2020 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to the connections of...

Ghaiyyath

There was a belated start to the season due to the pandemic but Ghaiyyath was ready to go on the first Saturday and landed a big prize. Charlie Appleby's stable star took the Coronation Cup at Newmarket by two and a half lengths from 2019 Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck.

That win was worth 78.8 points to Steve and there was more to come a month later. The venue was Sandown for the Coral Eclipse. William Buick was in the saddle again and piloted the 9/4 shot to a comfortable two and a quarter length win over racing royalty Enable. That earned another 81.4 points.

York in August was next on the agenda for the five year old and the Juddmonte International was delivered in style. An eased-down win by three lengths at 11/8F favourite from Aiden O'Brien's Magical landed another 79.2 points and put Ghaiyyath firmly in the driving seat for Horse of the Season honours.

There was defeat in the horse's last race though. Magical turned the tables by three quarters of a length at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes. That was still worth 26.04 points under the new single pick rules though. (Magical was in with a shot of the title but finished third in the Champions Stakes at Ascot to finish runner-up overall for the second successive flat season.)

Ghaiyyath was being aimed at the 2020 Breeders Cup but was retired after showing signs of soreness after a piece of work.

The top three this season were:

265.44 - Ghaiyyath (78.8 + 81.4 + 79.2 + 26.04)

216.7 - Magical (52.4 + 51.1 + 30 + 83.2)

145.6 - Sottsass (54 + 91.6) 

2020 Flat Issue 21 - Editor wins fourth flat title

Headline

Brentford Destroys Rivals Hopes at Haydock

Report

At Haydock last Friday in the 1m handicap, Brentford Hope ( Bob, Martin, Steve), went to post, Took keen hold, chased leaders, headway cruising from 3f out, pressed leader going easily from 2f out, led final 110yds, winning in a canter by ¾ l. He gets 13.6 points. 

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                     October      Total

Cliff            00            872.4

Tony            00              792.4

Bob             13.6            720.75

Steve            26.8          624.09

Neil            00                578.75

Martin        64.2          476.95

Peej            00               391.55

Cod             91.6          307.35

So, COD is trainer of the month, the Editor Champion

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

News

Ghaiyyath has been retired

2020 Flat Issue 20 - Competition still in the balance

Headlines

Angel Powers home at Newmarket

Report

At Newmarket  last Friday in the 1m 2f fillies and mares group 3 Angel Power (Martin), went to post, Held up in midfield, switched left 3f out, ridden and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won going away, by 2  ½  l. She gets 37.4 points.

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                     October      Total

Cliff            00               872.4

Tony            00              792.4

Bob             00             707.15

Steve            13.2           610.49

Neil            00                578.75

Martin        50.6            463.35

Peej            00               391.55

Cod             91.6          307.35

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

News

Enable has been retired, be interesting to see if Juddmonte put her to Frankel at some stage.

Kameko, the 2,000 Guineas hero who had been a leading contender for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, will not run in the Qipco-sponsored event, connections outlined on Wednesday.

Trained by Andrew Balding for Qatar Racing Limited, whose founders are involved in the backing of Champions Day, Kameko will not line up because of the ground, but is due to head to the US for next month's Breeders' Cup meeting at Keeneland.

2020 Flat Issue 19 - Into the final furlong

Headlines

Rocco wins in Berkshire

Sottsass Lands The Arc

Report

We start at Ascot last Friday where in the 1m 6f listed stakes, Berkshire Rocco ( Martin, Steve), went to post, Made all, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, kept on, just prevailed, gamely, winning by a head. He gets 13.2 points.

At Longchamp om Sunday in the 1m 4f group 1 Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe, Sottsass ( Cod), took his chance, Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, driven over 1f out, led 1f out, kept on well final furlong, driven out, winning by a neck. He gets 91.6 points.

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                     October      Total

Cliff            00               872.4

Tony            00              792.4

Bob             00             707.15

Steve            13.2           610.49

Neil            00                578.75

Martin        13.2            425.75

Peej            00               391.55

Cod             91.6          307.35

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

News

Jean-Claude Rouget believes the decision to retire Sottsass to stud so soon after his victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris Longchamp is the right one. The four-year-old colt ended the leading French trainer’s long wait to win the European middle-distance championship, 12 months on from his third placed finish behind Waldgeist and Enable.

He was able to better that on Sunday, emerging victorious from In Swoop and Persian King, with Enable back in sixth place. Rouget admitted after the race he did not know if his star would be seen again and it emerged on Monday evening that the Siyouni colt – in whom Coolmore purchased a 50 per cent share in January – would not run at the Breeders’ Cup and had indeed been retired.

2020 Flat Issue 18 - Not all over yet

Headlines

Kameko lands Joel stakes

Cloak finds winning Spirit at Newmarket

Report

We start at Newmarket on Friday where in the 1m listed stakes for fillies and mares, Cloak of Spirits ( Martin) , went to post, Close up, pushed along and led under 3f out, edged left from 2f out, ridden over 1f out, hung left final 110yds, kept on, winning by ½ l. She gets 33.8 points.

In the 1m group 2 Kameko ( Tony), took his chance, Chased leaders, pushed along from 4f out, headway 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well, always doing enough, winning by ½ l. He gets 45.2 points

John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                     September      Total

Cliff            57.6           872.4

Tony            258.9        792.4

Bob             252              707.15

Steve            56.04            597.29

Neil            52                578.75

Martin        80   .7         412.55

Peej            40.7             391.55

Cod             16.9              215.75

So congratulations to Tony who is trainer of the month

Grand Slam 

Leg 1 Neil  

Leg 2 Tony

Leg 3 Tony

Leg 4  Cliff

Leg 5 Neil

News

John Gosden fears Enable faces a "mighty task" in trying to concede seven pounds to Love in Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe., Persian King, Stradivarius and Sottass, also hold entries. With soft ground looking probable, I think Stradivarius at 15/2 is a cracking each way bet.

Battaash remains an intended runner in the Prix de l’Abbaye as things stand, despite the prospect of very soft ground at ParisLongchamp.