Racenews Newslink Archive - Sunday, May 16, 2004

Sunday, May 16, 2004

YEATS AND LIGHT CUT FOR DERBY WITH DOUBTS ABOUT POST'S PARTICIPATION

Coral have made further changes to Vodafone Derby betting after American Post's connections expressed reservations about running the colt at Epsom on fast
ground.

Coral trimmed Yeats to 5-2 from 11-4 and North Light to 11-2 from 13-2, and eased American Post out further to 10-1 from 8-1 having been 5-1 before today's French 2,000 Guineas.

**Vodafone Derby
5-2 Yeats, 4-1 Snow Ridge, 11-2 North Light, 10-1 American Post, 12-1 Azamour, Magritte, Day Flight, 16-1 Ecomium, Rule Of Law, Antonius Pius, 20-1 Andean, Sussex, Let The Lion Roar, Bull Run, Always First, 25-1 Percussionist, Meath, Wolfe Tone, 33-1 Book Of Kings, Cobra, Duke Of Venice, El Mustanser, Imperial Stride, Mikado,

Ladbrokes put Yeats into 2/1 following American Post Guineas display

Vodafone Derby
1m 4f, Epsom, 5th June 2004
2 (from 5/2) Yeats, 3 (from 9/2) Snow Ridge, 4 (from 7) North Light, 10 (from 40) Antonius Pius, 16 (from 25) Percussionist, 20 Rule of Law, 20 Andean, 20 Ecomium, 20 Let The Lion Roar, 25 Magritte, 25 Mikado, 25 Millemix, 25 Wolfe Tone, 33 Book Of Kings, 33 Cobra, 33 Imperial Stride, 40 Ace, 40 Acropolis, 40 Akarem, 40 Almuraad, 40 Always First, 40 Anchor, 40 Blue Monday, 40 Buena Vista, 40 Duke Of Venice, 40 Elshadi, 40 Lucky Story, 40 Matloob, 40 Moscow Ballet, 40 Mullins Bay, 40 Napoleon, 40 Pearl Of Love, 40 Sussex, 50 Bar (1/4 Odds 1,2,3)

Top Flat Trainer 2004 (UK Win & Place prize-money, 25th March to 6th Nov)
7/4 Saeed Bin Suroor, 7/2 M Johnston, 7/2 Sir M Stoute, 9/2 A O'Brien, 8 B Hills, 25 R Hannon, 25 M Channon, 33 J Gosden (1/3 odds 1,2) Others on request

Flat Jockeys' Championship (25th March - 6th November 2004)
1/2 K Fallon, 3 L Dettori, 7/2 D Holland (Win Only) Others on request

Vodafone Oaks
1m 4f, Epsom, 4th June 2004
3/1 Sundrop, 6/1 Punctilious, 7 All Too Beautiful, 7 Ouija Board, 12 Baraka, 12 Hathrah, 16 Poise, 20 Necklace, 25 Green Swallow, 25 Red Bloom, 33 Australie, 33 Because, 33 Deraasaat, 33 Lisieux Orchid, 33 Proud Tradition, 33 Qasirah, 33 Queen, 33 Quiff, 33 Sahool, 33 Tamarillo, 33 Treasure The Lady, 33 Tree Chopper, 33 Unavailable, 40 Bar (1/4 Odds 1,2,3)

Ascot Gold Cup
2m 4f, Ascot, 17th June 2004
4 Mr Dinos, 5 Vinnie Roe, 5 Westerner, 10 Millenary, 12 Powerscourt, 14 Sayadaw, 16 Alcazar, 16 The Great Gatsby, 20 Jardines Lookout, 25 Delsarte, 25 Fantastic Love, 25 Highest, 25 Leadership, 25 Media Puzzle, 25 Royal Rebel, 25 Shanty Star, 25 Supremacy, 33 Darasim, 33 Dusky Warbler, 33 Misternando, 33 Salsalino, 33 Savannah Bay (1/5 Odds 1,2,3) Others on request

National Hunt Trainers' Championship 2004/5 (25th April 2004 to 23rd April
2005)
Evs Martin Pipe, 5/4 Paul Nicholls, 6/1 Jonjo O'Neill, 20/1 Philip Hobbs, 25/1 Nicky Henderson, 40/1 Venetia Williams, 50/1 Henrietta Knight, 50 Twiston-Davies (Win Only) Others on request

National Hunt Leading Owners' Championship 2004/5
4/6 JP McManus, 11/10 D Johnson

SMARTY JONES 1-3 WITH CORAL TO BE FIRST TRIPLE CROWN WINNER SINCE 1978

Smarty Jones is quoted at just 1-3 by Coral to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to complete the US Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes on 5th June in New York.

Smarty Jones has also been cut to 3-1 favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic from 10-1 by Coral after his record breaking success in the Preakness Stakes where he posted the biggest winning distance in the race's history.

"Smarty Jones is ridden by a rookie jockey, trained by an unknown trainer, and is on the verge of equine greatness. He is already being dubbed the modern day Seabiscuit", said Simon Clare, Coral Spokesman.

"Smarty Jones looks like the real deal and after his destructive display in the Preakness his Triple crown odds of 1-3 may be on the generous side", added Clare.

** To Win The Belmont Stakes:
1-3 Smarty Jones

** Breeders Cup Classic (Lone Star, Texas)
3-1 Smarty Jones, 5-1 Pleasantly Perfect, 8-1 Medaglio D'Oro, 10-1 Candy Ride, 12-1 Southern Image, 14-1 Dynever, 16-1 Funny Cide, Peace Rules, Tizbud, 20-1 Grand Hombre, 25-1 Eddington, Rock Hard Ten, Tapit, The Cliff's Edge, 33-1 Bar

RACEY DREAMER STEALS NATIONAL HUNT CUP WIN

MALVERN, Pennsylvania, USA. – EMO Stable’s Racey Dreamer wired a talented field including Sur La Tete to win Saturday’s $100,000 Mellon National Hunt Cup (Gr. I), second leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown, at the Radnor Hunt Races.

Trained in Virginia by Doug Fout and ridden by Matt McCarron, the 5-year-old took the lead at the outset and set a quick pace while fighting off repeated challenges and won by three-quarters of a length over Serazzo (Chip Miller). Sur La Tete, who won the series’ first leg at Atlanta April 10, finished third. The winner covered the 2 3/8 miles in 4:19 3/5.

Just a few months removed from running on the Flat, Racey Dreamer was considered an outsider in the field of eight though he had won two races impressively this spring. Running style and competition seemed to compromise the son of Belmont Stakes winner A.P. Indy who was facing several more experienced rivals.

Once the flag dropped, however, Racey Dreamer was more than good enough. He was pressed throughout while setting a quick pace, and stayed in front when the tempo increased on the backstretch. Mauritania made a run. Serazzo kept pace. Sur La Tete launched a bid. At the top of the stretch, all four were in the fight and Serazzo got within a neck after the last fence but drew no closer.

For McCarron, the win kept alive his Triple Crown bid as he was aboard Sur La Tete for the Atlanta win.

“The horse has the heart of a giant, just kept fighting,” said McCarron. “He had every chance to cave in. He gave me absolutely everything he had. I honestly thought Serazzo had dead aim on me, but my horse kept digging in.”

Fout bought Racey Dreamer from New Jersey trainer Alan Goldberg last fall, based on breeding alone and has been pleasantly surprised ever since.

“All the horse has done is gotten better,” said Fout, who won his second Grade I of the season. “That was a super race, all great horses. It was just our day. The main thing that attracted us was his breeding, but he’s a 10 mover and he was just so game today. If it hadn’t been for Matt riding, I don’t think he would have won today. Matt is the best at waiting and giving a horse assurance that he can do the job. It was super.”

The Triple Crown continues with the $100,000 Meadow Brook Cup (Gr. I) at Belmont Park June 3.

McCarron won three races on the day, as did trainer Sanna Hendriks including Pleasant Parcel in the Radnor Hunt Cup timber stakes.

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