Wednesday, November 10, 2004

THE 2004 CARTIER AWARDS NEARLY DECIDED

Trainer Mark Johnston was responsible for last year's winner of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Award, Attraction, who is now one of the main contenders for both the 2004 Cartier Horse Of The Year Award and Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award.

Attraction has had a phenomenal season, carrying the Duke Of Roxburghe's colours to four victories including two classics, the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas, plus the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She then suffered a mid-season blip when losing three times in succession, going down to Soviet Song in both the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

However, Attraction silenced her doubters in Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes early last month, when the last-minute decision to run paid handsome dividends with a particularly game front-running victory over Chic.

If Attraction is the best three-year-old filly over a mile, the Ed Dunlop-trained Ouija Board is the tops over an additional four furlongs and the obvious pleasure which owners Lord and Lady Derby gained from her exploits made her a truly popular winner in whichever country she was competing in.

Having started the year with a six-length success in a Listed event at Newmarket in May, she went on to capture two classics in great style, the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom and the Darley Irish Oaks.

After a mid-season break, she was a fast-finishing third to Bago in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in early October and she rounded off the month with a historic success in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Lone Star Park in Texas, where she was given a vintage Kieren Fallon ride to beat Film Maker comfortably.

Soviet Song has been a tremendous servant to her syndicate owners, the Elite Racing Club, and, in addition to her two defeats of Attraction, the James Fanshawe-trained filly won the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July, getting the better of a tremendous tussle with Nayyir by a neck.

The 2003 Cartier Horse Of The Year Award went to Dalakhani, while last year's Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly Award was won by Russian Rhythm.

Cartier's Older Horse Award is another intriguing category which is a close call between Soviet Song, Godolphin's Doyen and Rakti.

Doyen was described by Frankie Dettori as the easiest King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes winner that I have ridden', when coming home three lengths ahead of American raider Hard Buck at Ascot in July. The previous month, the Sadler's Wells colt had put up another impressive performance at the same course's Royal Meeting, defeating High Accolade by six lengths in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Rakti is not the easiest horse in the world to train but there is no doubting his ability and Michael Jarvis did well with the five-year-old, who began the season with a two-length success over Powerscourt in the 10-furlong Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Rakti showed his versatility when successful in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over a mile at Ascot in September, holding on by half a length from younger rival Lucky Story.

The Luca Cumani-trained Falbrav won the award last year.

This year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Bago is a leading candidate for the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Award, as is Godolphin's Rule Of Law who gamely scored in the St Leger at Doncaster in September, and the John Oxx-trained Azamour, winner of the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The last-named was no match though for the Barry Hills-trained 2,000 Guineas winner Haafhd in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket last month. Haafhd is another in contention in a closely fought out section.

On the same day at Newmarket, the unbeaten Shamardal and Oratorio, already a Group One winner, finished first and second in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and, not surprisingly, this pair are leading contenders for the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Award.

THE OPEN IS ALMOST HERE

The Open (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 12-14) comprises three days which herald the moment when jump racing takes centre stage. Each day has its own character and together they form an irresistible package.

Friday/Sunday admission prices are Club/Tattersalls: £20, 16-24s: £12; Best Mate: £6.

Saturday's admission prices are Club: £30 Tattersalls: £20: 16-24s: £15; Best Mate: £10.

GOING

Simon Claisse, Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course, reports the ground as currenty GOOD (7.7 on the GoingStick) on the chase and hurdle course and GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES (7.3 on the GoingStick)) on the cross-country course.

The forecast is for predominantly dry weather, with the chance of small shower on Friday afternoon or evening.

CANTILLON CONSIDERING CHELTENHAM FOR BE FAIR

Newmarket trainer Don Cantillon is mulling over whether to run his stable star Be Fair in the £20,000-added Jim Brown Memorial Novices' Chase over two miles, four and a half furlongs, at Cheltenham on Paddy Power Gold Cup day, Saturday, November 13.

The six-year-old has an impressive strike rate, having won six of his 11 starts, with three bumper successes in 2002/03 and three wins coming over hurdles last season. Two of his best runs came in defeat, when second to Bold Bishop in the Grade Two Champion Standard Bumper at Aintree in April, 2003, and when a staying-on fourth behind Sadlers Wings in the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in April, 2004.

On October 31 he made his chasing debut over two miles at Huntingdon, finishing two and half lengths second to Almaydan.

Cantillon reported today: "I'm not sure whether Be Fair will run at Cheltenham on Saturday in the Jim Brown Memorial Novices' Chase.

"He's certainly in good order but I'm just not sure whether he is man enough' for Cheltenham at this stage of his chasing career.

"The problem is that it looks a very hot race at the moment. Mine is certainly a very nice horse but the question is whether I let him take his chance at Cheltenham or do I wait for an easier race at Huntingdon again for him? But then again, the ground looks as though it will be in his favour at Cheltenham. He's ready to run somewhere.

"His first race over fences was over an inadequate trip but I thought he ran a super race. It's difficult to find a race as there are few opportunities for him in the programme - I was going to run at Huntingdon yesterday but the race was only a 0-110 contest."

During his short career, Be Fair's one disappointing run came at Cheltenham in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper of 2003, when he finished 21st behind Liberman. Cantillon explained: "That run will be a mystery to me until the day I die! We will never know what happened. But after that he went on to Aintree and ran a great race there. Last season he won his first three races at Aintree and then ran a blinder at Punchestown. I've forgotten about the Cheltenham run and I'll certainly send him back there at some point."

The trainer, who has had a bet of £1,000 at 100/1 for Be Fair to win the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at some point during his career, joked: "Wouldn't that be great now! It probably won't happen but it's good to have a dream!"

A total of 16 entries were received for the Jim Brown Memorial Novices' Chase at the five-day stage. Other entries include the Martin Pipe-trained Comply Or Die, an impressive winner at Wincanton last weekend, and Nigel Twiston-Davies' Fundamentalist, victorious in the Grade One Royal & SunAllinance Novices' Hurdle last season.

The race commemorates the late Jim Brown, who died in May at the age of 71. Jim was an accountant and successful jumps owner, winning the 1995 Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup with Kadi. He also had a share in the 1991 Paddy Power Gold hero Another Coral.

LESTER COMES TO CHELTENHAM

Lester Piggott will be at Cheltenham on Saturday to sign copies of his latest book - "Lester's Derbys" in the Arkle bookshop.

The "Long Fellow" is of course remembered as the most famous Flat jockey of all time, having won the Epsom Derby on a record nine occasions. However, he also has connections with jump racing, having ridden a total of 20 winners over hurdles - including the 1954 Triumph Hurdle on Prince Charlemagne.

Lester will also present the trophy to winning connections in the opening Racing UK Novices' Handicap Hurdle on Saturday. He will be joined by fellow ex-jockey turned bestselling author Dick Francis for this event. Dick's biggest success at Cheltenham came when he partnered Red Steel to success in what is now the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.

The following authors will all be signing their books:

Friday, November 12
Sir Peter O'Sullevan - "Peter O'Sullevan's Racing Heroes"
Henrietta Knight - "Best Mate"
Jenny Pitman - "The Vendetta"
Lesley Bootiman - "Owning Racehorses - What It's Really Like"

Saturday, September 13
Lester Piggott - "Lester's Derbys"
Henrietta Knight - "Best Mate"

Sunday, September 14
Jenny Pitman - "The Vendetta"
Henrietta Knight - "Best Mate"

In addition, signed copies of John Francome's latest thriller "Back Hander" will also be available.

Around 100 trade stalls will be offering their wares in Hurdlers Hall and the tented Shopping Village adjacent to the parade ring, offering further Christmas gift ideas.

FUNDS URGENTLY NEEDED TO REHABILITATE EX-RACEHORSES AT GREATWOOD

Greatwood Caring for retired racehorses a racing charity that rehabilitates and re-homes about 30 ex-racehorses every year will be making its presence known at Cheltenham's Open Meeting. The Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday 14th November is being generously sponsored in their name by Nigel Bunter of Barbury Castle Estates.

The race looks set to be an exciting one and could even front a future champion hurdler. But what happens to those horses when their racing career comes to an end? One famous resident of Greatwood is the ex hurdler Deano's Beeno an old favourite at Cheltenham and a winner of over £260,000. He will be rehabilitated and assessed for a new career and hopefully a new home - but like all horses that arrive at Greatwood he will remain owned by them ensuring that they continue to provide Care for Life', for all the horses that pass through their doors.

The Charity desperately needs to raise funds to continue their rescue and rehabilitation work and to ensure that all 30 horses, currently being cared for at the Charity's base in Marlborough can be well looked after throughout what threatens to be a cold winter.

It costs over £400 just to do the initial health checks when a horse arrives at the charity and as many of the racehorses have fallen on hard times when they are rescued it can take considerable time and money, in order to give them the retirement from racing that they deserve. As the British Horseracing Board's charitable arm Retraining of Racehorses' has successfully raised the profile of ex-racehorses, more now go on to compete successfully in other sporting disciplines. However, increasingly this means that the horses that arrive at Greatwood are those where a new career has not been immediate and they are not just in need of retraining, but also in need of bringing back to health - both physically and mentally.

Helen Yeadon, Founder of Greatwood said: "At this time of year our funds are running very low and we are in desperate need of donations and new members to ensure that we can continue to offer a safety net for the racehorses that we all love. These horses do have a future with the right care and attention and as loyal racegoers we must all take responsibility for that"

GREATWOOD NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW.

Visit Greatwood at their stand at Cheltenham on 14th November and watch the parade led by Deano's Beeno and other ex hurdlers currently being rehabilitated at Greatwood.

To become a member or make an immediate donation please call 01672 514 535 or visit www.racehorsesgreatwood.org for more information

Greatwood is a registered Charity approved by the International League for the Protection of Horses, accredited by the British Horseracing Board and a member of the National Equine Welfare Council. Registered Charity number:1077080

"HUNTING LINK"
Starting at 11.30am on Friday, a superb line-up of former leading National Hunt stars that have gone on to hunt will come up the course behind a pack of hounds, before convening in the parade ring.

The following horses and jockeys will be participating:

Spendid (1999 Mildmay Novices' Chase) - Robert Thornton, who will act as the Field Master
Master Oats (1995 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup) - Norman Williamson
Nordance Prince (2000 Victor Chandler Chase) - Tony McCoy
See More Business (1999 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup) - Joe Tizzard
Stormyfairweather (1999 & 2000 Cathcart Chase) - Mick Fitzgerald
Go Ballistic (2nd 1999 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup) - Richard Johnson
Young Hustler (1993 Royal & SunAlliance Chase) - Chris Maude
Earthmover (1998 & 2004 Christie's Foxhunter Chaser) - Rilly Goschen
Tipping Tim (1992 Paddy Power Gold Cup) - Carl Llewellyn
Garrison Savannah (1991 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup) - Tom Scudamore
Senor El Betrutti (1997 Paddy Power Gold Cup & bonusprint.com Gold Cup) - Warren Marston
Cool Dawn (1998 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup) - Andrew Thornton
Mighty Moss (2nd 1997 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle) - Tony Evans
Earth Summit (1998 Grand National) - Marcus Armytage
Conor Macleod (Jenny Pitman's last Cheltenham winner) - Sarah Pugh

TRAVEL NEWS

There are no reported problems on the roads ahead of The Open.

Racegoers arriving by rail are advised the line is closed between Stroud and Gloucester. A replacement bus service to Cheltenham will be available at Stroud.

Godolphin's Dubawi, who showed a nice turn of foot in winning the Dunnes Stores National Stakes at the Curragh in September by three lengths from Berenson, is another vying for this award.

The Cartier Sprinter Award looks like going down to the wire with Var, Somnus and The Tatling, among others, holding strong claims.

Var won two of his three starts including the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October after coming from America to Clive Brittain's yard in Newmarket. That French victory was gained by half a length from the strong-finishing The Tatling, who had beaten Var in a Group Three event at Newbury the previous month.

The Tatling, trained by Milton Bradley, achieved his best victory of 2004 in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he repelled Hong Kong raider Cape Of Good Hope by a length and a half.

Somnus had an exceptional season for trainer Tim Easterby, winning two Group Ones in the form of the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October and the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville two months earlier. He beat Whipper by a neck in the latter event and the runner-up tasted success himself at the same course in the Prix Jacques Le Marois later in August, thwarting Six Perfections by a length.

The Pascal Bary-trained Divine Proportions is sure to go close in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly Award, having won all five of her starts in 2004.

The daughter of Kingmambo took a minor event on her debut at Maisons-Laffitte in May, before gaining her first Group success in the Prix Du Bois at Chantilly the following month. She then returned to Maisons-Laffitte in July, justifying favouritism in the Prix Robert Papin.

The following month Divine Proportions gained her first success at the highest level when winning the Prix Morny at Deauville, where she was ridden out by Christophe Lemaire to beat Layman by a length and a half.

She rounded off her season with a smooth two-length victory from Titian Time in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in early October to leave connections dreaming of classic glory over the winter months.

Damson and Soar were third and sixth respectively in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket but did well previously.

The David Wachman-trained Damson had won all four starts prior to lining up at Headquarters including a maiden at Cork in April and a Listed event at Naas in June. She was then stepped up in class at Royal Ascot later in the same month, when she was impressive in beating Soar by three lengths.

The Entrepreneur filly then won at the highest level in her home country in August, staying on well to score by three-quarters of a length from Oratorio in Curragh's Phoenix Stakes.

Soar took a maiden at Kempton in June before going down to Damson at Royal Ascot. The James Fanshawe-trained filly then ran on well in the final furlong to win the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot the following month, before gaining her biggest victory in the Lowther Stakes at York in August, overcoming the soft surface to deny Salsa Brava by a length and a half.

The Pascal Bary-trained Six Perfections took the 2002 award for juvenile fillies just ahead of Russian Rhythm.

The other horse category featured in the Cartier Awards is the Top Stayer Award in which Westerner and Papineau are the leading fancies.

Last year this long-distance award went to one of the most popular horses in training in Persian Punch, who tragically died earlier this year and is much missed by racegoers and his many fans.

There is one human award, the Award Of Merit, which is decided by the special 21-strong Cartier Jury. Recent winners have been Lord Oaksey, Prince Khalid Abdullah, John Magnier and the Aga Khan.

The Cartier Racing Awards, which recognise excellence in the racehorse, are long established, having been founded in 1991, and have great prestige.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

©Racenews 2002
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services