Feb28, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Gold Cup-G1, 2000m turf - Collection, Thumbs Up, Viva Pataca
The race symbolized the passing of the torch from the former champions to the new champion, and the three 5-year-olds, Collection, Thumbs Up and Mr. Medici, accomplished the task and finished one-two-three. There was some bumping in the stretch and Collection drifted inside and blocked a few horses. Viva Pataca was most severly affected and Marwing never gave the 8-year-old any chance to see daylight, albeit he would not be able to beat Collection but should come closer. Don't completely discount VP yet in his remaining two races this season - the QE II Cup and an attempt to four-peat the Hong Kong Champion & Chater Cup.
Based on accomplishment, Collection is the best horse at 2000m in Hong Kong now. But he hasn't convinced me yet he is up to the class of Vengeance Of Rain or Viva Pataca when they were five. The current 4-year-old crop in Hong Kong is strong. The undefeated Brave Kid won the 1800m handicap carrying 133 lbs on the same day in good time. He will be joined by the top four in the Derby Trial (King Dancer, Super Satin, Beauty Flash and Irian), and possibly Fair Trade in the HK Derby and I would expect some of them will also go to the QEII Cup after that. Good Ba Ba actually ran well for his first attempt at 2000m since his 4-year-old season. He is 8 already and I will like to see him racing in the Champions Mile.
Thumbs Up reminded me of the retired horse Best Gift, who is also owned by same owner of Thumbs Up. They were consistent and seemed to be talented, but always played the role of the best man and not the groom though. He doesn't have the type of acceleration that Collection has, but Thumbs Up might be a good horse on the dirt, and he can be versatile too. He is not likely going to Dubai, but I can see the atmosphere there will suit him well.
Feb 26, Tampa Bay Downs, Race 8, $50,000 Claimers, 1 1/16m T - Rosemary Homeister Jr., Matai
I think that Tampa Bay Downs has done a pretty good public-relations work in the last few years to enhance their profile during the winter racing season. After the memorable battle between Street Sense and Any Given Saturday in the '07 Tampa Bay Derby, the race has firmly established itself as a major Derby prep race in the East Coast. The temperature is usually lower than Gulfstream, but the weather is always good and the turf course condition is fair. It attracted champion Gio Ponti to start his 2010 racing career last week.
This race is for $50k claimers who are non-winner of 2 races, and being run on a Friday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs, this is certainly not a group of stakes horses. But at this price, you will still find some quality here and for some of the 4-year-olds, there are still room for improvement. This is a 9 furlong turf race, so regardless of class and age, stamina starts playing some role when running at this distance in North America.
The race favourite was 6-year-old gelding Fortissi More, ridden by the meet's leading rider Daniel Centeno. Their biggest challenger was the second favourite, the 4-year-old gelding Matai, ridden by the meet's second leading rider, Rosemary Homeister Jr. The two came back 5 lengths ahead of the rest of the field, but in reverse order under a great ride by Homeister. Matai broke from gate #3 ok and was racing with cover at about 6th place in the first quarter mile. At the first turn, Homeister decided to keep Matai off the rail to run 2 deep just outside of Fortissi More a length behind. This type of tactic is typical in stalker-type horses in North America turf racing, when the turf course is small, the bench is sharp and the stretch is short. Relative position remained unchanged in the back stretch. Passing the half mile pole, Centeno guided Fortissi More to the outside when they approached the far turn, and Homeister immediately took Matai back to Fortissi More's inside. So now their position has been reserved and they ran side by side just a length and a half behind the leading threesome. Matai was anxious to move forwarded but was blocked by the slowing and fading leading horses and Homeister had to check mildly. Fortissi More had a much cleaner trip on his outside and quickly moved in front of Matai by a length and a half turn to home. Fortissi More was 4 deep at the top of the stretch but with the best momentum. Matai was behind the tiring horse but there was a gap between 2 horse and Homeister immediately shaked Matai aggressively to hold position. The stage is set for the top two with 330 yards to the wire. Fortissi More definitely had the better of the trip and momentum and was about to take charge and putting away Matai. But the very cool Homeister just kept her head down and just keep pushing Matai who went to do his business. The first 2 dinged donged for 200 yards and younger Matai won the battle in the final 70 yards.
Matai's trip was not perfect, and Homeister had made several decisions and gave Matai the opportunity to win the race. Great ride and good race.
Watch the replay at Tampa Bay website..
Feb 28, Santa Anita, Race 7, Allowance OC, 4up, 1 1/16m AW - Rafael Bejarano, Haka
DRF's Brad Free worte in the Feb27 version of DRF Weekend:
"Rafael Bejarano has been riding circles around the competition the last three weeks. The thing about Bejarano is that he makes few mental mistakes. His horses are always in position to win - 11 lengths off the lead with deep-closing first-time starter Self Made ($24.80) in the last race Feb. 21, or pressing the pace with Face and an Ace ($11.20) on Feb. 20. Bejarano was 7 for 15 last weekend and entered Week 19 clear in the standings. Does it even matter who is ranked second?"
Well, he did it again in Race 7 on Feb 28. He rode the Christophe Clement trained, Claiborne Farm-owned, regally homebred 4-year-old filly Haka (by Dynaformer, out of Juke, by Mr. Prospector, with DP of 13-4-26-0-1, DI 2.14 and CD 0.64), which is the post-time favourite. Haka ran second, 1 1/4 length behind Stardom Bound in the Las Virgenes Stakes-G1 last February, but didn't race again until last September. Winless in 4 tries on the turf, she hasn't raced since December. This is her first attempt at Santa Anita's AW track since her Las Virgenes try. Haka's chart says,
"HAKA allowed to settle off the rail then outside a rival, came out into the stretch and rallied under some urging to get up on the wire."
It was another magical ride by Bejarano, who timed the race so perfectly and win it in the final stride. How did he know? How can these top-class jockey do it so consistently? Do they have a watch inside their head?
Watch the replay at Calracing.
Feb 27, Chepstow, 14:55, Mares' Novices' Chase (Class 4), 3 miles - Ringsend Rose, Orana Conti
Only one horse was able to finish the race. Ringsend Rose and jockey Jimmy Derham overcame a stewards' inquiry when the 7-year-old mare skipped one of the final fences on the straight. The ground at Chepstow was heavy and very testing. 6/1 shot Orana Conti raced in second place in the first mile and a half of the race and overtook the lead at the 6th fence. Her lead continued to be extended as the rest of the field faded farther and farther behind. She was 25 lengths in front of Itea Du Fau who was also pulled up before jumping the first fence in the final straight.
Orana Conti was running the best race of her life. She jumped the first fence on the straight ok. She was tired, so did the other 5 mares in the race. When she approached the next fence, did she want to go? She could see the finish was still a far way out. If she was 40 lengths behind a leading horse, the jockey might have pulled her up already. But she was leading and still galloping. She wanted to jump, and she did! She crashed violently and both her and the jockey fell badly. She didn't move. I was so sad. Did she know this will happen? Probably not. She wanted to jump over this fence, and the rest of the fences in the straight and win the race. But she never can. Rest in peace, Orana Conti.
Story
Result and Replay
Major races around the world next week:
- Santa Anita: Santa Anita Handicap-G1, Santa Anita Oaks-G1, Frank E. Kilroe Mile-G1
- Aqueduct: Gotham-G3
- Oaklawn: Azeri Breeders' Cup-G3, Razorback Breeders' Cup-G3
- Ellerslie: New Zealand Derby-G1
- Meydan: Dubai City of Gold-G2, Maktoum Challenge Round 3-G2, Jebel Hatta-G2
- Flemington: Australian Cup-G1, Newmarket Handicap-G1, Australian Guineas-G1
- Randwick: Chipping Norton-G1
- Doncaster: Grimthorpe Chase (3m2f), Doncaster Sales Bumper (2m)
- Gowran Park: Shamrock Handicap Chase (2m)
- Newbury: Newbury Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase(Grade 3) (1) 2m4f
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