Haradasun promises and Big Brown delivers
May 18th 2008 01:28
The real excitement this week has been in the wider world of racing, rather than the local news. I prefer the depth and detail of an SBS television news service, with investigations (correct pronunciations of the most complex name) and insight into the drama, beauty and politics of the world. A five minute background and insight into the mind (the plastic reinvention) of Silvio Berlusconi instead of a local news package with eyewitness quizzed about something observed (minor car crash or cat up a tree). Sometimes real interest is slightly beyond the inner suburban boundaries of Kew, Camberwell, or Broadmeadows. And so.
Like Germaine Greer or Clive James we had the opportunity to watch our newest expatriate, Haradasun, on prime time in Great Britain. Neither as controversial or entertaining (in this episode at least), he finished midfield and sixth (a field of eleven) in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, over one mile. Not disgraced by any means as Haradsun finished only two and a half lengths from the winner (Godolphin’s Creachadoir) after striking interference in the last furlong and not really being comfortable in the early dawdling tempo. Creachadoir will next race in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, this also being a target for Haradasun.
Watch the replay and you will see Haradasun begin to surge late before being stopped in his tracks.
In the US Big Brown had no Eight Belles to contend with in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and won by five and a quarter lengths after again racing wide and (in replica of the Kentucky Derby) exploding with a powerful sprint at the top of the straight. Jockey Desormeaux ‘shut the engines down’ and let him cruise to the line under his own momentum in a display likely to deter any rivals considering more than the possibility of a runners-up cheque in the (final leg of the triple crown) Belmont Stakes (June 7th). Although Big Brown will have to step up in distance to a mile and a half, neither extra distance or factors of rain or wide running appear capable of stopping him from his destiny. With this new win now stretching to five undefeated starts, his combined winning margins now stretches to 39 lengths (with more up his sleeve).
(photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Big Brown has already been sold for $US50 million dollars before the Preakness and will stand at Three Chimneys Stud in Kentucky when he retires from racing at the end of this season.
Racing is an organic business interconnected by the twin demands of a breeding industry, and the theatre and entertainment of the racing product. When Efficient produced dazzling speedfigures as a three year old I was quoted as saying how pleased I was that he is a gelding. There most likely would not have been a Melbourne Cup addenda otherwise. And most recently how happy and grateful (for circumstance and fate) that Weekend Hussler is similarly a gelding. Personally I would love to see Big Brown race as a four and five year old in feature races around the globe. There would still be ample time for stud duties and profit to follow.
In Melbourne Gorky Park was a most impressive winner of the two mile (3200m) Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington on a day of persistent rain. Gorky Park is another horse to have made an incredible recovery after stem cell surgery as a result of bowing a tendon in his three year old year. A very accomplished staying horse who handled the trip with ease (the 58kg no anchor at all) and treated his (admittedly ordinary) rivals with utter contempt. After finish second to Efficient in the 2006 Derby he has proved his staying prowess and liking for Flemington once again with this performance. He is definitely in the mix of possibilities for the Melbourne Cup of 2008.
Sarrera moved north from Sydney (and Group One glory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick) to win consecutive races at the highest level with victory in the Doomben Cup. Not favoured by his preferred soft ground on this occasion he was ridden another masterful race by Damian Oliver to take short cuts and sprint home hard to win. When a horse is at a peak and in its element (distance range) it is often that the jockey can find every gap and advantage as the race unfolds. Sarrera may have his campaign curtailed now because of his unexpected great success and an adventurous Spring campaign mapped out. There is even consideration of a Cox Plate. Could he win a Cox Plate? Unlikely, but if his confidence stays high and we get a very wet Spring then the unlikely would not be entirely impossible.
Like Germaine Greer or Clive James we had the opportunity to watch our newest expatriate, Haradasun, on prime time in Great Britain. Neither as controversial or entertaining (in this episode at least), he finished midfield and sixth (a field of eleven) in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, over one mile. Not disgraced by any means as Haradsun finished only two and a half lengths from the winner (Godolphin’s Creachadoir) after striking interference in the last furlong and not really being comfortable in the early dawdling tempo. Creachadoir will next race in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, this also being a target for Haradasun.
Watch the replay and you will see Haradasun begin to surge late before being stopped in his tracks.
In the US Big Brown had no Eight Belles to contend with in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and won by five and a quarter lengths after again racing wide and (in replica of the Kentucky Derby) exploding with a powerful sprint at the top of the straight. Jockey Desormeaux ‘shut the engines down’ and let him cruise to the line under his own momentum in a display likely to deter any rivals considering more than the possibility of a runners-up cheque in the (final leg of the triple crown) Belmont Stakes (June 7th). Although Big Brown will have to step up in distance to a mile and a half, neither extra distance or factors of rain or wide running appear capable of stopping him from his destiny. With this new win now stretching to five undefeated starts, his combined winning margins now stretches to 39 lengths (with more up his sleeve).
Big Brown wins Preakness
(photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Big Brown has already been sold for $US50 million dollars before the Preakness and will stand at Three Chimneys Stud in Kentucky when he retires from racing at the end of this season.
Racing is an organic business interconnected by the twin demands of a breeding industry, and the theatre and entertainment of the racing product. When Efficient produced dazzling speedfigures as a three year old I was quoted as saying how pleased I was that he is a gelding. There most likely would not have been a Melbourne Cup addenda otherwise. And most recently how happy and grateful (for circumstance and fate) that Weekend Hussler is similarly a gelding. Personally I would love to see Big Brown race as a four and five year old in feature races around the globe. There would still be ample time for stud duties and profit to follow.
In Melbourne Gorky Park was a most impressive winner of the two mile (3200m) Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington on a day of persistent rain. Gorky Park is another horse to have made an incredible recovery after stem cell surgery as a result of bowing a tendon in his three year old year. A very accomplished staying horse who handled the trip with ease (the 58kg no anchor at all) and treated his (admittedly ordinary) rivals with utter contempt. After finish second to Efficient in the 2006 Derby he has proved his staying prowess and liking for Flemington once again with this performance. He is definitely in the mix of possibilities for the Melbourne Cup of 2008.
Sarrera moved north from Sydney (and Group One glory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick) to win consecutive races at the highest level with victory in the Doomben Cup. Not favoured by his preferred soft ground on this occasion he was ridden another masterful race by Damian Oliver to take short cuts and sprint home hard to win. When a horse is at a peak and in its element (distance range) it is often that the jockey can find every gap and advantage as the race unfolds. Sarrera may have his campaign curtailed now because of his unexpected great success and an adventurous Spring campaign mapped out. There is even consideration of a Cox Plate. Could he win a Cox Plate? Unlikely, but if his confidence stays high and we get a very wet Spring then the unlikely would not be entirely impossible.
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