What a cracking finish to the Prix De L’Arc de Triomphe!
As I anticipated yesterday (see the blog) the very soft going did indeed prove an obstacle to those trying to come from a long way off the pace, as it generally slowed down the race to the extent that with less than 3f to run there were at least half the field still holding a winning position and as they passed the 2f pole there must’ve been 7 horses “line-abreast” across the course.
Despite the bumping and boring, you cannot take anything away from WORKFORCE who recaptured his Derby winning form. Such was his brilliant display at Epsom back in June that if he was able to find that form again then it was unlikely that any in this field would be able to beat him – and so it proved. My primary selection, Fame And Glory, was well-placed if he was good enough, but perhaps the lack of a recent preparatory run did for him as when asked he found nothing. That is no disgrace in this quality field, and he’s one to seriously consider next-time-out. My other consideration, Calvalryman, merely stayed-on having held a decent position for much of the race, and perhaps this going was too soft for him. Tremendous credit must be given to the runner-up NAKAYAMA FESTA from Japan. He came with a great run and almost took the race. And you also have to consider the future prospects of the 3rd SARAFINA, who came from a long way back on the outside. The Prix de Dianne winner was having only her 5th start, and you have to wonder now just how good is the Henry Cecil trained Midday who beat her fair-and-square in the Prix Vermeille?
What I would say is that the pictures provided by the French TV were excellent. The overhead shots and the close-ups in slow motion were amazing, a real spectacle. I believe there is something to be learned there by UK broadcasters trying to appeal to a wider audience. As for the BBC, and putting Willie Carson on a box next to Clare Balding – isn’t it about time that the diminutive Scot was retired? He has never looked comfortable on tv (when in a morning suit for Royal Ascot he looks like a ventriloquist dummy) and his comments are far from informative, as he usually states the obvious. It again begs the question of the BBC as to why they are continuing to televise racing? They either leave it to Channel 4 and the other independents (ATR and Racing UK) or they embrace the sport properly and do it justice.
The Ryder Cup
I woke this morning feeling a tiny bit confident that my advised 2pt wager on Tiger Woods to be the top-scoring US player at odds of 11/2 may be successful. He’s scored 2pts from 3 matches, with Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar also on 2pts. However, as I write (at 11:10am) Stricker and Kuchar are losing, but Cink is ahead (1 up) and Tiger is 2-down after just 2-holes!
It looks like the Europeans are going to give the Yanks a good thrashing today and send them back across the pond with their tails between their legs.
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Thanks from Wayward Lad
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