(more than) Halfway To Heaven
August 3rd 2008 07:28
Halfway To Heaven gave Aidan O'Brien Group One Winner number seventeen this season with an unexpected, though not surprise result, when winning the Blue Square Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
(photo: sportinglife.com)
Halfway To Heaven was sent out at 5/1 second favourite, but it was expected that the even money favourite Lush Lashes would win the day.
And just to reinforce the power of the trainer and jockey combination of Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh, it was the tactical skill of Murtagh on this filly that without doubt won the day.
Kevin Manning on Lush Lashes ran into trouble and lack of galloping room before getting the filly finally (belatedly) clear and flying home.
Aidan O'Brien is now more than halfway-to-heaven, or to the record at least. He presents quality performers in peak condition at feature carnival after feature carnival. And with the services of Johnny Murtagh, who is riding so brilliantly - the roll of feature race winners keeps climbing .
This win by Halfway To Heaven further emphasises the outstanding quality of French filly Zarkava. I wrote this last month:
"Her efforts have been aided in part by the inclusion of stablemates who ensured a strong pace in the Prix de Diane, while at her previous start at Longchamp in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Aidan O’Brien’s Halfway To Heaven set an extremely fast pace at the start of the race, which enabled Zarkava to finish in a course record time. Halfway To Heaven managed to hold on for a brave third. "
Here is a replay of the Nassau Stakes. Halfway To Heaven sits second off a slow pace and quickens and is brave to the line. Watch Lush Lashes (white colours inside runners) get held up and squeezed. The head on shot is particularly revealing. Group One win number seventeen for Aidan O'Brien (just how well is Johnny Murtagh riding!. Another brilliant display). And was Kevin Manning on Lush Lashes a victim of circumstances - or just responsible for a bad ride? This was one that got away from Lush Lashes. Really should have won easily.
Halfway To Heaven holds on to win Nassau Stakes
(photo: sportinglife.com)
Halfway To Heaven was sent out at 5/1 second favourite, but it was expected that the even money favourite Lush Lashes would win the day.
And just to reinforce the power of the trainer and jockey combination of Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh, it was the tactical skill of Murtagh on this filly that without doubt won the day.
Kevin Manning on Lush Lashes ran into trouble and lack of galloping room before getting the filly finally (belatedly) clear and flying home.
Aidan O'Brien is now more than halfway-to-heaven, or to the record at least. He presents quality performers in peak condition at feature carnival after feature carnival. And with the services of Johnny Murtagh, who is riding so brilliantly - the roll of feature race winners keeps climbing .
This win by Halfway To Heaven further emphasises the outstanding quality of French filly Zarkava. I wrote this last month:
"Her efforts have been aided in part by the inclusion of stablemates who ensured a strong pace in the Prix de Diane, while at her previous start at Longchamp in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Aidan O’Brien’s Halfway To Heaven set an extremely fast pace at the start of the race, which enabled Zarkava to finish in a course record time. Halfway To Heaven managed to hold on for a brave third. "
Here is a replay of the Nassau Stakes. Halfway To Heaven sits second off a slow pace and quickens and is brave to the line. Watch Lush Lashes (white colours inside runners) get held up and squeezed. The head on shot is particularly revealing. Group One win number seventeen for Aidan O'Brien (just how well is Johnny Murtagh riding!. Another brilliant display). And was Kevin Manning on Lush Lashes a victim of circumstances - or just responsible for a bad ride? This was one that got away from Lush Lashes. Really should have won easily.
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