The Pat Eddery Gr.I..
There we were all 19 of us riding this jumbo horse trailer accross the sky. Some seated on bales of straw, others brushing and tending their horses to settle ’em in on our long treck to Italy. There was a blackjack game going in one corner, a crowd gathered anound a “fresh pot of coffee” in another. Several tried to sleep, but the nervous anticipation of our destination over shadowed any weariness that tried to creep in.
“Folks..if I could have your attention”..this writer chimed up, ” I’ve got some breaking news”..”There was a 10% chance of an off-track this weekend, those odds have improved to 100% and the turf track is now listed as yielding”. A rippled groan penetrated the group and added lines of worry and concern crossed their faces. Not a word was said as each owner/trainer digested the news and it implications for their entries. The silence was killing me so I searched my mind for a distraction a bit of jibberish for alternate consideration.
“For those of us engaged in our 1st Equinics” I said, “here are a few trivia tid bits about our destination, first of all, we’re bound for Rome..the track is called Capannelle, it’s the premier racing venue of Italy. The track was established in 1881 and is located in the southwest suburbs of the city and during the racing season, it the site of the Derby Italiano and Derby Reale. The track never really established itself until a fellow called “Il Mago”, The Wizzard, showed up on the scene. Senor Federicp Tesio was “il Mago”. His 40 year dominance of Italian racing established it and gave creedence to Italian prominance in horse racing. He bred and raced many but is noted for ownership of such champions as Donatello II, Ribot and the undefeated Nearco.
It worked! You could see the changes on their faces already. They were now thinking of the possibilities, not the challenges that lie before them. “One other point I should mention…Pat Eddery, our race patron, won the Derby Italiano, at this very track, in 1982 aboard “Old Country”. He also won the Gran Premo Di Milano at a track called San Siro outside of Milan, on the champion “Tony Bin” that day. I needed to get back to the article, so I hunkered down on my bale and went back to typing.
I was soon joined by paceman2, a top breeder and trainer of Krishna(IRE). “She’s the class of the field” he stated, “But she won’t run a damn on a wet surface, I thought about the scratch option, but topicount is right..we represent the residencies in this one”. “Not an easy choice, no matter how you look at it”, I said. “Think of the racing patrons” I said..”how often do they get to see a Champion runner?..let’s see..Champion 3yr old, nominated as Turf Female Of The Year, multiple graded stakes winner on turf and dirt and one of the fastest horses on the planet. Down Under Racing picked the right contender in her”. “Yeah” he replied.. “D. Evans has ridden her once before in a Gr.I event..she finished 2nd in the Coalminer, I’ll take the 3/1 and be happy about it”.
That got me thinking about my own entry and co-second choice, Black Tie Dancer(IRE). The folks back in Ireland were counting on her. Heck, she’s 6yr old trained by my dochobo stable has 43 races under her belt. What’s she doing running at 7/1, against these kids, it’s a field of 4yr olds for god’s sake. But they didn’t give her that $$$ half million and she’s earned every one of her 11 victories. Z. Kentucky’s riden her well before and hell, we stole him from Magical Mia and the boots stable boys, there’s a measure of satisfactionin that alone. One more time gal, the breeding shed is not to far off now.
Co-second choice at 7/1 is osstables 5yr old Elnadim entry PJ Total Quest(GB). She’s got the goods..$560K in earnings 9 wins in 29 starts, a couple of trips over the track and several 14f stakes romps under her belt. She’s even broken her maiden on a wet surface. “Huumm”?? A Nexis gal with mid 90’s speed!! F. Marshall’s up and this one can stalk the pace or close hard and fast. Could be a payout here.
“I see that you’ve got the 06′ OSU football schedule and the DRF with you boots, somethings never change”.. “Magical Mia(IRE) and H Harzheim will still beat ya Doc”! responded the wiley sim veteran, who happens to be representing CR Racers in this one. ” I’ve brought her along slow..taken her through all of her conditions..even an open allowance before testing her in stakes company..she’s never faced the likes of Katrina(IRE) or a grade I challenge, but we’re confident”. “Confident my eye boots!..she’s a gift a 9/1..you got my credits..beat my football team..and your after Dancer’s fading glory and I have to quote ya do to your prominence in the sport!..That 16f turn up romp that she won by 5 in her last outing..I suppose ya going to tell me it was a fluke?” The coy smile told it all..”She’s won six in a row…and winning by huge margins, makes me think she has more to offer”..”get out of here boots..your a bandit without the gun!”..”got my good luck charms with me too ya know…the wife and the grandbaby are asleep up in 1st class”.
here’s more trouble I thought to myself..”well hello there Don Fabman”..trainer of Getaloadofthis and owner of fab19 stables. “Your pegged at 9/1 and are about to make a killing” I said. “Doc..Doc! don’t be so harsh…it’s true..she’s hot hot hot..she’s coming off the race of her life and coming into this one ready to rumble. We’re out for bear and have the horse and rider to get the job done.” “That 105 speed rating in the Gr III should have her set..don’t you think?”..”She’s trained well and is eating like a horse!” was his reply. ‘Another Distorted Humor prodegy makes good I thought to myself. This one could take it all…she has a versitile running style, fresh legs and a solid professional barn in fab 19, could be photo op in the making. “Fab, good buddy..they’re playing blackjack in the back for sim credits..maybe a hand or two…”Don’t push it Doc” he barked as he strode away.
Teen double digit entries are next and there are 5 of ’em…at 13/1..Stop The Groom T , a light grey by Runaway Groom, ships in for priceless stables. I’m told that the Northwest Racing Circuit selected her because of her recent improving form. hijacked-ted owns the 4yr old and has her “on top of her game”..her 16/6-2-5 turf record, really doesn’t say it all. She tuned up a few weeks back with a 6 length 12f stakes victory and has been clock around 3:02 for 14f. If true, she and jockey C. Indy will be a factor in the late running. She can run up close or close late, and Saturday’s yielding track my require quick changes in strategy as the race unfolds. Her versatility makes her dangerous.
Band Out Of Boston..is a 5yr old by Dixieland Band. Owned and trained by the savy racing veteran tigereyes, ie: nextbonus, BOOB will face the challenge of her young career. Always the competator, I’m not quite sure she has the stamina for a combined 14f and yielding surface. She hasn’t competed in stakes level competation at distances greater than 12f, but her 34/11-7-5 turf record and $587K in lifetime earnings says that she knows how to win. She’s the older of two stakes runners out of 8yr old brood mare Steve’s Ton. Both have enjoyed solid turf careers to date. She’ll represent The Queensland residency in this one.
16/1 choice, Mockingbird will honor the DelPenn folks on Saturday. The 4yr old is by Atticus out of a Kingmambo mare. She’s comming back from a torid 3yr old campaign where she competed in 10 Gr.I events, compiling a 10/1-2-2 record. Her connections breezed her through a 14F $7k allowance a few weeks back to re-aquaint her with her work. She won by 7 lengths and produced a 3:02 4/5 time. Alluvial stables is an exceptional young group who’ve garnered over $750K for their training effort, she is an outstanding example of their training prowess. They have reunited her with jockey P. Bangs who guided her to victory in the Gr.I Dur Arc Oaks.
Balinor, riden by T. Smal,l represents the Epsomdowns Residency’s hope and dreams. Trained by the young and talented gregchilds stable, the 4yr old Fantastic Light prodegy was claimed for “a song” just 4 starts back. Someone saw real value in her, she sports a 19/4-4-2 turf record with $214 K in purse earnings and is now in contention for a share of a million sim bucks. “She’s built for endurance and everything suggests that she can handle the going..make no mistake she’s a roughie!”…If that’s not owner confidence!!..At 18/1..good luck gal!
Gweneth(IRE) rounds this group out at 19/1. Owned and trained by singhis stables, the brown homebred is no stranger to this distance. Her times arn’t a fast as some would like to see, but a versitile running style could make up for time over a yielding surface. The GSR residency knows enough about horses and they have nominated her for this one. her 21/5-8-2 turf record speaks for itself. Question is???..can sophomore jockey J. Jobel bring her home for the photo.
It’s expected that pace setting Polishyev will press the pace in 6315. The tiramisu trained lady hasn’t shown the speed ratings that’s required to sit back and pounce..she’s no stranger to the distance but has been know to run low on energy as they run for home. She ended 05′ with a wire to wire victory, but that effort may be hard to duplicate against some of these brusing ladies. Benelux has sent her to do battle on their behalf, she’s rated at 22/1
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