Following an enquiry the stewards decreed that Darryll Holland had allowed his mount Babodana to carry second-placed Sleeping Indian across the
Posted in General on 27. Sep, 2010
Following an enquiry, the stewards decreed that Darryll Holland had allowed his mount Babodana to carry second-placed Sleeping Indian across the course, and gave the race to the challenger. Fallon distanced a turbulent domestic campaign, while Dettori was able to fire back at the Americans who have never let him forget a torrid ride on Swain in the Classic six years ago.The ugly thought for the Americans is that Ouija Board is already slated for the Turf next year at Belmont Park, New York They ought to be afraid. He has a trademark obsession about preparation and attention to detail. He is not just ready, he is thoroughly impatient to start, while his rivals are completing frantic last-minute work.But the first little sigh of relief will be as dawn breaks, not tomorrow but on the following Monday morning, when he will relax, knowing that the same demon which wreaked such havoc before has not struck again.For Golding, this race is a summation of all his life’s work to date. The glory on that occasion, of course, went to Ellen MacArthur, who, although beaten into second place by Michel Desjoyeaux, burst on to the international scene as a result.This time Golding is one of four British-based competitors out of the 21 entries who are lined up on the dock at Les Sables d’Olonne on the French coast. Holland was given a two-day careless riding ban; he and trainer John Gosden vowed to appeal the decision..
France’s filly – the first of 12 runners from Europe – was less than devastating in the opening race, the Distaff, over a mile and an eighth.Tamweel made the running on the rail, in company with the favourite Ashado, but a pumped-up Nebraska Tornado soon provided the sandwich filling in the hands of Edgar Prado. She appeared to be going well down the back, but, in fact, it was too well. Going into the clubhouse turn, Andre Fabre’s filly was beating a retreat. By the wire, there were seven in front.”She handled the dirt beautifully, but we were always going a stride too fast,” Edgar Prado, the jockey, said. “She was too keen and I knew we were in trouble from four furlongs out.”Victory, and with it the honour of winning the first Grade One contest ever run in these parts, went to Ashado, a winner also this season in America’s most celebrated crucible, Churchill Downs. This success, allied to that in the Kentucky Oaks, nailed down the three-year-old filly of the season honours.”I had a perfect trip,” John Velazquez, the winning jockey, reported.
“I tucked into position on the first turn and I just had to bide my time following the leaders. A hole opened up for me [in the straight] and when I asked her she was there for me.”Mona Lisa, the first of a famous five from O’Brien’s Ballydoyle academy, was even more disappointing in the Juvenile Fillies. The clubhouse design was for just 12,000 visitors to the venue between Dallas and Fort Worth and yesterday’s crowd was augmented by temporary accommodation which took the audience to well over 50,000.The opening shot out of the European magazine came from Nebraska Tornado, who was named for the wrong state and, it proved, the wrong effect. This was the first time on the Breeders’ Cup rota that the wagons had arrived in Texas.
Lone Star in Grand Prairie was the designated course, the tightest and least significant track to host the series. The French triumvirate of Six Perfections, Diamond Green and Whipper, as well as Ireland’s Antonius Pius, were run down by the relatively unfancied Singletary for the home side.Antonius Pius, as has become his custom, was the most infuriating of the vanquished. He broke well and travelled strongly enough to test Jamie Spencer’s arms as Soaring Free pulled the maximum field of 14 along. The inevitable scrummage occurred off the final bend as Singletary made his burst for the line. One horse pulled out of the pack to challenge and Antonius Pius appeared likely to fall on the leader like a wolf on the fold At the vital moment though, came the vital mistake The Irish colt ducked left and lost crucial momentum. It almost certainly cost him the race as Six Perfections ran on behind into third place.The almost obligatory overnight showers had rendered the course fairly soft at daybreak, but as the temperature approached the mid-80s the ground became perfect.