Balavan redux
July 28th 2010 05:01
With a new racing year less than one week away - and the mandatory birthday for horses - it is time to take another quick look at the late-starter Balavan.
(photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements
Neil Murray Photography
Balavan, a son of Bel Esprit, had his first start as a late-season 4 year old on the 27th of June 2010. Now soon to be a 5 year old, the patient band of owners, and trainer Tony Vasil, have wasted no time since his emphatic debut and raced the bay gelding at intervals since of around 2 weeks.
Balavan had his second start in a 0-68 1013 metre race at Sale on a dead rated track. After demoralising a field of Maidens on debut on a heavy 10 (the worst rating a track can be given) and leading all-the-way, Balavan found himself in the unfamiliar position of chasing the very speedy (also a Bel Esprit) mare Humma Mumma, herself a multiple placegetter on metropolitan tracks. It was regarded as a two-horse race (in a 12 starter field) and both horses were heavily supported with Balavan starting favourite at $2.15 and Humma Mumma starting at $3.80. And it did indeed turn out to be a two-horse battle with the eventual 3rd placegetter Turkish Slippers over 6 lengths away in 3rd placing.
All through the race it did appear that Balavan would reel in the speedy little mare, but as they went across the line Humma Mumma held the barest nose advantage over the fast-closing Balavan. But to anyone watching the race the resulting protest - and confidence in success of the objection - seemed certain. Balavan had been badly interfered with on several occasions and jockey Peter Mertens had difficulty steering a winning course with the mare shifting out under Balavan’s neck. No surprise: protest upheld.
Looking at the replay of this race the extravagant and unusual galloping action of Balavan becomes all the more obvious. Having no knowledge of the horse apart from my own observations I don’t know if this unusual biomechanical foreleg action had anything to do with his delay to the track, but it is a very unusual action with his near foreleg swinging to the side with each giant stride.
Twelve days later Balavan would race again in a far more difficult 0-72 Showcase 1200 metre sprint at Cranbourne on another heavy track. This time there would be no dramas, no need for concern - no worries at all. Balavan had an untested 3.3 length margin over the 2nd placed Fermino Courage (a horse with 10 career wins including metropolitan placings - in fact he raced 3 days later and was 3rd in an open Sprint at Sandown Hillside today). And once again the 3rd placegetter was (nearly: 5.3 lengths on this occasion) 6 lengths from the winning Balavan.
A feature of Balavan’s winning performances is the way that the margins between beaten runners is great, with those of lesser ability fully stressed to stay in contact.
So - where to from here for Balavan? How far through the ranks can this most interesting horse rise?
Proving that his stunning debut was no flash-in-the-pan Balavan has proven more than capable in moving through the provincial classes. I would have no hesitation in now bringing him to the metropolitan races. Time for a bigger test.
It was a very long wait to get Balavan to the races. But we may be at the very beginning of an enjoyable making-up-for-lost-time racing career.
Balavan - 75 metres from home
Neil Murray Photography
Balavan, a son of Bel Esprit, had his first start as a late-season 4 year old on the 27th of June 2010. Now soon to be a 5 year old, the patient band of owners, and trainer Tony Vasil, have wasted no time since his emphatic debut and raced the bay gelding at intervals since of around 2 weeks.
Balavan had his second start in a 0-68 1013 metre race at Sale on a dead rated track. After demoralising a field of Maidens on debut on a heavy 10 (the worst rating a track can be given) and leading all-the-way, Balavan found himself in the unfamiliar position of chasing the very speedy (also a Bel Esprit) mare Humma Mumma, herself a multiple placegetter on metropolitan tracks. It was regarded as a two-horse race (in a 12 starter field) and both horses were heavily supported with Balavan starting favourite at $2.15 and Humma Mumma starting at $3.80. And it did indeed turn out to be a two-horse battle with the eventual 3rd placegetter Turkish Slippers over 6 lengths away in 3rd placing.
A happy Peter Mertens returns Balavan back to scale
All through the race it did appear that Balavan would reel in the speedy little mare, but as they went across the line Humma Mumma held the barest nose advantage over the fast-closing Balavan. But to anyone watching the race the resulting protest - and confidence in success of the objection - seemed certain. Balavan had been badly interfered with on several occasions and jockey Peter Mertens had difficulty steering a winning course with the mare shifting out under Balavan’s neck. No surprise: protest upheld.
Looking at the replay of this race the extravagant and unusual galloping action of Balavan becomes all the more obvious. Having no knowledge of the horse apart from my own observations I don’t know if this unusual biomechanical foreleg action had anything to do with his delay to the track, but it is a very unusual action with his near foreleg swinging to the side with each giant stride.
Twelve days later Balavan would race again in a far more difficult 0-72 Showcase 1200 metre sprint at Cranbourne on another heavy track. This time there would be no dramas, no need for concern - no worries at all. Balavan had an untested 3.3 length margin over the 2nd placed Fermino Courage (a horse with 10 career wins including metropolitan placings - in fact he raced 3 days later and was 3rd in an open Sprint at Sandown Hillside today). And once again the 3rd placegetter was (nearly: 5.3 lengths on this occasion) 6 lengths from the winning Balavan.
A feature of Balavan’s winning performances is the way that the margins between beaten runners is great, with those of lesser ability fully stressed to stay in contact.
So - where to from here for Balavan? How far through the ranks can this most interesting horse rise?
Proving that his stunning debut was no flash-in-the-pan Balavan has proven more than capable in moving through the provincial classes. I would have no hesitation in now bringing him to the metropolitan races. Time for a bigger test.
It was a very long wait to get Balavan to the races. But we may be at the very beginning of an enjoyable making-up-for-lost-time racing career.
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