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SPORTING POST • FRIDAY 27th - SUNDAY 29th MAY 2016
On Saturday….Gr1 Irish 2000 Guineas
Guineas Stars Clash At Ascot? Hugo Palmer is hungry for a fresh fight between Galileo Gold and his Irish 2000 Guineas conqueror Awtaad in a Royal Ascot humdinger likely to be graced by a third Guineas winner in The Gurkha.
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he St James’s Palace Stakes in 22 days’ time is building up into one of the races of the season and Palmer believes better ground could lead to a different outcome to that at the Curragh on Saturday, where Awtaad enjoyed the testing conditions to master the Newmarket 2000 Guineas winner by two and a half lengths. Awtaad’s connections on Sunday said they were inclined to keep the son of Cape Cross at a mile instead of tackling the extra four furlongs of the Investec Derby, a stance echoed by Aidan O’Brien over his French Guineas winner The Gurkha, who is a top-priced 7-4 favourite for the Ascot Group 1 on June 14.
Decider
Palmer, who scratched Galileo Gold from the Derby last week, said: “The St James’s Palace is meant to be the championship decider between the two Guineas winners and if The Gurkha comes as well what a race we have to savour - better than the Derby. “I’m not afraid to take on the Curragh winner again on better ground. It’s a very exciting prospect that I’d relish and would be fantastic for racing. The winner was exciting on the ground at the Curragh and might be better on good ground, but we’ll certainly not shy away from taking him on again.” Palmer revealed his Curragh runner-up blew for 30 minutes afterwards, compared to five or six following his Newmarket success, and his participation at Ascot, for which he is a bestpriced 5-1, with Awtaad at 4-1, will hinge on how he recovers.
Heavy
Palmer said: “He ate up and was sound and bright this morning. But the St James’s Palace would be his third Group 1 in six and a half weeks and there will be absolutely no hiding place. “The way he was blowing showed how much harder he found it. There’s always the question about how significant a mark it has left on him. But early indications are he took the race well. “We want to win the St James’s Palace and go to the Sussex Stakes as worthy favourite. We always thought he’d finish the year in the QEII at Ascot, but with the likelihood of soft ground there in October it brings the Breeders’ Cup into play.”
Grounded
Reflecting on the tactics of a contest in which Frankie Dettori, drawn in stall one, bravely darted Galileo Gold up a gap on the inside rail, only to find Chris Hayes and Awtaad had flown on the outside, Palmer said: “Frankie had three options. To do what he did, to have gone forward and never been left alone or to have dropped out, gone around and followed the winner. But on that ground I suspect the result wouldn’t have been any different. “The winner relished the ground and we’d have always been a good second. If we’d been drawn in stall eight with the winner in one and boxed in like we were, and we had first run, he might have still come past us.” Like The Gurkha, Awtaad, who gave veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast his first Irish 2000 Guineas triumph since 1976, is still engaged at Epsom.
On Sunday…Gr1 Irish 1000 Guineas
Minding Beaten In Rousing Finish
Just like Galileo Gold in Saturday’s Irish 2000 Guineas, Minding was unable to complete the Newmarket/Curragh double as the Adrian Keatley-trained 12,000 guineas purchase Jet Setting outbattled the 4-11 favourite, who reportedly banged her head in the stalls before the start, in a thrilling finish.
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et Setting, who was supplemented at a cost of €30,000 after finishing ninth - almost nine lengths behind Minding - in the 1,000 Guineas, was held wide by Shane Foley rounding the bend and held a clear lead early in the straight.
Effort
As at Newmarket Ryan Moore was prominent on Minding, working his way through the gears and asking his mount for her full effort just before the two furlong marker. But Jet Setting did not fade like those around her at Newmarket had, and instead - on rain softened ground - the pair fought it out all the way to the line with little more than the margin of victory, a head, between them throughout. The ten lengths they pulled clear of the third, Now Or Never, suggested Minding produced a similarly strong finish - but Jet Setting, bought at the Tattersalls autumn horses in training sale last October from the Richard Hannon yard, proved more than a match. “It’s a dream come true,” said Foley after landing his first Classic. “She’s a tough little filly and ran a blinder at Newmarket, the ground was too quick that day. I’ve been doing a rain dance all week, soft ground and a stiff mile is ideal.” The winner was inserted at 8-1 by Paddy Power in their Coronation Stakes betting at Royal Ascot, while Minding was pushed out to 11-8 for the Investec Oaks at Epsom by Betfair’s sportsbook.
Surface Keatley, who began training in 2014, suggested the going might determine his stable star’s next target. He said: “She loves being in front and a bit of soft ground. She was unlucky at Newmarket, getting bumped in the final furlong, and the ground was too quick. She justified her supplementary fee today. “She has an entry at Ascot. She wants a bit of ease in the ground so we’ll have a look and go from there.” Minding’s trainer Aidan O’Brien was keen not to deflect any glory from the winner, but explaining the injury sustained by the favourite in the stalls, said: “Ryan said she anticipated the gate and banged her head, grazing the skin down the side of her face and nostril.
Great Ride “It’s just one of those things and she ran very well but Adrian had his filly in super shape and Shane gave her a great ride. “We were delighted to be second and hopefully she’ll be grand. Her sinus burst and the blood came down her nose and you can never know what kind of effect that has, but it obviously wasn’t a positive.” On whether Minding will still go for the Oaks, O’Brien added: “It was a bit of an afterthought coming here, we skipped a piece of work and brought her here instead and I don’t think there will be any change of plan.” www.racingpost.com
Loser That Stole A Nation’s Hearts
Winning Isn’t Everything! QUITE a bit actually (well, sort of). They’re both mares, they both have “unblemished” records and they both won the hearts of their respective nations. Despite never getting anywhere near the winner's circle, the sluggishly slow Haru Urara – which means “Glorious Spring” – transcended the sport and became Japan’s most celebrated racehorse. Her faithful backers were always on a one-way ticket to the poorhouse but they didn’t care, seemingly falling in love with her never-say-die attitude.
Popular “I don't really know why she's so popular,” trainer Dai Muneishi said ahead of her 106th start in 2004. “But I guess the biggest reason is that the sight of her running with all her heart despite having lost more than 100 times gives comfort to people's
hearts. “She runs at full gallop no matter what. That's her style.” Most winners never receive the honour of a victory lap but on one occasion Haru Urara was given a champion's reception after plodding home for a well-beaten 10th. The leaden-footed chestnut was dubbed the “shining star of losers everywhere” and became so popular she had a pop song written about her, starred in a commercial for a supermarket chain and attracted attention from Japan's most powerful people. “I’d like to see Haru Urara win, even just once. The horse is a good example of not giving up in the face of defeat,” Japan's then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.
Carrots Koizumi presented the brave galloper with a 100kg bag of carrots for her service to tourism and the public
What do undefeated champion Black Caviar and 113-start loser Haru Urara have in common?
likened her difficulties to their own during a time of economic hardship. “We identify her losses with [our own] in a time of
recession and feel that if we do our best for long enough we will win in the end,” one punter told the Telegraph in 2004.
At the height of her “success”, betting tickets placed on Haru Urara were used as omamori – a type of goodluck charm that is believed to help prevent traffic accidents. The not-so-mighty mare was the ultimate loser but she was also a saviour – at least for the financially struggling Kochi Racecourse. In 2004 the Kochi track located in Kochi City on the island of Shikoku - was on the verge of bankruptcy despite receiving a bailout from the government. But as Hara Urara’s loss column grew, so did her star power. Punters headed to the races in thousands to watch her try her best, which of course wasn’t very good at all.
Drawcard Crowds swelled from an average of 1500 to 5000+ and on one occasion the club was forced to open the
gates early as 13,000 people showed up to watch - and bet on - the loveable loser. The sheer amount of money wagered on the fourlegged celebrity meant she occasionally started favourite, even if she was never a chance of actually winning. Punters were unremorsefully doing their dough in millions and booming ticket sales and wagering turnover lifted the battling race club off the canvas. Following her lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful racing career, Haru Urara was donated to a small farm outside Tokyo. While she's no longer a prominent celebrity, she still has plenty of adoring fans, with the farm overwhelmed with donations following a public request for support. Haru Urara retired with five seconds, seven thirds and of course zero wins to her name from her 113 starts. www.punters.com.au