The A to Z of racing: Aidan to Zito
June 4th 2010 05:27
Although racing in Australia this weekend boasts a high quality program in Queensland, it will be racing further afield that attracts the attention of many racing enthusiasts.
The 3 year old Triple Crown program in the US draws to its conclusion this weekend with the running of the Belmont Stakes. While the English Triple Crown is highlighted by its premier event - The Epsom Derby - and similar to the case in the United States, no individual horse seems likely to win multiple events.
(photo: Getty Images)
The last Triple Crown winner in England was actually the filly Oh So Sharp who won the Fillies’ Triple Crown of 1,000 Guineas Stakes; Epsom Oaks; and finally the St Leger Stakes. But with traditional reference, and impact, it is the colts who take prominence. The last colt to win the English Triple Crown was the mighty Nijinsky (Lester Piggott) in 1970. Last year the champion Sea The Stars won both the 2,000 Guineas, plus the Derby, but did not go on to contest the St Leger at Doncaster. But just to demonstrate his dominance and greatness he would then go on to win the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown; the International Stakes at York; the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown - and then win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp - thus being the only horse ever to have won the 2,000 Guineas; Epsom Derby; and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the same calendar year. Last year Sea The Stars exceeded the scope of the Triple Crown with his own template of greatness. Most likely - if recent history is maintained - the Epsom Derby winner on Saturday will not win (most likely not contest) the St Leger Stakes. Since Nijinsky only Sea The Stars (2009); Nashwan (1989) and Reference Point (1987) have won more than one leg - with Reference Point the only one of the trio to win the last two legs - The Derby and St Leger.
So this season there was always going to be a let down. The Aidan O’Brien Montjeu colt St Nicholas Abbey was touted as the new Sea The Stars on the back of his brilliant 2 year old year. But he disappointed as a new 3 year old in the 2,000 Guineas, and after much vacillation he has ultimately been left out of the Epsom Derby.
Aidan O’Brien will however still saddle the favourite for the Derby in the ultra impressive Gallinule Stakes (Group 3) winner Jan Vermeer. O’Brien will also be targeting the French Derby (Prix du Jockey Club) on the weekend with Cape Bianco.
In the US there have been several close calls to breaking the Triple Crown drought after consecutive winners with (the latest) Affirmed in 1978 - and Seattle Slew the year earlier in 1977. It almost seemed too easy that decade with Secretariat winning the Triple Crown in 1973. That made it 3 winners in 6 years. Although a closer look would confirm that these three winners were no ordinary horses. So many close calls since with eighteen horses to have won two of the legs, with the most recent being Big Brown - seemingly unstoppable until the Belmont, his inglorious run, and the surprise win of Da’Tara. And in 2010 we already have two different winners and a merry-go-round of entries and exits, with Super Saver winning the Kentucky Derby in the mud, and Lookin At Lucky prevailing in the Preakness after having no luck at earlier starts. Neither will be seen in the Belmont.
The Belmont Stakes looks to be a battle between the runners-up in both lead up events. The favourite is the Nick Zito trained Ice Box who was runner-up in the Kentucky Derby after he thundered home from an impossible position. Nick Zito is no stranger to Belmont Stakes success being the trainer of the unwanted 38/1 outsider Da'Tara who went on to win Big Brown’s Belmont in 2008 - denying yet another contender Triple Crown Glory. This episode a repeat of denial with Zito defeating Smarty Jones in 2004 when his 36/1 outsider Birdstone was successful. The question seems to be: can Zito train the winner of the Belmont if it is the favourite? The other major contender appears to be Preakness Stakes runner-up First Dude. His front-running effort in the Preakness was full of merit and endeavour. But with these two horses we have opposite racing styles: the leader and the closer. The result may well be influenced by tactics and tempo.
The 3 year old Triple Crown program in the US draws to its conclusion this weekend with the running of the Belmont Stakes. While the English Triple Crown is highlighted by its premier event - The Epsom Derby - and similar to the case in the United States, no individual horse seems likely to win multiple events.
Sea The Stars - Epsom Derby winner 2009
(photo: Getty Images)
The last Triple Crown winner in England was actually the filly Oh So Sharp who won the Fillies’ Triple Crown of 1,000 Guineas Stakes; Epsom Oaks; and finally the St Leger Stakes. But with traditional reference, and impact, it is the colts who take prominence. The last colt to win the English Triple Crown was the mighty Nijinsky (Lester Piggott) in 1970. Last year the champion Sea The Stars won both the 2,000 Guineas, plus the Derby, but did not go on to contest the St Leger at Doncaster. But just to demonstrate his dominance and greatness he would then go on to win the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown; the International Stakes at York; the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown - and then win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp - thus being the only horse ever to have won the 2,000 Guineas; Epsom Derby; and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the same calendar year. Last year Sea The Stars exceeded the scope of the Triple Crown with his own template of greatness. Most likely - if recent history is maintained - the Epsom Derby winner on Saturday will not win (most likely not contest) the St Leger Stakes. Since Nijinsky only Sea The Stars (2009); Nashwan (1989) and Reference Point (1987) have won more than one leg - with Reference Point the only one of the trio to win the last two legs - The Derby and St Leger.
So this season there was always going to be a let down. The Aidan O’Brien Montjeu colt St Nicholas Abbey was touted as the new Sea The Stars on the back of his brilliant 2 year old year. But he disappointed as a new 3 year old in the 2,000 Guineas, and after much vacillation he has ultimately been left out of the Epsom Derby.
Aidan O’Brien will however still saddle the favourite for the Derby in the ultra impressive Gallinule Stakes (Group 3) winner Jan Vermeer. O’Brien will also be targeting the French Derby (Prix du Jockey Club) on the weekend with Cape Bianco.
In the US there have been several close calls to breaking the Triple Crown drought after consecutive winners with (the latest) Affirmed in 1978 - and Seattle Slew the year earlier in 1977. It almost seemed too easy that decade with Secretariat winning the Triple Crown in 1973. That made it 3 winners in 6 years. Although a closer look would confirm that these three winners were no ordinary horses. So many close calls since with eighteen horses to have won two of the legs, with the most recent being Big Brown - seemingly unstoppable until the Belmont, his inglorious run, and the surprise win of Da’Tara. And in 2010 we already have two different winners and a merry-go-round of entries and exits, with Super Saver winning the Kentucky Derby in the mud, and Lookin At Lucky prevailing in the Preakness after having no luck at earlier starts. Neither will be seen in the Belmont.
The Belmont Stakes looks to be a battle between the runners-up in both lead up events. The favourite is the Nick Zito trained Ice Box who was runner-up in the Kentucky Derby after he thundered home from an impossible position. Nick Zito is no stranger to Belmont Stakes success being the trainer of the unwanted 38/1 outsider Da'Tara who went on to win Big Brown’s Belmont in 2008 - denying yet another contender Triple Crown Glory. This episode a repeat of denial with Zito defeating Smarty Jones in 2004 when his 36/1 outsider Birdstone was successful. The question seems to be: can Zito train the winner of the Belmont if it is the favourite? The other major contender appears to be Preakness Stakes runner-up First Dude. His front-running effort in the Preakness was full of merit and endeavour. But with these two horses we have opposite racing styles: the leader and the closer. The result may well be influenced by tactics and tempo.
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