It was the battle of the European residencies last Saturday as EAAA and Epsom Downs went head to head in their battle for supremacy. EAAA looked favourite on paper before the big event kicked off, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of  Epsom Downs residents, who believed that a victory could be pulled from the fire.

The battle was fought over 8 races with each residence choosing 4 races each, both trying to gain an advantage over the other with their choice of  race conditions. The winners would be crowned Champion Residence of Europe, and with it the bragging rights for the next 12 months.

So there it was, EAAA members packed their suitcases and headed over to the home track of Epsom Downs.(Epsom of course)

RACE 1

2965.3407

10 Furlongs  allowance 3 yo + Dirt

After the gamesmanship that had occurred in the last few weeks before the res challenge, it was good to finally  get the action underway. Both residencies knew the importance of a good start but as it turned out it was a personal triumph  for one man, who produced an unbelievable performance. The boss of EAAA  Kev, aka Coolk aka Kevoman aka Londoner aka Cooldude aka The Shiekh(the last ones a new handle just acquired) finished with 6 horses in the top 8 and had it not been for Epsom Downs Jeremyf  who finished 3rd, would have totally shut Epsom Downs out in the top 5 point scoring positions. A remarkable triumph for this mild mannered trainer who is at the top of his game. . You cannot say anymore about the guy other than he lead by example.What a start he got his res off to.

Points after race 1: EAAA     21      5   EPSOM DOWNS

RACE 2

2965.3408

8 Furlongs  allowance 3 yo+  Turf

In what looked on paper a difficult race to predict. It was vital for Epsom Downs to cut into the lead that EAAA had acquired after the first race. It turned into a cracker of a race with thr first 2 pulling well away from the field and going eyeball to eyeball all the way up the straight. Unreasonable from the monopoly stable(EAAA) pulled out all the stops to head the unlucky looking  long time leader Scoobies Zig  from Epsomdowns deep into the final furlong and record a fine victory for his res. The front 2 speed figures of 109 and 108 showed these series of races were really stakes class under the guise of  allowances. The point scoring positions in this race was vital for Epsom Downs as they could not afford to slip any further behind, and they duly obliged filling the positions 2^nd to 5^th and cutting into that EAAA lead.

Points after race 2:    EAAA     31          21    EPSOM DOWNS

RACE 3

2965.3409

6.5  furlongs allowance 3 yo+ Turf

So on it was to the 3^rd race, with Epsom Downs feeling revitalised after closing the gap in the 2^nd race. Would this renewed confidence help their cause. The answer was to come with a devastating body blow. In a superb team performance EAAA totally shut out their European rivals and scooped all the points, finishing with the first 5 home. Captain Kev again led by example finishing with the winner and the 5^th placed horse. He was backed up with a surprise 2^nd from Pogo, and Meuci producing the 3^rd and 4^th placed horses. Its all looking good for EAAA now.

Points after race 3:       EAAA     57         21      EPSOM DOWNS

RACE 4

2965.3411

6.5 furlongs allowance 3 yo+  Dirt

4 th race of the challenge, and Epsom Downs had to produce something just to keep the score respectable. With EAAA starting to look out of sight only a special performance would do for Epsom Downs if they were to have even the slightest chance in the challenge. And 2 men from Epsom Downs rose to the challenge. Magoo and Deyto  had their charges in excellent condition to go and do justice for their res.Smouldering Street and Froshus Ambroshus fought out the finish with the former going on to score. Unfortunately for Epsom Downs their ever decreasing chance of actually winning this challenge may have vanished with EAAA horses finishing 3^rd 4^th and 5^th. So despite a good performance in the race Epsom Downs were only able to chip away a small piece of the EAAA lead.

Points after race 4:     EAAA      66           38     EPSOM DOWNS

RACE 5

2965.3412

9 Furlongs allowance 3 yo+ Dirt

This had become a vital race in the context of things as a good result for Epsom Downs would put them back in a position to challenge with the 2 miler to come, which they seemed to have a strong hand in. A decent result for EAAA would probably put them out of  reach. So this may have been crunch time. Epsom Downs must have been devastated as only Moleh,  whose  South Philly finished 3^rd , prevented another clean sweep of the points by EAAA. It was captain Kev once again leading the way with the 1-2 in the race, and just about ensuring that no matter what was to come it would be almost impossible to catch the new European Champions in waiting.

Points after race 5:     EAAA      87           41        EPSOM DOWNS

RACE 6

2695.3412

2 Miles allowance    4 yo+ dirt

This had always promised to be a tough race for EAAA with Epsom Downs having the best of it on paper. But could they still perform with the heads starting to drop? The answer was a resounding yes as only Kev, who managed a fifth place with the non staying favourite preventing an Epsom Downs whitewash. In what would prove to be their best race of the day they filled the first four positions with Scoobi  helping himself to a 1-2. Would this provide the springboard to one of the most outrageous comebacks ever seen?

Points after race 6:          EAAA      88               66          EPSOM DOWNS

RACE 7

2965.3414

8 furlongs  3 yo  Turf

So there we have it. Epsom Downs had clawed their way back  to sit in the position of 1 good race  away from drawing level or even taking the lead. They must have been filled with renewed hope after the two miler and had all the momentum on their side.So what happened in this race, after all their hard work,  must have been a complete disaster. Out of nowhere , EAAA`s  whisper stepped up to the plate and slammed the door of hope firmly shut in the face of Epsom Downs with a remarkable 1-2, ably supported by Meucci and Morrighan who filled the minor placings. So there it was .Mathematically impossible for Epsom Downs to catch up now, victory was guaranteed and champagne corks could be heard popping in the EAAA hospitality tent.

Points in race 7:   EAAA      114                 66            EPSOM DOWNS

RACE  8

2965.3416

7 Furlongs  3 yo       Dirt.

With victory assured EAAA might have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas but not a bit of it. Whisper, who had done so well in the last race decided that he liked the taste of champers and wanted another bottle. He duly sent his Cattski Bidder out  with instructions to sit behind and kick on the bend. He won with a 99 and EAAA members also finished 3^rd and 5^th.

Points after race 8:      EAAA    130               76         EPSOM DOWNS

It was a marvellous days action at Epsom with some real good prospects on show. The races may have been called allowance class, but members of both residencies know that they were really stakes races in disguise.

A fine competition has come to the end and we have a winner.

And the new European Champions

The residency named             

E A A A   

Congratulations to the winners and commiserations to Epsom Downs   

E A A A :   A HOME FROM HOME

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