See the stars of racing in England and the US
June 8th 2009 01:56
The Belmont Stakes victory by Summer Bird, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, displayed the fairy tale nature of horseracing. Stories with conclusions rich in drama, rich in irony, and always full of surprises.
Photograph: John Marsh/Action Images
Twice Kent Desormeaux has been denied Triple Crown Glory - and very recently and spectacularly so last year when Big Brown finished an inglorious last. But it was to be the very next year that Desormeaux would ride the perfect (perfectly timed) race aboard Summer Bird to deny Calvin Borel the distinction of winning the Triple Crown as a jockey (riding two different horses).
And to gain that distinction - a Triple Crown Winning jockey - the final ride needed to be worthy of that honour. It was not. Calvin was not terrible aboard favourite Mine That Bird, but on this occasion his early move (seemingly a winning move at the time) was a move made far too early over the the 1 1/2 mile trip.
In England Sea The Stars won the second leg of the English Triple Crown winning the Epsom Derby in brilliant style after earlier winning the English 2000 Guineas. Trainer John Oxx looks likely to defer from attempting the marathon third leg St Leger (14 furlongs) as even though Sea The Stars has now proven himself a world class stayer, he does see his future at the premier distance of 2000m - setting sights upon the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, or even the Breeders’ Cup - later in the year. But first it is likely he will contest races such as the Eclipse, Juddmonte International, or Champion Stakes in Ireland or at Newmarket. The ride by Mick Kinane on Sea The Stars was a brilliant display of settling a horse suspect at the trip - and timing his run to perfection.
2009 Epsom Derby
2009 Belmont Stakes
Sea The Stars going on to win Epsom Derby
Photograph: John Marsh/Action Images
Twice Kent Desormeaux has been denied Triple Crown Glory - and very recently and spectacularly so last year when Big Brown finished an inglorious last. But it was to be the very next year that Desormeaux would ride the perfect (perfectly timed) race aboard Summer Bird to deny Calvin Borel the distinction of winning the Triple Crown as a jockey (riding two different horses).
And to gain that distinction - a Triple Crown Winning jockey - the final ride needed to be worthy of that honour. It was not. Calvin was not terrible aboard favourite Mine That Bird, but on this occasion his early move (seemingly a winning move at the time) was a move made far too early over the the 1 1/2 mile trip.
In England Sea The Stars won the second leg of the English Triple Crown winning the Epsom Derby in brilliant style after earlier winning the English 2000 Guineas. Trainer John Oxx looks likely to defer from attempting the marathon third leg St Leger (14 furlongs) as even though Sea The Stars has now proven himself a world class stayer, he does see his future at the premier distance of 2000m - setting sights upon the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, or even the Breeders’ Cup - later in the year. But first it is likely he will contest races such as the Eclipse, Juddmonte International, or Champion Stakes in Ireland or at Newmarket. The ride by Mick Kinane on Sea The Stars was a brilliant display of settling a horse suspect at the trip - and timing his run to perfection.
2009 Epsom Derby
2009 Belmont Stakes
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