One eye to the future - Blind Luck
April 28th 2010 09:18
If, as expected, Blind Luck can take out the Kentucky Oaks this coming Friday, there is every possibility that she will thereafter tackle the males in the Preakness. Especially if Devil May Care - who races in the Kentucky Derby to avoid a clash with Blind Luck in the Oaks - acquits herself well against the males in the Derby.
(photo by Cheryl Ann Quigley) click image for enlargement
The performance of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra an indication - if not a template - for a path to greatness in 2010. With equal billing on Friday - though not overshadowing the rising star - is the return of a now fitter Rachel Alexandra who returns to the scene of her emphatic 20 1/4 length win in 2009 to contest the Grade Two (Group Two) La Troienne.
In Australia the reluctance that US trainers have to race the females against the males is noted - but also puzzling. Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta proved in 2009 that there is no gender gulf in power or speed between the sexes. In Australia Makybe Diva three times won The Melbourne Cup over the gruelling 3200m (2 miles) distance - culminating with a brilliant performance carrying the burden of 58 kg at her third consecutive victory in 2005. And currently the best horse in Australia - in my opinion - would be the outstanding mare Typhoon Tracy. Regularly our feature 2 year old races are won by precocious and powerful fillies beating the colts. There is no reluctance here to mix the fillies with the colts - although here we have been spared the terrible images of an Eight Belles incident.
Blind Luck is currently rated as 6-5 favourite for the Kentucky Oaks. Her most recent victory was when at odds of 1-2 in the Grade Two Fantasy at Oaklawn Park on April 2nd. Blind Luck has won 6 races from her 9 career starts and amassed $US1,069,050 in prizemoney. She will be ridden by regular jockey Rafael Bejarano who has been her rider at her past 4 starts.
Blind Luck is from the first crop of Pollard’s Vision - a horse blind in one eye. Pollard’s Vision was named in honour and reference to Seabiscuit’s regular jockey - the one-eyed Red Pollard. An unfashionable sire - with a daughter on the verge of greatness.
Cheryl Ann Quigley Equine Photography
RacingWrite welcomes as a contributor Cheryl Ann Quigley.
Blind Luck - returning to the winner's circle with Rafael Bejarano up after her victory in the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Park in February.
(photo by Cheryl Ann Quigley) click image for enlargement
The performance of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra an indication - if not a template - for a path to greatness in 2010. With equal billing on Friday - though not overshadowing the rising star - is the return of a now fitter Rachel Alexandra who returns to the scene of her emphatic 20 1/4 length win in 2009 to contest the Grade Two (Group Two) La Troienne.
In Australia the reluctance that US trainers have to race the females against the males is noted - but also puzzling. Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta proved in 2009 that there is no gender gulf in power or speed between the sexes. In Australia Makybe Diva three times won The Melbourne Cup over the gruelling 3200m (2 miles) distance - culminating with a brilliant performance carrying the burden of 58 kg at her third consecutive victory in 2005. And currently the best horse in Australia - in my opinion - would be the outstanding mare Typhoon Tracy. Regularly our feature 2 year old races are won by precocious and powerful fillies beating the colts. There is no reluctance here to mix the fillies with the colts - although here we have been spared the terrible images of an Eight Belles incident.
Blind Luck is currently rated as 6-5 favourite for the Kentucky Oaks. Her most recent victory was when at odds of 1-2 in the Grade Two Fantasy at Oaklawn Park on April 2nd. Blind Luck has won 6 races from her 9 career starts and amassed $US1,069,050 in prizemoney. She will be ridden by regular jockey Rafael Bejarano who has been her rider at her past 4 starts.
Blind Luck is from the first crop of Pollard’s Vision - a horse blind in one eye. Pollard’s Vision was named in honour and reference to Seabiscuit’s regular jockey - the one-eyed Red Pollard. An unfashionable sire - with a daughter on the verge of greatness.
Cheryl Ann Quigley Equine Photography
RacingWrite welcomes as a contributor Cheryl Ann Quigley.
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