Alex Hammond previews this weekend's feature action at Newmarket and has a couple against the field in the Bet365 Cambridgeshire.
Tiger Woods’ win at the weekend made all the sporting headlines – what’s the best racing comeback for you – and why?
Apart from Seabiscuit? I suppose you would like one in my lifetime. Well over the years a few famous names have made successful sporting comebacks in racing. None more so than Lester Piggott who came back from a much publicised five-year break to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Royal Academy in 1990, just 12 days after returning to the saddle. At the time he called it the most satisfying winner he ever rode.
Kieren Fallon and Frankie Dettori are other legendary riders to have made successful comebacks after suspensions. Perhaps one of the most creditable though (and most recent) is the return to the track of Brian Toomey after the jump jockey ‘died’ following an horrific fall at Perth in 2013.
The situation looked desperate for Toomey after he was effectively dead for 6 seconds following that fall from Solway Dandy and the outcome was bleak; he was given a single figure percentage chance of survival. 157 days in hospital wasn’t enough to deter him though and the young Irishman showed remarkable tenacity to fight to get his jockey’s licence reinstated. Return to the saddle he did and whilst it may not have been the fairytale ending he had hoped for, he proved that not only can you not keep a good man down, but that he is braver than most and deserves to find something that will give him equal satisfaction away from the saddle in the future.
John Gosden mooted the Breeders’ Cup Classic for Roaring Lion – would you be tempted to go to America with him?
John Gosden announced at the Newmarket Open Weekend that the Breeders’ Cup is under consideration for this season’s triple Group One winner. Both the Classic (over a mile and a quarter) and the mile-and-a-half Turf are options IF he doesn’t run at Ascot in the QIPCO Champion Stakes. Whilst he has an American pedigree, it’s heavily turf influenced, so the Classic would be a risk on dirt. The conundrum could be that the distance of the Turf race stretches him, although the 12 furlongs will be easier to get on a flat track around the bends at Churchill Downs; it’s still a mile and a half though, which seems a silly thing to say, but would you be able to run a marathon if it was all downhill? It’s still 26.2 miles!
That’s not to say he won’t handle the dirt, but it’s an unknown factor for a horse trained in Europe. Gosden knows what it takes though having won the Classic with Raven’s Pass in 2008 and he obviously has experience of training in America so is better equipped than some. Thankfully it’s not my choice, but I think I’d be inclined to be the best in Europe and try and add the Champion Stakes to his achievements. Let’s hope the ground isn’t heavy on 20 October as that will allow British racegoers the chance to see him in the flesh. He’s Sky Bet’s 7/4 favourite to win at Ascot, whilst he’s 9/4 to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf and 5s to win the Classic.
Nice card at Newmarket on Friday – anything take your eye in the feature races?
There are two Group Twos on Friday’s card, the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes and the Shadwell Joel Stakes. The race sponsors for the two big races evoke happy memories for me as my first work placement out of college was at Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud in Thetford. That’s not going to help me find the winners though, so let’s take a closer look.
The Rockfel Stakes is for juvenile fillies over seven furlongs. It looks pretty open, but I’m hoping Mark Johnston’s Main Edition can bounce back after defeat in the Moyglare Stud Stakes behind Skitter Scatter last time out. The filly is proven over this trip and should be pretty uncomplicated from the front for Frankie Dettori. She is Sky Bet’s 100/30 favourite.
The Joel Stakes is for older horses over a mile and whilst there are only five declared runners, they all have realistic claims of winning it. Speaking of bouncing back, this time I’m with the Roger Varian trained runner Zabeel Prince who has his first run since a disappointing effort in the Lockinge at Newbury in May. Hopes were high at the start of the season that he could excel himself at the age of five but plans have obviously had to be on hold since the spring. The time could be right to reap the rewards of his owner’s patience starting again here. He’s 5/1 with Sky Bet.
Group One two-year-old action at HQ on Saturday with the Middle Park and Cheveley Park. Which horses are you expecting to star?
Well much has been made of the fact there could be two bankers in the brace of Group Ones on the Rowley Mile on Saturday. Pretty Pollyanna does seem the most likely winner of the Cheveley Park after her devastating display in the Prix Morny, but her price reflects that. She beat Signora Cabello at Deauville and I hope she does again. She is improving as the season progresses and is Sky Bet’s 9/1 ante-post favourite for next year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas.
Ten Sovereigns is the short priced favourite for the Middle Park 35 minutes later. Aidan O’Brien’s colt is unbeaten in both his starts to date and takes his first foray into Group One company here. He’s not incredibly attractive at the price unless you are bundling him in a multiple, so I’m going to take a chance on Jash giving him a run for his money. His trainer Simon Crisford can do little wrong at the moment and is operating at a strike rate of 38%, a stat alone that doesn’t make you rush to back this son of Kodiac. However, he has won both his starts very easily and whilst he has to prove he is up to this level, he is from a good family and like the favourite is the only colt coming into this race with an unblemished record. If he wins he’ll be Crisford’s first top flight winner as a trainer.
Let’s end with a nice easy one…what wins the bet365 Cambridgeshire?
While I’m at it why don’t I give the Autumn double? I’m kidding, you’ll have to wait for the second leg!
It’s hard to ignore Alfarris after he has come in for some strong support this week. He’s trained by William Haggas and has been running very consistently in decent handicaps this season. He’s better off in the weights with Pivoine who beat him at York last time out and his form is rock solid. Another horse I have to have on my shortlist is Wissahickon as I’ve followed him all season. John Gosden’s colt has shown a real liking for the all-weather, but he is a winner on the turf (from just 2 starts) and there should be loads more improvement to come. Earlier in the season Gosden said he could be capable of winning a nice nine or ten furlong handicap and you get the impression this was the race he had in mind. Those two will do for me, so let’s hope we get a good run for our money. Good luck.
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