Barbaro Updates: 81
updates are now here.
Update 699: Peter Brette just called, he had spoken to Michael, who had visited Barbaro this afternoon. Barbaro remains comfortable. Peter plans to visit Barbaro tomorrow.
Update 698: Rachel from Kennett Florist left this update (timestamp: 9:12pm):
Afternoon all!
Sorry I never got a chance to post yesterday, things were a bit busy here at the homestead. Everyone seems to be in good spirits at NBC... they a litte help from the sugar fairy today. Barbaro had his carrots and treats delivered in a timely manor... we don't want him waiting on his stud muffins. We also found out he really likes the Nicker Makers, so Alie and I stopped and stocked up.
Mrs Jackson was at NBC today. She was out front getting her picture taken... forgot to ask her what it was for. She was standing in front of all the signs hanging on the fence at the entrance (one was hung on the day of our get-together by Della). The weather has gotten cooler here, it feels like fall. But I bet it feels good to graze on a crisp fall day!
WE BELIEVE!!
The Bloodhorse has a page in rememberance to Lost in the Fog: REMEMBERING Lost in the Fog.
Update 697: A couple of races in North America to keep an eye on for the weekend. The Louisana Super Derby is the principle 3yo race: Super Derby a Classic confrontation. Lawyer Ron, Point Determined and Strong Contender will each need impressive performances to move forward to the Breeders' Cup Classic. One of my all time favourites, Sunday Silence, used a win in the Super Derby to prepare for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The second race, The Sky Classic Stakes, a grade 2 turf race, to be run on sunday in Woodbine: Better Talk Now seeks return to winning ways in Sky Classic at Woodbine. Lets hope we see Better Talk Now return to his winning ways, and if we do, I can get an interview with Ramon Dominguez, who I think will be in Fair Hill next week. Graham is quoted in the article:
"I've said all year that he's as good as he's ever been," Motion said. "I still believe that. But he'll have to step up on Sunday and prove he is the same horse."
and
"I still get emotional when I think back to the Breeders' Cup. It was a turning point for me in my career," Motion said. "Year in and year out, he gives everything he has. But to me, he has never gotten the respect he deserves. He's a great horse."
Update 696: One of my remaining sets was Chappy (me), breezing with Happy (Tim). Judge, who trains Chappy, had his neighbour and a couple of their friends visiting to watch. They all read this site, I thought that was very cool. For the breeze itself, Happy went very well, Chappy was fine, but I do think she prefers the turf (she seemed to handle the woodchip track when breezing so much better, which is a good signal to indicate a turf horse.) Her pedigree is also pretty much all turf. We shall see, we still have a little way to go before they are ready for the races.
Sue McMullen sent this e-mail, the preview of the key races at Ascot this weekend:
Saturday's card at Ascot is billed as 'The Mile Championships' and includes the best all-aged mile race in Europe, the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The winner of this race is often crowned champion miler of Europe and since the World Thoroughbred Racehorse rankings were first published in 1979, 11 winners of the QEII have headed the mile category, with seven occuping second place.
Not suprisingly, nine very classy horses line up tomorrow and all eyes will be on the enigmatic George Washington. Bred by the Jacksons, George won the 2,000 Guineas in the same imperious and exciting manner as Bobby won the Kentucky Derby, but that victory also labelled him, perhaps unfairly, as having a somewhat fragile temperament, which Ballydoyle have tended to play down. He was slightly reluctant to go down to the start, proved difficult to load into the gate and then, to the amusement of onlookers, refused flatly to walk into the winners' circle, which prompted debate in the press about his 'temperament' and if it would withstand further racing. To be fair to him, he wasn't leaping about or uncontrollable when refusing to go into the winners' circle, just quietly planting his feet and saying 'no' but much was made of this 'aberration'. He was beaten on his next two outings, first at the Curragh in the Irish Guineas, where he faced what was described as soft ground, but was in fact bog-like, and also pulled muscles, but still managed to finish second. His injury resulted in time out of serious training to recover, and he made his comeback last month at Goodwood in the Celebration Mile, where just about everything went wrong for him. He was slow to break, was rank early on and hung badly right and didn't seem to like the straight, exhibiting the same erratic style of running as he had at Newmarket, but he still showed the electric acceleration in the uphill finish to grab third. In his defense, Goodwood is a totally different track to anything he'd experienced and it clearly didn't suit him, plus his pacemaker River Tiber seemed to have forgotten he was there. Ascot should suit him better and he is now apparently accompanied everywhere by a retired stablemate to keep him happy. Aiden is always very defensive of his horses, understandably, and describes George as an intelligent individual who wants to do things his way and was just inexperienced at Newmarket. Horses aren't machines and they sometimes get unfairly labelled especially by racewriters, some of whom have pretty fragile temperaments themselves and who know little about horses off the track, just because they are a bit different. As long as the seriously talented George can handle the pressures of the the big event, who are we to question how he does it and to be fair, he's coped well since Newmarket.
In 11 attempts O'Brien has never won this race, coming close to it with the hugely talented and very unlucky Hawk Wing, who was dogged with problems throughout his career, and the awesome Giants Causeway, who was only beaten on tactics by Observatory in 2000. Everybody knew that if he saw the whites of their eyes, nothing could get passed 'the iron horse' in a battle, so they brought Observatory so ridiculously wide he was almost in the car park and Giants Causeway didn't see him until it was too late. Sneaky, but the only way to do it.
Lining up against George, who heads the betting market, will be his stablemates Ivan Denisovich and River Tiber, plus his Irish 2,000 Guineas conqueror, Araafa and the Godolphin trio, Echo of Light, Librettist and Proclamation. And if that doesn't set the scene for a mouth-watering clash, add the heroine of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Naninna, and Court Masterpiece, winner of the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (ahead of Araafa and Echo of Light) and Killybegs, winner of this year's Craven Stakes who finished ahead of George at Goodwood. Despite the quality and experience of the opposition, there is no doubt that an in-form George can beat this illustrious crew.
Another Group One on the card is The Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile, always a useful pointer to the following season's classics, won in the past by the likes of Nannina, Soviet Song, Reams of Verse, Oh So Sharp and Bosra Sham. Sadly it will be without the hot favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas, the American-bred and very exciting filly Sander Camillo (by Dixie Union) as her next target is the Chevely Park. But eight nice fillies line-up, including the unbeaten Sesmen, English Ballet, winner of the Sweet Solera Stakes and Simply Perfect, winner of the May Hill.
Update 695: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (thursday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was heading out on my third set this morning. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. For the third set Tim and I took Chesapeake City Slew and Grandma out back to gallop up the hills. There were two other sets of horses out there galloping around, Tim thought it was a little like Newmarket Heath. I am not sure Newmarket has the deer we have, seemingly placed ready to spook the horses.
It is another beautiful morning at Fair Hill. During my first set, galloping on the dirt track, I saw Miraculous Miss galloping by me. She looks good, and I am guessing will be getting ready to work after her big win at Delaware. I also saw Red Aspen out grazing by Tim's barn. Tim said she ate up well last night after her nice win.
update 8:00 am, friday morning, september 22
Update 694: This morning's Barbaro update might be a little later, an hour or so. Just an FYI. In the meantime here is Fred Stone's painting of Barbaro: A Legacy of Hope
Barbaro.
The Bloodhorse reports Horse Slaughter Bill on Hold. While this is clearly a set back, do not let it derail your efforts. You can also sign this petition.
Mike Rea will get to spend a little time at home this weekend: Good Morning Everyone and has been out to watch some soccer: One Tired Man. I really hope the soccer team was more successful than mine, who were unceremonially dumped out of cup competition mid week in england!
The IN HONOR OF BARBARO RESCUE CHALLENGE continues, this fifth challenge is to honor Lost in the Fog.
Finally, The Daily racing Form confirms Sue McMullen's e-mail yesterday (update 691): Dylan Thomas may go to Turfway.
Good morning everyone. Thanks to all and to Alex.
Pamela, (carrying over from last update), thanks for the info on Sen. Martinez...that's even better than I'd hoped for. Bravo for you work!
Barbaro, have a great day!
Posted by: Lily at September 22, 2006 9:58 AM