Dylan Thomas ran out the ultra impressive winner of the Budweiser Irish Derby on Sunday afternoon and in the process landed a gamble for punters who had helped themselves to the 9-4, previously available with William Hill, that Aidan O'Brien would train the winner of the big race.
Those that got stuck into the generous price never had much of a worry as 9-2 favourite showed an impressive turn of foot to run away from his rivals inside the final furlong.
Commenting on the race Ben Clarke of William Hill said: "Some shrewd punters latched on to the 9-4 for Aidan to train the winner earlier in the week when Papal Bull was still considered a runner. We laid that price to generous amounts before having to cut Aidan to 2-1 and then 15-8 when Papal Bull was a confirmed non runner. As always the Fallon and O'Brien partnership proved very popular in the shops and the money we have done on the special market has only compounded what is a poor result for us."
Dylan Thomas was inserted into William Hill's Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe betting at 7-1 (see below)
Emperor Rules!
Holy Roman Emperor impressed in the Group 2 Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks Railway Stakes at the Curragh. Aidan O'Brien's two year old, who disappointed in the Coventry Stakes at Ascot, bounced back to form with an emphatic victory and was immediately cut to 16-1 (from 33) by William Hill for the Stan James 2000 Guineas.
Earlier on the card Bonus was a gallant runner up to Taqseem, in the John Roarty Memorial Scurry Handicap, and was trimmed into 20-1 (from 25) for the Vodafone Stewards Cup by the Leeds firm.
Steamers:
Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe: Dylan Thomas 7-1 (inserted)
Vodafone Stewards Cup: Bonus 20-1 (from 25)
Stan James 2000 Guineas: Holy Roman Emperor 16-1 (from 33)
Sliders:
Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe: Darsi 20-1 (from 14)
William Hill's Latest Ante-Post:
Vodafone Stewards Cup: 7-1 Firenze, 10-1 Indian Trail, Tax Free, Zidane, 12-1 Desert Commander, Intrepid Jack, Prince Tamino, 14-1 Baltic King, Borderlescott, Tawaassol, 16-1 Mutamared, 20-1 Bahamian Pirate, Bayeux, Beaver Patrol, Bonus (from 25), Fonthill Road, Kostar, Nidhaal, One Putra, Peace Offering, Sierra Vista, 25-1 Akona Matata, Bahiano, Beckermet, Bentong, Cloeorton Dancer, Easy Air, Fayr Jag, Gimasha, Ice Planet, Meccas Mate, Munaddam, Obe Brave, Out After Dark, Patavellian, Philharmonic, Roll Over Beethoven, Talbot Avenue, Woodcote, 33-1 BAR (Others Upon Application)
Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes: 10-3 Araafa, 4-1 Soviet Song, 5-1 Nannina (needs to be supplemented), 11-2 Proclamation, 7-1 Ad Valorem, 8-1 Peeress, 10-1 Jeremy, 12-1 Court Masterpiece, 14-1 Aussie Rules, 25-1 Caradak (Others Upon Application)
Darley July Cup: 5-1 Takeover Target, 10-1 Balthazaars Gift, Falkirk, Iffraaj, La Cucaracha, Les Arcs, Moss Vale, Soldiers Tale, 12-1 Glamour Puss, 14-1 Ad Valorem, Amadeus Wolf, Asset, Ivan Denisovich, Marcus Andronicus, Red Clubs, 16-1 Gift Horse, 20-1 Court Materpiece, Etlaala, Paradise Isle, Tax Free, 25-1 Misu Bond, Pivotal Point, Somnus, 33-1 Ashdown Express, Fayr Jag, La Chunga, Patevellian, Quito, Tawaassol, 40-1 Nidhaal, 50-1 Beauty Bright, Murfreesboro, Northern Empire, Racer Forever, Resplendent Glory, 66-1 Masta Plasta, Royal Millenium, 100-1 Ajigolo, Excusez Moi, Strike Up The Band
July Cup Special: Royal Ascot sprint winner to win the July Cup: 10-3
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes: Evs Hurricane Run, 7-2 Hearts Cry, 9-2 Electrocutionist, 6-1 Ouija Board, 8-1 Shawanda, 16-1 Pride, 20-1 Maraahel, 25-1 Ace, Mountain High,
Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe: 3-1 Hurricane Run, 4-1 Shirocco, 5-1 Deep Impact, 7-1 Dylan Thomas (inserted), 12-1 Hearts Cry, Ouija Board, Pride, Visindar, 14-1 Hala Bek, Irridescence, Sir Percy, 16-1 Shawanda, 20-1 Darsi (from 14), Scorpion, 33-1 Mountain High, Septimus, 50-1 Ace, Day Flight
2007 Flat Season:
2007 Stan James 1000 Guineas: 16-1 Sander Camillo
2007 Stan James 2000 Guineas: 16-1 Holy Roman Emperor (from 33), 25-1
Hellvelyn,
2006/07 National Hunt Season:
2007 John Smith’s Grand National: 12-1 Hedgehunter, 14-1 Numbersixvalverde, 16-1 Clan Royal, 25-1 Dun Doire, Lacdoudal, Nil Desperandum, 33-1 Point Barrow, 50-1 Ballycassidy (Others Upon Application)
2007 Totesport Gold Cup: 5-1 War Of Attrition, 6-1 Kicking King, 8-1 Trabolgan, 14-1 Celestial Gold, 16-1 Forget The Past, 20-1 Cornish Rebel, L'Ami, Monets Garden, Star De Mohaison, 25-1 Iris's Gift, Kingscliff, Missed That, Monkerhostin, Racing Demon, 33-1 Beef Or Salmon, Denman, In Compliance, The Listener (Others Upon Application)
2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase: 6-1 Kauto Star, 7-1 Newmill, 8-1 Voy Por Ustedes, Well Chief, 10-1 Azertyuiop, Foreman, 12-1 Monets Garden, 16-1 Ashleybrook, Accordion Etoile, 20-1 Fota Island, Hi Cloy, Justified, Missed That, Racing Demon, 25-1 Contraband, River City, 33-1 Central House (Others Upon Application)
2007 Ladbrokes World Hurdle: 5-2 Black Jack Ketchum, 5-1 Asian Maze, Inglis Drever, Mighty Man, 8-1 Golden Cross, My Way de Solzen, 20-1 Gungadu, Neptunes Collonges, Skys The Limit, 25-1 No Refuge, Toofarback (Others Upon Application)
Excellent season for Hong Kong racing concludes
At the close of today's final race meeting of the 2005/06 season, Mr Lawrence T Wong, the Club's Chief Executive, reflected on a very successful campaign when Hong Kong horses scored a record five Group One successes against international opposition.
Horse of the Year Bullish Luck established himself as undoubtedly the best miler within the Asian Racing Federation with comprehensive successes in both the Champions Mile and the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo.
Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Executive Director of Racing, meanwhile noted Silent Witness' confirmation as officially the world's leading sprinter (and Hong Kong's Champion Sprinter) for a third year thanks to a victory of the highest quality in the Sprinters' Stakes in Japan.
Vengeance Of Rain became the first Asian winner of the World Racing Championship by adding our most valuable race, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup, to victory in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup in April 2005. And Natural Blitz led home an amazing home-trained first five in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint to emphasise the strength of our sprinting ranks.
John Size was crowned Champion Trainer for the fourth time in his five years based at Sha Tin, while Champion Jockey for the sixth consecutive season, Douglas Whyte received his trophy after racing. Whyte rode 114 winners during the campaign, a Hong Kong record. Alex Lai Hoi-wing earned a second Champion Apprentice title, partnering the winners of 23 races.
The Champion Awards were also settled as Armada, after a rise of 58 points in official ratings, collected the title for the Most Improved Horse in the final race of the season.
The Club's betting turnover for the season amounted to HK60,050 million, a 4.2 per cent fall against the previous season's tally, while total attendance was 1,888,000, a 2.3 per cent decrease on last year.
Mr Wong pointed out that the continuing slide in turnover would reduce the government's betting duty from racing to HK$7,943 million, down by HK$409 million, or 4.9 per cent.
He added: "We hope the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2006 will be approved by the Legislative Council at the forthcoming resumption of second and third reading. It would present a great opportunity to arrest this declining trend and enable the Club to compete more effectively with illegal and offshore bookmakers.
The 2006/07 season will commence on September 10 and the Club wishes racing fans the best for the summer break.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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