Ebor Extravaganza
Newsletter #18
George talks…BBT Digest
Here are some interesting pieces we have come across this week.
What I have been watching…..Breaking in Yearlings at Godolphin
The yearling sales have begun. When the hammer has fallen down to you the purchaser the fun of breaking ensues. This is a cool video presented by Godolphin of their breaking process. Every place has a different system but most follow a similar general route from sales to the trainers yard.
B. Wayne Hughes - An Industry Visionary
We always like to keep the flavour international. It doesn’t get more international and influential than B. Wayne Hughes, the American CEO come Spendthrift Farm principal. He transformed the failing farm into the behemoth it is today. He passed away on the farm this week and the words from his right hand man Ned Toffey tells us how much respect he had for his employer.
F1’s Eddie Jordan
Something left field this week. We love listening to and consuming content of other sports, their teams and they star’s. The rise of F1 from niche sport to mainstream has been astonishing. Eddie Jordan the mercurial Irishman was at the coalface of this for decades. This podcast has some great gems. Enjoy!
Syndicate News
We got a look under the bonnet of our 2 year old filly Medal of Glory this week.
She togged out and worked in the barrier trial at Dundalk over her sub optimal 6 furlongs.
The most green runner in the race, she showed great promise. Her batch had the best time over 6f on the day and we know she will do nothing but improve. Mark Enright who rode her that day was pleased and noted that he felt the penny hasn’t even dropped with her yet.
Medal of Glory and Mark Enright heading out of the parade ring before their barrier trail.
Charlie talks…Weekend Racing
This week it’s all about York and it’s annual racing festival. I've been living in the UK for 8 years, if you have not been racing on the Knavesmire you owe it to yourself to go someday soon. Its got everything, knowledgeable racegoers, super facilities and the city is buzzing after racing. In saying that I've never actually been to the York Ebor festival and wish I'd booked it up after looking at the amazing atmosphere there this week.
On Saturday the highlight is the Ebor handicap which is worth 300,000£ to the winner and is the sort of race I love accessing.
This year it looks wide open as ever and I've narrowed the field down to three runners Hamish, Mirann, and Shanroe.
Hamish looks the best handicapped horse in the race getting 2 pounds from Away He Goes who he tried to give 7lbs to before over 1 mile 2. Away He Goes has since gone on to run 2nd in a Group 1 staying contest. Hamish also finished a neck 2nd to Trueshan who is now a Group 1 winner. So in short I would strongly fancy Hamish however he has only run once in the past year and will be making his seasonal debut in one of the most competitive handicaps around which dampens my enthusiasm.
Nevertheless for me he is potentially the best handicapped horse in the race.
Shanroe and Mirann are both progressive young horses who have their best days ahead of them.
Regular readers will know I believe Mirann has all the ingredients to develop into a serious stayer. Johnny Murtagh has brought him along slowly and this trip should bring out the best in him. Why then is Ben Coen not riding him? That leaves a nagging doubt in my mind. Ben Coen is on Johnny Murtagh's other runner Sonnyboylisten. To me though he doesn’t look as strong a stayer as Mirann and has to give him 5lbs.
With a gun stuck to my head I'm going to stick to my belief that Mirann is going to show what I believe he is capable of and recommend him as the best bet in this contest while advising a saver on Hamish and Shanroe.
Yes I know three selections in one race, however most bookmakers are paying 5/6 places and all three of these horses are each way prices so hopefully one of them will hit the target and the others can make the frame.
The Melrose handicap doesn’t look much easier than the Ebor and is jam packed with young 3 yr old stayers. However Pleasant Man stands out to me as a cracking each way bet around 20/1. He is all about staying and looks like he has more to come over this trip. He had a poor passage the last day and on balance looks fairly handicapped against plenty of horses who are ahead of him in the betting.
The Group 2 City of York stakes looks a great opportunity for Primo Bacio to get her head back in front after two super recent runs. At the time of writing I'm surprised she isn’t the favourite and odds of 5/2 look good value.
In the closing 5 furlong handicap Digital looks a solid each way option. This gelding is all about speed and with Saffie Osborne claiming off 3lbs he looks on a good mark here and should be tough to beat.
Horses to Follow:
Primo Bacio - 3pm - York - Saturday
Digital - 5.20pm - York - Saturday
Pleasant Man - 2.25pm - York - Saturday
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RT @sazoconnell: Regardless of which code, this industry never ceases to amaze me! https://t.co/i34HXOQ6g2