After the heavy week that is known world wide as the Cheltenham Festival it felt almost pedestrian this weekend gone so we can sit back and quietly reflect as we move ahead toward the new flat season.
Lingfield and the all-weather isn’t everybody’s cup of tea I suppose but then that attitude is largely ensconced in a historical bias and fails to take in to account the improved standards of some of the races – though I cannot claim there isn’t a fair amount of dross as well (because there is). This weekend we had a Group Three and two Listed races on a fascinating card that merely went to prove that Godolphin are finally getting things sorted. Numerous jockey changes, some of which made sense to me, and others didn’t (I have a lot of time for Silvestre De Sousa who did precious little wrong that I can see), while the trainer issues were well documented but it seems fair to say that Charlie Appleby has stepped up to the plate and his yard have been 9and still are) in devastating form.
As I write his stats for the season read pretty favourably with 14 winners from his last 26 runners (better than 50%), backed up by a further six beaten in to second place, and that record was enhanced this weekend in no uncertain terms.
Tryster arrived for the Lingfield Winter Derby unbeaten this season after wins at Chelmsford, Wolverhampton, and Kempton, but had strangely been dropped seven pounds after his last victory and was officially one of the worst horses in the race. This was a big step up in class for the son of Shamardal and I freely admit he wasn’t for me, with my ignorance merely compounded by a very easy win as he swept past despite a troubled run to score going away with plenty in hand. Scarily, his trainer insists there is more to come and that he will be equally effective on turf leaving a whole new list of options as the spring hopefully arrives.
Pretend is another four year old gelding from the same yard same ownership and with Adam Kirby again in the saddle and in my mind, equally impressive all be it at a slightly lower level. Left with plenty to do after being baulked near the start, he quickened up nicely to win as he pleased which takes some doing over the minimum trip, and as he should also be equally at home on the grass, he givens the Godolphin hierarchy options while they await their better horse to return to the fray.
Away from leafy Lingfield, hats off to the amazing Able Friend, the best miler I have seen since Frankel and an awesome machine who devours anything they can put in front of him. The Hong Kong fans love both him and jockey Joao Moreira so I doubt he ever goes off odds against again, but he duly made it win number four on the bounce and I for one really hope connections do send him over to Royal Ascot where he will certainly be carrying my money when he may even be a spot of value for those who fail to truly appreciate the Hong Kong and Asian form.
