Racing review: Hotpots and howlers from the last seven days in the world of horse racing
ANOTHER week has flown by in the world of racing. There’s been plenty to discuss on and off the track. Take a look at our latest instalment of Hotpots and Howlers, where we pick out the good, the bad and the downright ugly from the past seven days. Hotpots Once again, Aidan O’Brien and ‘the […]
ANOTHER week has flown by in the world of racing. There’s been plenty to discuss on and off the track.
Take a look at our latest instalment of Hotpots and Howlers, where we pick out the good, the bad and the downright ugly from the past seven days.
Hotpots
Once again, Aidan O’Brien and ‘the lads’ dominated the Derby at Epsom, with five of the first six home trained at Ballydoyle and carrying a variety of Coolmore silks.
But the real ‘Daddy’ on this occasion was the star stallion Galileo, himself a Derby hero in 2001 for O’Brien.
The super stud was the dad or grandad of 12 of the 13 runners in the Classic field, while he is the great uncle of Sir Dragonet, who was fifth.
His boy Anthony Van Dyck gave him a fourth Derby winner after Australia, Ruler Of The World and New Approach. His influence on racing and the breed can’t be overstated, he is simply a giant.
WHERE NOW? Which races will the Derby runners target next?
It is good to see the likeable Roger Varian enjoying a brilliant start to the season.
Zabeel Prince won a Group 1 in France last week and Varian didn’t have to wait long to taste more top-level success.
Defoe, who has often threatened to breakthrough in top company, gained his first Group 1 win when flying home to nail Kew Gardens in the Coronation Cup.
The Newmarket handler is operating at a scintillating 22% strike-rate this year and he will no doubt win several more big races before the end of the year.
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Howlers
Ryan Moore had a Derby Festival to forget.
The leading rider went too soon aboard Kew Gardens in the aforementioned Coronation Cup and he was caught late by the fast-finishing Defoe.
He didn’t learn from his mistake and gave top Oaks contender Pink Dogwood a stinker, producing the talented filly with a rapid move out wide over 2f out, leaving her vulnerable in the finish to Anapurna who was given a ground-saving ride.
He is usually a man you can depend upon in the big races, but on this occasion he got it badly wrong.
It’s becoming a weekly theme, but it’s something I will bang on about until Racing TV take action.
When the racing in Ireland is run-of-the-mill, like it was on Saturday, the coverage needs to be placed behind the red button.
We were denied in-depth previews and post-race analysis at Epsom on several occasions because the channel had to cover Navan and Tramore.
I find it baffling that the Irish authorities opted to switch to Racing TV in the first place.
But flagship Saturday meetings are regularly being interrupted and not given the coverage they deserve. It detracts from both the action in the UK and in Ireland and it needs to be sorted out.