Horn and Dettori Eclipse Sandown Rivals, Gerraghty Returns and Sandwich Causes Three Non-Runners!
Another cracking weekend of action saw further confirmation that we have an equine superstar in our midst, the welcome return of one of the best jump jockeys in the game and a rather strange story from Australia.
Horn Still Golden For Gosden
Saturday saw the unbeaten Golden Horn tackle his elders for the first time in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown. In a race that has been a graveyard for favourite backers, the Gosden colt passed the test with flying colours.
It was clear from the off that a lack of pace in this small field would not prove his undoing as Frankie Dettori quickly urged his mount into the lead. From there he was never headed. The Grey Gatsby momentarily looked set to make it a real battle in the straight, but Golden Horn once again illustrated the attribute which makes him so special, namely the ability to find the extra gear required to kick clear of even top class rivals.
Authorised, Motivator, Erhaab and Bosra Sham all failed to land this race at short odds in the past. Golden Horn doesn’t care about the past though, he has his eyes firmly fixed on the future. The Juddmonte, King George and Arc are all possible targets for the son of Sea The Stars. That brilliant John Oxx colt of course ended his unbeaten three-year-old season with victory at Longchamp. Like father, like son? Few would bet against him now, but much will depend on the ground in October as he won’t be risked on soft. Wherever he goes from here we should enjoy him while we can, as the consensus seems to be that he will be retired to stud at the end of the current season.
Geraghty In Green and Gold
Sunday saw the return to action of Barry Geraghty following a broken shinbone sustained in a fall at Downpatrick in March. A Sunday afternoon at Limerick would usually be considered a pretty low key return, it was somewhat significant on this occasion however, as it marked Geraghty’s first rides as retained jockey to J P McManus. Boots don’t come much bigger to fill than those of the all-time greatest jump jockey A P McCoy but we think McManus has the right man for the job. Geraghty is a class act and the sensible choice to take up where the legend left off. Keep an eye out for him for the remainder of the year, as it won’t be long before he is sporting the famous green and gold silks in the winner’s enclosure.
What Do You Mean I Can’t Have A Sandwich?
If it weren’t for gambling we may not even be able to enjoy the delights of the humble sandwich today. Said to have been invented by the fourth Earl of Sandwich in order to sustain him through his heroic sessions at the card table, our favourite bread based snack caused a bit of a storm, not at the card table, but at the racetrack this weekend.
It all happened in Australia where trainer Bryce Stananway had travelled with five runners to a meeting in Victoria. Possibly not in the best of moods due to his first two runners finishing unplaced, the final straw is alleged to have come when his request for a sandwich was denied by the catering staff. Two losers he could stomach, but no sandwich he could not. Not one for half measures good old Bryce promptly withdrew his three remaining runners, packed up and left. Let’s all hope he brings a packed lunch next time!
