LOST IN TRANSLATION

It was quite a show on Sunday at Longchamp: Vive la France – or Long live France – literal translation: Up with France – loose translation: Up the British. Not much changes over the years; we remain uneasy allies with our Gaelic cousins across the Channel.

You could spot the French on Sunday: they were the ones in suits, some of whom were ever so slightly annoyed that the racing had interrupted a hearty lunch. Some were even more annoyed when locally-trained Catcall was adjudged to have come too soon in the Abbaye and Lesstalk In Paris was reckoned to have come much too soon in the Marcel Boussac, when attempting to make all. It seems coming too soon is perceived as a misdemeanour that justifies the return of the guillotine in France.

You could spot the British: they were the underdressed ones drinking beer on the lawn.

You could also spot the Japanese: draped in national flags and bringing with them an infectious enthusiasm for Japanese-trained duo Orfevre – French for goldsmith – and Kizuna – Japanese for bond. The Japanese don’t just support their horses; rather, having made a monumental journey of about six thousand miles as Air Nippon flies, they live every stride their compatriots take. They really seem immersed in the game of horseracing. After several near misses, [El Condor Pasa, Deep Impact and Orfevre last year and again this], their turn surely awaits in a race that seems to mean so much to them.

Staging seven Group 1s on one afternoon could only occur in a country whose racing is operated nationally by a pari mutual [mutual betting] system where profits are ploughed directly back into racing.

This in stark contrast to this country where racing is seen as an industry and managed accordingly, churning cream for the fat-cats that are dependent on it to run their Bentleys.

Top of the list are of course the bookmakers who over the past twenty years have gradually gained virtual control of the way the business is run. This should not come as a surprise as bookmakers are business organisations first and foremost, driven by profit as opposed to leanings of the philanthropic variety.

They do generously contribute to racing’s purse by sponsoring the odd prestige event. Ladbrokes finance and promote the St Leger (not without demanding their pound of flesh) and Coral and Betfred do the same for the Eclipse and the Haydock Sprint. William Hill prefer to confine their support to gold-edged National Hunt events such as the King George VI Chase at Kempton and the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham – possibly reasoning there is a slight chance bad weather will let them off the hook once in a blue moon.

Of course bookmakers are in their elements when adding their names to events such as the Ayr Gold Cup or, as is the case this Saturday at York, the Coral Handicap and, at Newmarket, the Betfred Cesarewitch. One firm has circumnavigated all this with the This isn’t The [Stan James Champion Hurdle] Handicap at York on Friday over a mile.

Private companies will always put the interests of their own shareholders before those of the consumer.

Energy firms, rather than joining in the general Macaroon mantra of us ‘all being in this together’, prefer to forego reduced profit margins in favour of increasing prices to impoverished householders already paying over the odds for electricity and gas supplies.

Even the chocolate manufacturers are about to join in the scrum, increasing their prices just in time for Christmas on the premise that the price of cocoa has gone up. How seasonal, even though chocolate has been shrinking in quantity for years whilst the prices steadily rise…

Back to Sunday, and the non-private racing show that was Prix De l’arc de Triomphe day at Longchamp.

Actually it was a triumph as well as a Triomphe. And there were horses as well as people. In fact it became something of an equine Ladies’ Day.

Unbeaten three-year-old filly Treve – French for tactic – despite running black with sweat beforehand, was an emphatic Arc winner. Moonlight Cloud – means a cloud diffusing the rays of the moon, or moonlight cloud – set the place alight after her unbelievable last-to-first success in the Prix de la Foret.

Her win put me in mind of two other notable fillies [actually, Moonlight Cloud is mare] in Zarkava, whose Arc win was unforgettable and the equally brilliant American filly Zenyatta. Both had a habit of milking audiences, starting slowly and coming from seemingly impossible positions to win races of the highest calibre with consummate ease.

So this Saturday it is a case of follow that Newmarket! With the Dubai Challenge Stakes, the Cesarewitch, the Rockfel and the Autumn Stakes it promises to be a cracking card. Although some translation – or at least an explanation is required – to justify reasoning behind staging two Group 1 juvenile events separated by only thirty-five minutes and a furlong  [the Middle Park and the Dewhurst] on the same card.

Be Ready should not be underestimated in the Dewhurst – he looks a potential star for Godolphin – but will face the big battalions from Ballydoyle, so good luck with that one!

York offers handicap after handicap for those of that persuasion, and one of the first major National Hunt meetings of the year kicks off in Wales when Chepstow steps from behind  a flat curtain of mediocrity to stage top-class jumping action.

All this as the Pit And The Pendulum that is the weather threatens to sharpen its blade. Cold winds are on the way from Russia – a steppe too far perhaps for those that need new winter attire.