2018 Flat Issue 21 - One winner, plenty of news

Headline

Ghaiyyath stars in Paris

Report

At Longchamp last Saturday Ghaiyaath ( Martin, Steve), took his chance in the 1nm 2f group 3, chased leader, eased in to lead well over 1 out, ridden to extend advantage 1 out, kept on well inside last, winning by 3l. He gets 17.5 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        September          Total

Cliff                 28.5                         1005.4

Neil                 218.7                       944.3

Steve                112.2                     706

Tony                105.1                      683.9

Bob                 28.5                         366.8

Martin           29.5                           356      

Peej                80.8                          334.5

Cod                121                            246.2

News

John Gosden provided a positive update on on the brilliant Enable, who is a hot favourite to successfully defend her crown in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in a fortnight's time following her foot-perfect comeback at Kempton earlier this month.

Gosden said: "She has been good since the race at Kempton and we are happy with her. She has been cantering away. We are just building her up to the Arc and we are happy with her progress and she seems well in herself.

"Hopefully they will get a bit of rain in Paris as I thought the ground was a bit fast there last week, which is not entirely her scene as she appreciates getting her toe in. She will do a couple of pieces of work between now and then."

Enable is set to be joined in the field by stablemate Cracksman provided conditions are in his favour.The Frankel colt has not quite discovered his best form so far this season, but has enjoyed a break since suffering a shock defeat in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.Speaking in the rain in Newmarket, Gosden added: "Cracksman is building up for the Arc as well. If we get the rain there he will be running there, if not we will wait for the Champion Stakes.

"He worked yesterday and he is coming back. He very much enjoys this type of weather."

Sir Michael Stoute is considering options at home and abroad for Expert Eye as he aims to secure his charge a first Group One success. Stoute said: "I thought he was a bit unlucky in France and so did Ryan Moore. He could possibly go to the Prix de la Foret or the QEII at Ascot, and there is the Breeders' Cup Mile as well. I think the weather will decide where he goes. Good to soft would be acceptable, but he wouldn't want it any softer. He is in good shape and has come out of his last race well. "

Crystal Ocean has enjoyed a fine campaign for the yard, completing a hat-trick in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting before being narrowly denied by stablemate Poet's Word in the King George.He was no match for Enable in the September Stakes at Kempton on his most recent start, however, and connections are still considering whether to take on John Gosden's wonder-filly again in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next month.

Stoute added: "Enable is a machine and a freak, but he (Crystal Ocean) has been very solid all year. We've yet to decide if he goes to the Arc as I still need to talk to the owners

2018 Flat Issue 20 - All changing

Headlines

Gardens In Full Bloom at Doncaster

Lion Roars Home in Champion Stakes

Fly Proves she can at Leopardstown

Havana Grey Lands Flying Five Stakes

Bruntland

Report

We start at Doncaster on Saturday where in the 1m 6f Group 1 St Leger Stakes Kew Gardens ( Neil), went to post, Held up mid-division, pushed along 4f out, headway under pressure on outside 3f out, soon ridden, led inside final 2f, edged left and kept on well inside final furlong, winning by 2 ¼ l. He gets 82.8 points.

At Leopardstown in the 1m group 2 I Can Fly ( Tony), took her chance, In rear, pushed along into straight and raced on outer, soon effort, went 2nd from 1f out and led inside final furlong, stayed on well, winning by 1 ¾ l. She gets 51 points. 

In the 1m 2f Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes Roaring Lion ( Neil, Steve), Saxon Warrior ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Martin, Neil, Steve, Tony), took their chances.

Roaring Lion, Raced in 5th early, soon 6th, headway on outer from before straight, pushed along 2f out, 2nd 1f out, soon edged left, led close home, winning  by a neck. He gets 51.6 points.

Saxon Warrior, Tracked leaders, soon raced in 2nd, closed up halfway, on terms 2f out, soon led, headed close home, 2^nd beaten a neck, he gets 12 points.

On Sunday at The Curragh, in the 5f Group 1 Flying Five Stakes, Havana Grey ( Neil), took her chance, soon led , made rest, ridden and pressed 1 out, kept on well under pressure inside last, winning by ½ l. She  gets 55.8 points.

At Longchamp in the 1m 4f group 2 Bruntland ( Peej), went to post, led at steady pace, quickend when joined 2 out, stayed on strongly inside last, just retained narrow lead to line winning by a short head. He gets 48.4 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        September          Total

Cliff                 28.5                         1005.4

Neil                 218.7                       944.3

Steve                94.7                     688.8

Tony                105.1                      683.9

Bob                 28.5                         366.8

Martin           12                            338.5      

Peej                80.8                          334.5

Cod                121                            246.2

News

Superstar filly Alpha Centauri has been retired after suffering a chipped fetlock in her shock defeat to Laurens in the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.The news emerged on Sunday afternoon, after the Jessica Harrington-trained filly had undergone a thorough examination at Fethard Equine Clinic.

Remarkably, it was also confirmed on Sunday that Aidan O'Brien's QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior had been retired following a tendon injury sustained in the Irish Champion Stakes.

2018 Flat Issue 19 - Big weekend ahead at Donny and in Ireland

Headlines

Enable Lands

Mekong Drowns Rivals at Haydock

Limato takes

Report

We start at Kempton on Saturday where Enable ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Steve, Tony) made her reappearance in the 1m 4f group 3, Made all, driven when challenged over 2f out, drew clear inside final furlong, ran on well, winning by 3 ½ l. She is on course to try and win the Arc again.

She gets 16.5 points.

At Haydock in the 1m 6f handicap Mekong (Tony), went to post, Keen tracked leaders, led 2f out, pushed clear final furlong, winning impressively by 7l. He gets 25.6 points.

On Sunday at York in the 6f listed stakes, Limato ( Steve) took his chance, Close up behind leading trio, headway over 1f out, edged right and led inside final furlong, winning by 2l. He gets 26.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        September          Total

Cliff                 16.5                         993.4

Neil                 16.5                         742.1

Steve                43.1                      637.2

Tony                42.1                         620.9

Bob                 16.5                            354.8

Martin           00                             326.5      

Peej                32.4                           286.1

Cod                00                                234.2

It has been pointed out that I underscored the Duke of York Stakes won by Harry Angel at the start of the season. This is now amended

News

Roger Varian has not ruled out letting Defoe take his chance in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc Triomphe at ParisLongchamp should conditions be suitable.The son of Dalakhani, who is a general 33/1 shot for the 12-furlong prize on October 7, ran well in defeat on his first start since May when finding only Best Solution too strong in a Group One at Baden Baden earlier this month. Roger told the Punter: "It was a good run by Defoe in Germany and he had a lot of things against him."Take nothing away from the winner as he is a solid horse, but unfortunately how the race panned out didn't really suit Defoe."We will see how is, but all options remain open to him.

"He is a mile-and-a-half horse that likes a bit of juice in the ground, so let's see how the autumn weather acts as that will tell us where we go."

Order Of St George has been retired and will stand as a National Hunt stallion in 2019.The six-year-old won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2016 and also counted two Irish St Leger wins among the 13 victories he scored in 25 career starts.As well as having the stamina to win Group One races over two and a half miles, he also had the pace to finish third and fourth in the last two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes.In the 2016 renewal, he was part of a famous one-two-three for trainer Aidan O'Brien, when Found beat Highland Reel with Order Of St George in third.The son of Galileo has not run since finishing fourth in this year's Gold Cup and Coolmore's Richard Henry confirmed Order Of St George will now bow out.He said: "He has been retired and will stand as a National Hunt stallion for Coolmore in 2019."

Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior are on course to meet for the sixth time in Saturday's Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Rhododendron may also run along with Study of Man and Addyebb also still holds an entry.

Alpha Centauri is the star name among 16 fillies confirmed for the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday. Rhododendron and Happily also have entries as does Dan’s Dream.

 

2018 Flat Issue 18 - Oh This Is the only winner

Headlines

Oh This is Us Wins at Chester

Report

At Chester on Saturday in 7 ½ f handicap Oh This Is Us ( Peej), went to post, Mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon switched right, led entering final furlong, kept on well, winning by ¾ l. He gets 32.4 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                   August     September          Total

Cliff                 130.3                         956.9

Neil                 176.4                           705.6

Steve                190.8                         594.1

Tony                80                            558.8

Martin           51.6                             326.5      

Bob                 00                             318.3

Peej                112.1       32.4         286.1

Cod                00                                234.2

Apologies for  a bit of a cock up on the scores last week, I omitted Steve’s 33. 4 for Limato, and over scored Tony by 6. Amendments have been made.

Congratulations to Steve who is trainer of the month

News

Order Of St George may be denied the chance to bid for a third win in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger next at the Curragh on Sunday week.

Aidan O'Brien feels the six-year-old might just be feeling the effects of a demanding career that has seen him compete in many races at the highest level - not least when he won the 2016 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

"Order Of St George is in it (Irish St Leger), but I'm not sure he is going to make it. He is just feeling a little bit of age at the moment," said O'Brien.

Capri is on course to return to action at ParisLongchamp on Sunday week as Aidan O'Brien seeks to ascertain whether he is a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender.

Aidan O'Brien expects Kew Gardens to thrive at Doncaster as he bids for William Hill St Leger glory on Saturday week.

While he was beaten just under two lengths when third in the Great Voltigeur at York last time, O'Brien felt Kew Gardens' 5lb penalty for his ParisLongchamp win proved crucial and anticipates renewed form when switching back up to 14 furlongs on Town Moor. Spaeking to the Punter Aidan saidd: "I was delighted with Kew Gardens' run (at York). "It was not ideal having a penalty, but we felt we had to have a run and we thought that was the perfect place to give him a prep. "Ryan Moore was delighted with him and obviously he stays further. We always thought Doncaster would suit and hopefully the ground will be nice there."

Clive Cox believes he has left "no stone unturned" in his quest to get Harry Angel to show his best in the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

William Haggas would love to run Addeybb in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes if the ground is soft enough.

It all depends on the weather, obviously," William told the Punter."He's in the Champion Stakes or the QEII (at Ascot) and if the ground is as soft as it has been for most of the time (for that meeting), then he will go there."I really fancy having a go at the Irish Champion and that would be my principal target at the moment. He's also in a Group Two (Boomerang Stakes) over a mile there.

Crystal Ocean was a surprise name amongst 10 entries for Saturday's 188Bet September Stakes at Kempton which also includes Enable. John Gosden has been aiming last year's star Enable at the Group Three for some time after it emerged the Yorkshire Oaks was coming too soon.

However, he was probably not expecting Sir Michael Stoute to enter the King George runner-up, who is actually rated 1lb higher than Enable on the official ratings.If Crystal Ocean runs, though, he would be forced to give 8lb to the filly, who has not been seen since that famous day at Chantilly last October when she won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

An early reminder that the Jumps competition starts on Friday 16 November, strings will be due by close of play Monday 12^th November. As usual there will be a punters day out