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3pm O'Brien edgy when questioned on So You Think
Chris Cook: Aidan O'Brien was understandably proud of training the first three home in the Royal Lodge, which opened today's card at Newmarket. But he was noticeably more on edge when Nick Luck turned the conversation to the subject of So You Think, among the favourites for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe a week tomorrow.
Asked about the horse's wellbeing, he replied: "So far so good. Obviously, there's a week to go, so we'll take it day by day."
Luck asked if the trainer felt extra pressure where this horse was concerned. "We all do our best every day, with every horse, and that's all we can do," O'Brien replied. "Listen, everyone is 100% committed, all the way, every day and that's all we can do. Listen, obviously the Arc is a big race and an important race, so, like I said, so far so good and looking forward to it."
Why go for the Arc, Luck asked, when there are so many alternative targets at 10 furlongs, the distance over which So You Think has done most of his racing this year. "No, sure, listen, that's obviously the boys' decision," O'Brien said, in reference to John Magnier and his partners in Coolmore. "They've made the decision and, listen, I think it's very exciting and a very brave decision. Listen, he's a horse who, no doubt, is a mile and a quarter specialist, you know what I mean? He travels very well, quickens very well, getting a little bit lazy when he's going to the front.
"I think it's very exciting and he's never ran beyond a mile and a quarter, other than in the handicap and, listen, I think that race, the Melbourne Cup, you can't really judge distance or what their distance is, you know? He's a very exciting horse, a great traveller. We were delighted with him the last day, it was his first run back. Listen, I think it's very exciting, we're delighted he is going there and I think it's very sporting of the lads to give him the chance."
Do you train him any differently to the rest of your horses, Luck wanted to know. "No, he's very straightforward, he doesn't do much, a straightforward horse, he was a natural when he came to us. Listen, just try to keep him well, really. Listen, everyone knows he was a great horse before he came to us and [I] just try not to mess him up really."
The trainer said no decision had been taken as to who would ride. "Listen, usually what happens is they do the last piece of work during the week, then they have their tests the following day, bloods and scopes, like everyone else does and, if all those things come up the right side, then that's another meeting [with the Coolmore partners]. The boys will decide that.
"Listen, it's a good problem to have. We take one step at a time and make one decision as we have to make it, rather than making decisions when we don't know what's down the road."
Today's TV races
Red Gulch (3.50) has the qualities required to take the Betfred Cambridgeshire Handicap, the 34-runner skirmish that highlights a competitive day of racing at Newmarket.
With the ground riding fastest closer to the rails, it seems fair to presume that the field will split into two groups as usual, but with those keeping tight to the far rail faring well on Friday it could be that low numbers have the edge.
A fine advertisement for the talents of the rookie trainer Ed Walker ? whose other runner Riggins is also not without a chance ? Red Gulch has made the frame on six of his seven starts this year, most recently when winning a valuable contest at Kempton on 3 September.
The fierce gallop there seemed to suit Red Gulch, who travelled easily and willingly in behind, before quickening up impressively when asked. The ability to cruise along behind an unusually fast pace before accelerating off it is exactly the right blueprint for a Cambridgeshire winner.
Newmarket 2.05 Daddy Long Legs would not have been seen to best effect at Doncaster last time and has scope for improvement, but preference is for Farhaan, who keeps improving and showed determination to get on top at Salisbury last time.
Market Rasen 2.20 A smart Flat performer, King Olav has been too headstrong for his own good over hurdles in the past, but this big field should help, as will good ground.
Newmarket 2.35 Supplemented to the line-up at the start of the week, Lightening Pearl can justify the outlay with a big run for Ger Lyons. She was a little unlucky not to finish second to Maybe at The Curragh last month and that form could prove better than the home team can offer.
Market Rasen 2.50 Off a mark just 8lb higher than when bolting up at Wetherby less than a year ago, Neptune Equestercorrect has not always found things easy since but comes here fit from a spell on the Flat and had valid excuses when well beaten in the Scottish National. His stable remain in excellent form and a clear round will make him hard to beat.
Newmarket 3.10 In common with most of the field, Sahpresa was set a ridiculous amount to do behind Timepiece in the Falmouth Stakes and she can reverse the form. Two subsequent runs have seen her beaten by inches by Goldikova and this classy mare has a cracking chance of winning this race for the third consecutive year.
Haydock 3.20 Twelve months ago, Cheveton followed up big-race success at Ayr when taking this contest and Richard Price's runner teed up an improbable double when scoring in Scotland seven days ago. Still fairly weighted despite those wins, he is tough and can be relied upon to give it his best shot.
Chester 4.10 The owner Marwan Koukash enjoys nothing more than a winner around this track and Weapon Of Choice takes the eye moving back up to this trip. He stayed on strongly over a mile here a fortnight ago and is tactically versatile.
Horse sense
Way Too Hot (4.25) is well named, but if a lid can be kept on her fiery temper, she has a decent chance of taking the valuable nursery at Newmarket today. This event has been targeted for some time by Clive Cox and owner Alan Spence and she is considered well handicapped.
Cry Fury (3.50) should still be on the shortlist for the Cambridgeshire, despite a disappointing defeat on his most recent start. Any rain or watering of the track would help his chances. Sagramor is also a big player.
Marc Halford has struggled for rides since losing his apprentices' claim, but has been riding work for John Gosden in Newmarket recently and earned the reward of a fine chance belatedly to claim his first success of 2011 aboard Dick Doughtywylie (3.35) at Chester.
This well-bred gelding has been spotted making an impression on the Limekilns in recent weeks and has a first-class chance of breaking his duck here.
Meanwhile, more has also lately been seen on the gallops of Eddie Ahern, the jockey having stepped in to fill the gap left by Hayley Turner's injury at Michael Bell's yard. Ahern has also been riding out at Sir Henry Cecil's and partnered Vita Nova in a spin with Ajaan on Racecourse Side yesterday morning.
Ahern is aboard two-year-old Corsetry (1.40) for Cecil at Haydock and this filly is well fancied. A May foal, she has come on considerably for her recent debut.
Seen and heard
Officials at the headquarters of the British Horseracing Authority were left exasperated on Thursday with the publication of a report in the Sun that suggested that after consultation with the RSPCA, there will be a significant reduction in the number of times a horse can be hit with the whip. The BHA was publicly remaining tight-lipped over the findings of an extensive consultation into the use of the whip in racing, but details are expected to be published next week. The hunt is on for the source who blabbed early.
A bumper crowd will be in Newmarket today for racing at the striking Rowley Mile course but the town centre is becoming increasingly less aesthetically attractive. So much so that a working party has been set up to try and improve the appearance of racing's Headquarters. "I believe this is a fantastic idea because we as retailers have said from day one how dirty the town is and how untidy it looks," Andy Yallop, chairman of the Newmarket Retailers' Association told local paper the Journal. But the town's many takeaways seem less keen to get involved. "We have sent letters to every fast-food outlet but basically they don't want to know," added Yallop.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/sep/24/talking-horses-racing
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