoman and racing enthusiast.  The Derby is the only major race she has not won. 

Since 1953, she has entered nine horses in the Derby and none have won.  Aureole was the most successful as runner up in 1953.

Carlton House looked to be a dream come true for her in her 85th year.

None of us who have seen him race could imagine that he would not win especially as he improved when producing scintillating workouts. 

Then he injured his off fore on the gallops this week.  

He remains in the race and we will only know on Friday if he is healed enough to race.

Ireland's Ballydoyle has mounted a foursome of Seville, beaten by Carlton House in the Dante, quirky Recital who was chosen by Kieran Fallon, Treasure Beach and Memphis Tennessee. 

One of the latter will probably provide a good pace for the race.

Aiden O'Brien is sending his Irish Guineas' winner Roderic O'Connor over to Chantilly to compete in the Prix du Jockey Club Sunday June 5.  Though it is considered the French equivalent to the Derby, it is only run at 10.5f (just over 1¼m or 2100 metres).

France has sent two competitors in Vadamar and Pour Moi.

Vadamar represents trainer Alain de Royer Dupre and owner HH The Aga Khan.  Though he lost his last race to Pour Moi by 2½ lengths, he came back injured.  His trainer is very positive that he is ready for this race.

Andre Fabre arrived early with his Pour Moi FR (Montjeu IRE), who is owned by Ballydoyle principals, believing that this horse is his best chance ever to win the Derby. 

Pour Moi won a good Group Two trial in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud and was very impressive in his press workout at Epsom Racecourse. 

He has the very fluid, balanced movement necessary to win on this demanding course.

The Derby Festival betting partner William Hill lowered his odds to 4.1 and his odds are narrowing with the uncertainty of Carlton House's participation.


The Competitive Oaks

There is no uncertainty about all the Classic fillies making the £325,000 Investec Oaks (Group 1), 1m, 4f 10y. 

Thirteen have lined up for the Oaks on Friday, June 3.

Since her surprising acceleration to take the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Blue Bunting USA (Dynaformer USA) has been favourite with the odds makers.

She is a Darley-bred prodigy of Sheikh Mohammed's and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori who is determined to win his fourth Oaks with this beautiful filly whom he likes so well.

Godolphin has always seen Blue Bunting as a mid-distance horse, but others dispute that her breeding produces shorter-distance stars.

One of racing's legendary jockeys and multiple Classic winner, Lester Piggott, believes that her jockey is the greatest Turf jockey racing today.

Dettori is also the voice of the QUIPCO British Champion Series of with the Derby, Oaks and Coronation Cup are mid-distance legs.

The betting public really likes Ballydoyle's Wonder Of Wonders USA (Kingmambo USA) and sees her as Blue Bunting's equal or better.  Jockey Kieran Fallon chose her of Aiden O'Brien's four.

Misty For Me IRE (Galileo IRE), winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, will be joined by Eirnin and Why to complete Ballydoyle's quartet.

Sir Michael Stoute has stayer Havant (Halling USA) in the race with Ryan Moore riding.

Michael Channon is "chuffed to bits" to have Zain Al Boldan (Poliglote), the only unbeaten filly and an emphatic 10l winner of the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield, moving up as a key favourite.

Lingfield's course is the most like Epsom's and any horse who can master it can manage Epsom.


Only Five For Coronation Cup

It is a real surprise that only five have lined up in the Group 1 £250,000 Investec Coronation Cup for four-year olds and upwards, 1m 4f 10y, at Epsom on Friday, June 3.

Four are British trained and Ireland's Ballydoyle has one.

Henry Cecil's international campaigner, five-year-old mare Midday (Oasis Dream), is favourite and St Nicholas Abbey IRE (Montjeu IRE) is second favourite.

Midday has won consistently at 8f, 10f and 12f in her career, is noted for her versatility and determination.  She will be partnered by Tom Queally.

St Nicholas Abbey has never run 12f, but has won a 13f race last month.  Most of his victories were at 8 and 10f.  Ryan Moore rides him.

One has to admit a liking for Dandino (Dansili) who has won repeatedly at 12 furlongs and is progressing.

The other two entries are Indian Days who is improving and Clowance is reaching after a long layoff.

It is worth racing given for the last two since there will be money for just showing up.