Thursday, May 15, 2003
LATEST WILLIAM HILL ANTE-POST PRICES
LATEEN SAILS IN TO DERBY RECKONING
Godolphin's recent disappointing form was given a boost today as Lateen Sails glided home in the Listed race at York, earning him a 14-1 (from 33-1) quoted for the Derby with Hills. Shield, on the back of strong reports from his gallop at Epsom, has also seen a little support to now be 25-1.
In the fillies race Waldmark has been backed from 25-1 to 14-1 prior to her run in the Swettenham Stud Stakes tomorrow, the on form team of Sir Michael Stoute and Kieran Fallon boosting her chances of a good trial run. There has also been a steady stream of support for Casual Look since her 6th in the 1000 Guineas and Hills have clipped her to 16-1.
THE UK CLASSICS
VODAFONE DERBY: 5-2 Refuse To Bend, 4-1 Alamshar, Brian Boru, 12-1 Alberto Giacometti, 14-1 Lateen Sails (from 33-1), 16-1 Catcher In The Rye, 20-1 Franklins Gardens, Hold That Tiger, Magistretti, The Great Gatsby, 25-1 Kris Kin, Muqbil, Saturn, Shield (from 33-1), 33-1 Almushahar, Hi Dubai, Ikhtyar, New South Wales, Parhellon, Powerscourt, Songlark, Tomahawk. (Others Upon Request)
VODAFONE OAKS: 5-1 Hi Dubai, 6-1 Yesterday, 8-1 Hanami, 10-1 Hammiya, 14-1 Waldmark (from 25-1), 16-1 Casual Look (from 20-1), Geminiani, Mezzo Soprano, 20-1 Halawanda, Mananiyya, 25-1 Elasouna, Gonfilia, L'Ancresse, Snippets, Summitville, 33-1 Approach, Echoes In Eternity, High Praise. (Others Upon Application)
OTHER ANTEPOST
THE PREAKNESS: 6-4 Funny Cide, Peace Rules, 8-1 Senor Swinger, 9-1 Scrimshaw, 16-1 Ten Cents A Shine, 20-1 Cherokees Boy, Kissin Saint, Midway Road, 25-1 Foufas Warrior, 33-1 New York Hero. (ALL QUOTED)
WILLIAM HILL GREYHOUND DERBY: 6-1 Top Savings, 8-1 Droopys Corleone, Micks Mystic, 12-1 Droopys Agassi, 16-1 Burberry Boy, Cooly Pantera, 20-1 Farloe Verdict, Lark Boe, Man of Cash, Vigorous Robby, 25-1 Learn and Earn, Lethal Legend, Maxie Rumble, Mustang Buster, Prince Toff, Top General. 33-1 BAR
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2004
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 2004: 6-4 Best Mate, 8-1 Beef Or Salmon, 12-1 First Gold, 14-1 Keen Leader, 16-1 Baracouda, Hussard Collonges, Truckers Tavern, 20-1 It Takes Time, Jair Du Cochet, One Knight. (Others Upon Request)
CHAMPION HURDLE 2004: 5-1 Rooster Booster, 7-1 Back in Front, 8-1 Rhinestone Cowboy, 16-1 Sporazene, 20-1 Intersky Falcon, Davenport Milenium, Westender, 25-1 Like-A-Butterfly, Landing Light, Spectroscope, Well Chief, 33-1 Flame Creek, In Contrast, Liberman, Spirit Leader, Thisthatandtother. (Others Upon Request)
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE 2004: 3-1 Moscow Flyer, 4-1 Azertyuiop, 8-1 Le Roi Miguel, 10-1 Flagship Uberalles, 12-1 Seebald, Tiutchev, 14-1 Cenkos, Kadarann, 20-1 Adamant Approach, Farmer Jack, Impek, Isio. (Others Upon Request)
RACING UNITES TO PRODUCE ITS RESPONSE TO THE OFT
British Racing has agreed to come together to produce a united response to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Rule 14 Notice.
The BHB Board has agreed that all four shareholder members of BHB should develop a single position on behalf of the industry. Representatives of the four shareholders will join BHB Chairman Peter Savill, independent Director Martin Broughton and Chief Executive Greg Nichols on a Working Group which will produce a document for submission to the OFT.
Nichols commented: "British Racing is determined to seek to produce a response to the OFT that will have the support of the whole industry. The issues raised by the OFT are so fundamental - and the consequences of the wrong outcomes so great - that we must work together to ensure that British Racing continues to modernise in a way which brings benefits to all. I am very pleased that the shareholders have committed themselves to this process."
The shareholder representatives, who will be able to appoint alternates, will be:
Keith Brown (Racecourse Association)
Rhydian Morgan-Jones (Industry Committee (Horseracing) Limited)
David Oldrey (Jockey Club)
Sir Eric Parker (Racehorse Owners Association)
The Working Group will formulate policy, disseminate information to Board members and liaise with legal and economic advisers. It will report to the Board as a whole.
HUGHIE MORRISON WINS ALCAZAR APPEAL
Panel: Andrew Merriam (Chairman), Tim Bell and William Bethell
Hughie Morrison / ALCAZAR (IRE)
The Disciplinary Panel of the Jockey Club, on 15th May 2003, considered an appeal lodged by Hughie Morrison, the trainer of ALCAZAR (IRE), placed first in the Bovis Homes Sagaro Stakes, against the decision of the Stewards at Ascot to find that Alcazar had interfered with Savannah Bay, placed second and that the interference had improved Alcazar's placing and to reverse the placings, following an enquiry on 30th April 2003.
The Panel heard evidence from Morrison, who was legally represented, Michael Fenton, the rider of Alcazar, and Frankie Dettori, the rider of Savannah Bay. It also viewed the photo finish print, video recordings of the race and a video recording of the Alex Napier Stakes at Newbury on 4th July 2002.
The Panel found that Alcazar had accidentally interfered with Savannah Bay inside the final furlong, in that Fenton had accidentally struck Savannah Bay with his whip which caused Savannah Bay to duck away from Alcazar and move off his line.
The Panel noted that both horses were being strongly ridden as they approached the winning post and that, whilst Savannah Bay was running on again after the incident, the Panel could not be satisfied on the balance of probabilities, that, but for the interference, Savannah Bay would have finished in front of Alcazar. The Panel therefore considered that Alcazar had not improved his placing in respect of the interference to Savannah Bay. It therefore upheld the appeal and placed Alcazar first and Savannah Bay second.
COMMENTS FROM MALCOLM WALLACE
Following the reinstatement of Alcazar, Malcolm Wallace, Director of Regulation, said: "This was according to the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel "a very difficult decision indeed". Because it was so close, the Panel felt there was sufficient doubt to give the benefit of doubt to the winner.
"It could have gone either way, although, the reception given by some people to the original finding implied that the decision of the Ascot Stewards was perverse, that is certainly not the case.
"Taking account of the relevant factors when dealing with such an incident, the Ascot stewards concluded that Savannah Bay probably would have finished in front of Alcazar. The Disciplinary Panel, however, was not satisfied that such an outcome was more probable than not and so gave the benefit of doubt to the horse placed first."
Relevant Factors when looking at an incident such as that which happened in the Sagaro Stakes:
1. When a panel is considering whether or not an incident of interference has improved a horse's placing it does not matter if it was accidental or caused by careless riding. Whether an incident is accidental or careless is only relevant as far as giving a penalty to the jockey is concerned.
a) Just because an incident was unintentional or was no fault of the rider's it does not mean the result was not affected and that the placings should not be altered. Every major turf authority around the world will demote a horse following accidental interference if it has denied another horse the chance to finish in front of it.
b) It is important that the public understand this and do not consider that there has to be a riding offence for the result to be changed.
2. Interference does not necessarily mean contact, the stewards' booklet clearly states this when saying "It should be remembered that being taken off one's intended line - through intimidation - constitutes interference. It (therefore) follows that there does not have to be physical contact for interference to occur." (p.12 Jockey Club Guide to Procedures & Penalties)
3. Probably the key question for the panel considering such an incident is; Had the runner up enjoyed an uninterrupted run to the line would he have finished in front of the winner?
a) In considering this question the panel takes account of the level of interference suffered by the beaten horse, how he was going immediately prior to the interference, how much ground and momentum was lost, how he was going at the end of the race and the margin of defeat.
b) In addition, the panel take account of how the winner was going at the time of the incident and how much the winner had in hand at the line.
The stewards or panel merely have to conclude that something was more probable than not, they do not have to be certain.
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF CHARLES HURST ULSTER DERBY
The official launch of the CHARLES HURST ULSTER DERBY to be staged at Down Royal Racecourse on 21st June took place today at the Lisburn track. Charles Hurst are the new sponsor of Northern Ireland's showcase flat race. Derby winning Jockey, John Reid was guest of honour at the County Down course today. The CHARLES HURST ULSTER DERBY will be the richest ever at Down Royal and is this year worth Euros 75,000. John Reid said "I was very pleased to be invited to Down Royal today. The course and facilities have changed drastically in recent years. The management team deserve the utmost credit for attracting top horses and riders to Ulster."
Media Puzzle, winner of the Millennium Ulster Derby is the most high profile winner in recent years, the Dermot Weld trained winner having recorded a second historic victory for the trainer in the Melbourne Cup in November of last year. Balapour won the race last year following which, winning trainer Oliver Brady treated racegoers to his usual oration in the winners enclosure to the delight of the assembled crowd of racegoers. Docklands Limo provided a British trained success in the 1997 running of the race for trainer, Brian McMath. Highland Bud won the 1988 Derby for trainer, John Oxx with Australian Jockey, Ron Quinton aboard with Highland Bud later triumphing in America's Breeder's Cup Chase with Champion Jumps Jockey, Richard Dunwoody in the saddle. The Bart, partnered by Christy Roche scored in 1979 and was later only denied by the narrowest margin in the Arlington Million.
Champion jockeys to have won the Ulster Derby include Johnny Murtagh, Pat Smullen, Mick Kinane, Christy Roche, Steve Cauthen, Wally Swinburn, T.P.Burns, Johnny Roe, George Mc Grath, Liam Ward and of course Lester Piggott. Trainers to record success in the Province's Premier Flat Race include Vincent O'Brien who won the showcase race seven times, John Oxx, Dermot Weld, Jim Bolger, Kevin Prendergast, Paddy Prendergast, Ted Curtin, Liam Browne and Willie Mullins. His Highness the Aga Khan, Moyglare Stud, Hamdan Al Maktoum, Michael Smurfit, Sheikh Mohammed, Robert Sangster, Franklin Grooves, Charles Engelhard, Nelson Bunker Hunt, Joe Mc Grath and Lord Astor are a few of the more recent winning owners to have collected the Winners Trophy.
Peter Gordon, Group Marketing Director of Charles Hurst said "We are delighted to expand our endorsement and sponsorship at Down Royal and thrilled to be associated with a showcase race, the Ulster Derby which regularly attracts the best riders and trainers to the province." Charles Hurst are already an established sponsor at the N.I. Festival of Racing and earlier this year endorsed the "Aston Martin Suite" at the racecourse complex.
Down Royal General Manager, Mike Todd said "Charles Hurst is a most welcome and appropriate sponsor of the Ulster Derby having already a stable of thoroughbred brands under their banner within the province. Range Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin are synonymous with horse racing.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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