Archive for February, 2010
Late plans may be costly
Feb 26th
The BHA has increased the fine imposed on trainers of horses entering the parade ring late for Group and Grade One races.
In last year’s Derby, Aidan O’Brien saddled the first five behind Sea The Stars to claim £504,375 in prize-money, his share of which came minus the £840 that the Epsom stewards fined O’Brien for [...]
Williams has it figured out
Feb 22nd
At a time when most trainers are trying to find anything to run at the Cheltenham Festival, Nick Williams takes a more analytical approach.
As befits a man who combines training with an accountancy business Williams likes the figures add up. That may be why Me Voici, who was bought as a chasing prospect, may miss [...]
Qozak can be king for a day
Feb 19th
Binocular injured, Zaynar beaten at Kelso; can it get any worse for Nicky Henderson?
It’s all down to Punjabi in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. However, the reigning champion hurdler was beaten on testing ground at Haydock last month and Starluck met the same fate there on similar ground in November.
Wincanton will be riding [...]
Apple Blossom idea fails to bloom
Feb 11th
Connections of Rachel Alexandra have decided against taking on Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April.
The track had put up a $5million prize fund to lure the pair of stars into a first racecourse meeting. However, Rachel Alexandra’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, thinks that the race will come too soon after her [...]
Trainers a little more open-minded
Feb 9th
The decision to re-open both the Aon and totepool Games Spirit Chases has met with some success. The two races form part of Newbury’s “Super Saturday” card but initial entries of nine and four respectively did little to back up that billing.
The Aon still has just the nine entries, with nothing rated within 24lbs of [...]
Jockeys not taken for a ride
Feb 3rd
Keeping owners happy is regarded as something of a prerequisite for both trainers and jockeys, no matter how eccentric that owner may be.
So keeping on the right side of an owner who was the leading prize-money winner in the United States last year would seem to be a no-brainer. However, for once, jockeys have been [...]
Henderson hopes for clarity with Binocular
Feb 2nd
The Champion Hurdle crown appears to be up for grabs in an open year and yet Sandown has reported a shortage of runners for the latest trial.
Despite losing much of January to the freeze, there were only six initial entries for Saturday’s Toteswinger Contenders Hurdle, meaning that the race was re-opened until this morning. That [...]
Taranis may not rate rave reviews
Feb 1st
There cannot be many days when Paul Nicholls saddles two beaten favourites at Cheltenham and then admits to being “astounded” when he finds himself in the winner’s enclosure.
But it was that sort of day at Cheltenham on Saturday and Nicholls was not the only trainer left scratching his head.
Some winning trainers have been known to [...]
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