Barbaro Updates: 82
updates are now here.
Update 706: Strong Contender beat Lawyer Ron in the Louisiana Super Derby: 'Contender Packs Big Wallop in Super Derby. Having watched the race on HRTV, I am not sure either will be able to step up and compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Two nice three year olds, and perhaps Strong Contender has a bright future down the road, but I don't think either is currently in the same league as Bernardini ?
Update 705: Apparently the Queen Elizabeth race today at Ascot, won impressively by the Jackson-bred Georgeous George (George Washington), was a race of controversy which left one jockey banned: O'BRIEN AND DETTORI IN ASCOT ROW. Sue McMullen provided this on the spot report:
Some fall-out from today.
We had high drama and almost 'high noon' at Ascot this afternoon, following George Washington's effortless victory in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which has left some of us mystified and will do little to enhance relations between Coolmore and Godolphin.
Readers of this may wonder why I made no reference to the incident in my review of the race, and the truth is that it wasn't worthy of comment in the context of an outstanding display, under hands and heels and no resort to the whip, from a horse described by Kinane as one of the best he's ridden. And none of us could have known how this incident would unfold.
Shamus Heffernan on George's stablemate Ivan Denisovich drifted slightly wide causing Frankie Dettori on Goldolphin's Librettist who was challenging wide, to move further out. It happens in racing and jockeys here are duly censured. But it made no difference whatsoever to the outcome of the race as Librettist was already flat to the boards, going nowhere and George Washington had still to find a gap to make his run. Frankly, Librettist wouldn't have beaten George today unless he'd been given a ride in the Godolphin horsebox, and even then I would have backed George.
Those of us close to the weighing room when Frankie walked back in realised from remarks he was making for all to hear that he wasn't exactly happy with what had happened but Librettist was well and truly beaten, which must have been frustrating for him. I have to report that some of us thought it was just Frankie not being very happy with life but the stewards subsequently banned Shamus Heffernan for 14 days for careless riding and alleged team tactics. Many in the press room felt that this was a draconian punishment. Shamus looked dumbfounded and utterly shocked when he emerged from his encounter with the stewards. Careless riding? Ok. But team tactics? For what purpose exactly? George's electrifying burst of speed when he finally saw daylight needed no help from anybody, other than the man aboard and even he wouldn't have broken into a sweat.
It is likely that the incident will be reported in the US racing pages and it's a desperate shame that a wonderful performance from a great horse and a fantastic training achievement to get him back should have such an unpleasant and sadly largely irrelevant allegation hanging over it. There was never any suggestion that it made any difference to the outcome of the race, with George Washington trouncing his opposition.
Aiden is a softly spoken, genuinely modest and mild-mannered individual but he looked very angry when he emerged from the stewards room. There was an ugly scene when Frankie swore at him using a four-letter word, in front of journalists and officials. Shamus was given quite a severe punishment for a dubious allegation that has left many of us mystified, so it will be interesting to see if Frankie is disciplined for swearing at a trainer in public.
On a happier note and before this drama unfolded, I had a quiet word with Aiden and told him the gist of my preview for this site when I touched upon the continued emphasis on George's alleged fragile temperament and how much was made of this, with the BBC even using the services of a horse behaviour expert. He said ' have you ever known anything so ridiculous?' He seemed really pleased and thanked me for expressing my views, shaking my hand in gratitude, which I found deeply touching. Modest as ever, he attributed George's impeccable behaviour today to the team at home.
Update 704: I went over to New Bolton Center at lunchtime with Peter. Peter visited Barbaro while I relaxed and looked at the get well wishes that are in the reception area and hung on the outside fence. I did see some of the well wishes that appeared to have been left from those who visited NBC last weekend, very nice.
Peter groomed Barbaro, changed his bandages, and put on a massage blanket for 20 minutes. I think this is a typical routine when Peter visits. The entire visit lasted about 50 minutes. All is well, Barbaro remains comfortable.
Update 703: Sue McMullen e-mailed this report from Ascot:
Gorgeous George served it up to them today in fantastic style. Turning into the straight he was trapped behind horses with nowhere to go but seeing a gap Kinane went for it and yet another son of Danehill showed the way home. He went after Araafa, who beat him in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, like a heat-seeking missile and scooted past. It was a very, very impressive performance. I was secretly pleased to see him confound the detractors who describe him as quirky with a perfect display of cool. He walked around the parade ring like a lamb, taking everything in and looking around, without a bead of sweat and I was just a few feet away from him. It's a very hot day and yet he was totally unperturbed, loading into the gate without a problem. As mentioned yesterday, much has been made of his 'temperament' and I noticed on one of the monitors that the BBC even had expert opinion from a well-respected horse behaviourist commenting on the George enigma. Front page of the Racing Post screamed 'Can George Keep His Head?'. Well he did and he showed them! Ok, so maybe he does have a few quirks but to listen to some, you half expect a raging beast to appear, lathered with sweat, eyes bulging on stalks, pawing the air. It was also a great training performance on the part of O'Brien to bring him back after injury in the Irish Guineas and for helping him settle.
This is some horse and his fans can only hope he can continue to show his brilliance and remain as cool as he was today.
I was speaking to Mike Cattermole, presenter on one of our dedicated racing channels and race caller, (and one of the nicest guys on the planet) about Bobby and he said 'he's doing OK isn't he? It's a great story'. It's good to know that Bobby has a big following here too!
This report is necessarily brief as I must allow Paul back onto his own laptop!
Update 702: Sue McMullen sent us this quick update from Ascot:
It's a beautiful warm day here at Ascot and I'm able to send this with the invaluable help (his words!) of my occasional colleague Paul Wheeler from the Sunday Herald who has very generously allowed me to use his laptop. I wasn't expecting to work today so although I have a press pass, I don't have a berth!
There is an old saying that you should back the horse belonging to the first trainer you see at the course and when I arrived I just happened to bump into Jeremy Noseda, handler of Simply Perfect who has just won the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile. The ground is officially soft but they've been going off at a fair pace and this race was no exception. By tomorrow the ground should have dried out and be almost perfect. The unbeaten Sesmen was a bit rank early on and had to make her own running so it possibly wasn't a true indication of her ability, but you can't take anything away from the winner who Noseda described as a very tough filly who improved for this trip. The daughter of Danehill drifted close to the line, causing Jamie Spencer on Treat to snatch up but following the inevitable steward's enquiry, the places remained unaltered.
Noseda confirmed that Sixties Icon will be supplemented for the Arc. It's a bold move for this winner of the St Leger and they know they have three very good horses to take on, but he's tough and frankly, good luck to them. When you have a good horse you might as well shoot for the moon. It's a great position to be in to have one good enough to go for the Arc and all credit to them.
The O'Brien team won the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes for two year old colts with Admiralofthefleet, ridden by Mick Kinane. The ground had been a worry for this son of Danehill and they went off at a scorching pace, but Kinane just sat and bided his time. This impressive colt is one of 84 Derby entries from Ballydoyle.
QEII to follow
Update 701: Just saw Miraculous Miss coming back from the woodchip track. She had just worked 7/8ths under Ramon Dominguez. Everyone seemed pleased with the move, she went in 1:31. We have a visitor today, Debbie, and we are now in the clockers stand watching training and workers after the break.
Update 700: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (friday night). I saw Michael Matz as his third set was preparing to go to the track. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. Peter also noted he is planning to visit Barbaro today, so hopefully I will get an update from that visit. Its a quiet day for me today, ridden two, and two more to go. All two year olds, three of whom are doing a little breeze. Of the first two, the first breezed / open galloped, and he went well although a little slow, I had misjudged the clock!
This is a very poignant poem: Please come back for me... It is also in the comments of update 81, timestamp 4:19 am.
update, saturday, 7:40 am, september 23
Good morning Bobby, Alex & Everyone! Bobby, glad you had another good night.....I hope the day ahead is also a good one for you! :) We have a very rainy day here in NJ, don't know if you are getting the same, but stay dry today, Bobby, and the rain will grow that grass for you! :)
Posted by: Ruth Ann at September 23, 2006 11:41 AM