Breeders’ Cup Result

Santa Anita Racing Results Review

Suddenly, with the long shadows of winter looming, British two-year-old form was given a major shot in the arm by the victories of Outstrip and Chriselliam in their respective championship events on Friday.

Perfectly delivered by Mike Smith, Outstrip pounced on Giovanni Boldini late to claim the colt’s event, with Bobby’s Kitten for the USA back in third.

Outstrip’s win pays a handsome compliment to his Dewhurst conqueror, War Command and also to Toormore – who beat him at Goodwood.

In fact, as well as bolstering War Command, the run of the first two emphasises the strength of Toormore’s form as he has beaten both contenders this season. Add the highly promising Be Ready (said to be Outstrip’s superior at home), Australia, even Free Eagle (worth another chance), Kingman (something to prove), along with possibly Berkshire and we have an encouraging list of colts for next year. On a windy afternoon in early November, next season’s classics promise to realise the high standard they are designed to meet.

Chriselliam proved to be a revelation in the fillies equivalent, flashing clear of American contenders Testa Rossi and Colonel Joan.

She displayed an impressive turn of foot (to an extent absent at Newmarket) and looks the real deal for next season. Connections have always claimed her to be their best filly, so it has now been proved. Clearly, she has bloomed late in the season but that does not mean she will not be fighting fit for Newmarket next May.

Vorda had a torrid time. Thrown wide at the first bend, she was always struggling thereafter. Her defeat cannot be put down solely to this (certainly did not help though) or, more importantly, the trip. If anything, she appeared to stay on well enough and should not be judged too harshly – better to claim this was a bad day at the office for her. It could be Vorda is considered a two-year-old in essence – in part explaining the decision to come here.

France probably have a better 1,000 Guineas candidate in Miss France, about whom no doubts regarding trip seem to exist.

Dank gained a gritty success over Romantica in the Fillies and Mares.

The aptly named Magician, conjured by the boy-genius that is Aidan O’ Brien, (like some policemen he looks younger than he is) gave Ryan Moore a momentous double on the card when scything through rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Magician soon swept clear from The Fugue. It was a furious pace and Moore kept his customary cool at the rear before delivering a devastating challenge. Not seen since a poor run in the St James’s Palace in June, as the only three-year-old in the pack, Magician’s win was further testament to O’Brien’s golden touch.

Another success for the imperious Galileo, and a first attempt at twelve furlongs for Magician (ran on Lasix), excuses for failure were stacked up beforehand.

The Fugue possibly had a tougher task in running given her position in the race (much closer to an unforgiving pace than the winner, but no fault of Buick’s – you have to ride from your position rather than take a pull).
However, Magician’s finishing kick meant he was the likely winner in any case. The Fugue leaves here unbowed.

To succeed at racing, you need to check your ego in at the entrance gates. Those constantly looking for applause get nowhere – applause only pays the bills if you happen to be a thespian or a comedian.

We are all reduced to a bit of both in turn and ultimately to fools in this business, so it is not my intention to poke a silly accusative finger at anyone when I compile these reports. The aim is to improve our joint chances of making some sense of an often crazy pursuit.

So, no malice is intended when I say the decision to run Olympic Glory in the Mile on fast ground was a poor one. In mitigation, I stated as much before the race in the strongest possible terms, but no matter.

Predictably, Olympic Glory ran flat and was never seen with a chance. It could be that he dislikes racing round bends; almost certainly, with all his best form on ground no faster than good, firm ground is not ideal.

Let me say up front, I have a great deal of time for Team Hannon. Their horses run to merit, are well turned out and usually perfectly ridden. In general, if you fancy one of theirs and it doesn’t win – you only have yourself to blame.

The Hannons are always approachable and a credit to racing. However, if they have a fault (most of us have at least one), it is the tendency to sometimes stubbornly over face horses when so-called judges (Ladbrokes made Olympic Glory a lay) can see they are making a mistake.

They were guilty here of asking a horse to achieve what was, to all intents and purposes, the unachievable. In the race, home confidence proved well-placed when the monster that is Wise Dan proved too tough. Having won the race last year, the champ returned to grind out a hard-fought success over outsiders Za Approval and Silentio, with Silver Max in fourth.

In the Classic, they raced for a total of five million dollars. It was a brutal clash down the straight with the Gary Stevens-ridden Mucho Macho Man squeezing home ahead of Will Take Charge and Declaration Of War, who was perfectly delivered by Joseph O’ Brien.

Declaration Of War ran a mighty race although he may have tired in the last half furlong on the dirt surface. With last year’s winner and the strongly fancied Game On Dude both beaten, this looked a strong renewal.