Barbaro Updates: 310
updates are now here.
Update 2064: Glenye Cain Oakford is on vacation in England and spent the day at Royal Ascot. Here is Glenye's report:
The return of George Washington after his short-lived stud career was, naturally, a major topic among racegoers on Tuesday at Royal Ascot's opening day, and the race he turned in may have led to more questions than it answered. But it did answer a significant one: Gorgeous George does definitely still have the talent he showed on the racecourse last season! The big question that remains is one that also dogged him back in those earlier days: can they keep his mind on racing? They did well at that task before the colt went to stud, but a horse who has bred is understandably thought to be perhaps mentally less suited for training than one that hasn't, having discovered other things to think about. Complicating this is the fact that Gorgeous George was famously temperamental even before he went to the breeding shed.
At Royal Ascot, he looked superb and it was obvious to all who saw him that Aidan O'Brien had him fit enough for the job off his long layoff. Hopes were high in the wake of Coolmore's triumphs with other runners earlier in the day. But the difficulty of managing such a fragile-minded animal became readily apparent when jockey Mick Kinane cantered him down to the start. The horse weaved and fought Kinane much of the way, finally settling into a nice gallop toward the gate but only under a hold so strong he was galloping with his mouth wide open. Under control, but just barely, as a former jockey seated with me observed. Aidan O'Brien, walking back to the stands after seeing George off on his gallop to the gate, stopped in the middle of the racecourse, top hat tilted backwards as he gazed up in apparent displeasure at the giant infield TV screen, which showed the horse's antics larger-than-life.
George's was a quixotic performance, but there was much to be optimistic about in that run, I think. He looked so well beaten with a furlong left to go that my companions and I had frankly written him off, but then he surged on again with that scalding kick and looked brilliant in the last yards to take fourth. If O'Brien can get his head in the game to the extent they were able to before he retired, I think Gorgeous George's fans will be in for some more great racing from this horse. This morning's headline in the Racing Post saluted him with "Welcome back, Gorgeous!" I think his fans justifiably are still very much delighted to see him again and should look forward to more.
The real mystery of the day was Cockney Rebel, whose fifth-place finish in the St. James's Palace must have been a relief to bookmakers, who probably faced bankruptcy if this red-hot favorite had won! His trainer and jockey seemed to feel the right-handed track was a problem for the horse, who hung left and just did not appear to fire, from where we sat.
Earlier in the day, Lael Stable fans would have been delighted to see the Jacksons' colors again, this time on Enticing. They brought Enticing out of the saddling paddock and onto the green Ascot course very early, so early in fact that once she reached the gate jockey Jamie Spencer just dismounted and let a waiting groom walk the horse in circles while waiting for the rest of the field to arrive. The filly was widely believed to be taking a step up here, and after an early pace that the announcer described as "scorching the grass," she came home fifth, running down the middle of the course.
Beyond the truly thrilling races--top-class horses, a few breathtaking blanket finishes with a group of horses all bunched close at the wire--opening day at Ascot was a day to remember. Especially for me, as this was my first visit to this particular course. American racegoers who do not follow English and European racing would have found the course itself a real novelty. It's roughly triangular in shape, all turf, and with an undulating straightaway (the word the British use for the homestretch). The configuration of English races is also a real treat for Americans, as you can have a six-furlong race entirely on the straight, and they are not afraid to card REAL distance races here, either. The afternoon's fifth race, the Ascot Stakes, was contested over two miles "and about four furlongs," on the Flat. In America, you wouldn't see that distance outside a steeplechase meet! For me, this is racing as God must have intended it: gentle undulations on the course, irregular-shaped courses, some righthanded and some left, a real, traditional test of a horse, running over much the same ground as their owners would have put them over in the 1700s and earlier, even before the Thoroughbred. But that is, of course, my own opinion! Though I really DO think God must certainly have intended that racegoers begin their day as my husband's family always does at Royal Ascot, by whisking out a foldaway table and a picnic basket (tablecloth included) in the grass car park and unpacking Champagne, new potato salad, ham, salmon sandwiches, salad, sausage rolls, and on and on ... good fortification for the very long walk to the racecourse proper and for the great day of racing ahead!
The fashions are also a big subject at Royal Ascot, and the opening day didn't disappoint here, either. Hats varied from tentative clumps of feathers that looked as if the lady had pasted a chick to her head to the wildly opulent to the garishly extravagant. One woman we saw was wearing a lovely linen suit of palest gray, paired with a gray straw hat so large it draped down to her shoulders and about a foot down her back. It looked very much as if she were being eaten by an elderly octopus, and no one within about 20 yards of it could look at anything else. As she coversed with her friend railside at the paddock, she would nod; from behind, you could only see the enormous saggy hat with its scalloped brim, nodding gravely up and down around her shoulders, as if its wearer was being slowly consumed! Needless to say, a few intrepid racegoers were busy discreetly snapping photos behind her.
And, in closing, I should say that yes, every man in the world is instantly improved by the addition of a handsome waistcoat, top hat (provided the hat is of the correct size!), and morning dress, the required attire in certain sections at Royal Ascot. From our spot on the fourth floor, it was hard not to feel swept away to a different age. Below us there was only the bright green grass of the course, the ladies' hats like flowers blooming along its rail, and the horses galloping by. I think, by any measure, this is a slice of heaven.
Update 2063: Sabina Pierce and I will be hosting a talk tomorrow night, in Narberth, near Philadephia, at 7 pm. This should be a fun evening for those in the Philadelphia area: BARBARO NIGHT
with Sabina Louise Pierce and Alex Brown.
Update 2062: Georgeous George behaved well in the paddock. He was a little rank going down to the start (they do not use ponies). He was rank early in the race, looked well beaten about a furlong out and then came with a renewed run to close the gap and come up only a neck short, finishing fourth: RAMONTI EDGES QUEEN ANNE VERDICT.
A little earlier Cockney Rebel was beaten by an O'Brien trio: ART STRIKES AS O'BRIEN DOMINATES.
Update 2061: Another filly beats the boys, this time at Royal Ascot: ANDRETTI RULES IN KING'S STAND. She was the favorite, beat the course record by two seconds, and may run again on saturday!
Update 2060: Another warm morning this morning at Fair Hill. I guess we are in the midst of a heatwave! I had three to ride today. First out was Gator Nation. He went to the Tapeta track and galloped a mile and a quarter. Tim was with me on Real Lace. We did not gallop together, both would be too kean if we did that. I described to Tim my experience at New Holland yesterday. We discussed one of the thoroughbreds I saw who had only recently run at Penn National. Fortunately he was rescued, but while it is rescue from slaughter it will be a few days before we know if he will live or need to be humanely euthanized. Second set was the Tale of the Cat filly. She went to the dirt along with Tim on Nonpareil. They jogged back to the 5/8ths and galloped a mile. They went well together although my filly got to looking around a little bit as there was some new construction between the two tracks (they are building a second gap for the inner Tapeta track.) This is all a part of her early education. Finally I rode Quick Quest, he went to the Tapeta track along with Tim on Mediman and Robbie Walsh on Whip Smart. They all galloped around very nicely. Coming home I heard Mike Goswell on the tannoy "Loose horse" ...
Update 2059: Its opening day for the Royal Ascot meet today and some terrific racing. Gorgeous George makes his racetrack return after an abortive attempt at a stud career (George Washington returns at Royal Ascot). Cockney Rebel, winner of the English and Irish Guineas, looks set for the St. James Palace Stakes (Cockney Rebel headlines St. James's Palace). The globe-trotting Takeover Target is one of four Australian horses going into the sprint (Australian quartet poses threat in King's Stand). This race also includes the Jackson's Enticing.
Good luck to those in Washington DC this week..
Good morning!
We could really use more volunteers in NC.
Please email me if you can help...
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Welcoming committed individuals
to help save horses with the NC calling group...
an hour a week is all it takes, and we make it fun and easy...come on Tarheels, I know you're out there!
antislaughterlobby@earthlink.net
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Posted by: Christian at June 19, 2007 11:18 AM