IT’S AN INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION AT WOODBINE!
The last big day of the local racing season is here and while the weather is not great, cold, grey and wet, the racing card is jam packed full of some cool horses from all over the world.
The grass course was used once yesterday, for the important Cup & Saucer Stakes and what a race run by the filly HARD NOT TO LIKE to win for owner/breeders Garland and Marie Williamson of Erin, Ontario. Trained by Gail Cox, Hard Not to Like floated over what was termed as a very, very soft course (Tyler Pizarro is quoted in media today) and won nicely in 1:48 for 1 1/16 miles. She is a grey daughter of Hard Spun out of the top mare Like a Gem.
The Cup & Saucer was not without incident, however, as SECRET CONSULTANT broke down early in the race under Emile Ramsammy. The 2yo by War Front, who ran 1 week ago for $32,00 claiming, was put down immediately. Meanwhile, ALDOUS SNOW, the favourite was pulled up early as jockey Eurcio Rosa Da Silva reportedly hurt his ankle in the incident.
Most of the European horses today will be accustomed to the deep going although not all are going to like it seems.
Other notes and quotes:
The horses of Ramzan Kadryov, MIKHAIL GLINKA and BRONZE CANNON, may be longshots but their presence has caused a bit of a minor stir.
The owner, a Chechnyen leader, is a colourful, if not controversial character (Hilary Swank recently went on record saying she regretted going to his party) had entered a horse at Keeneland recently but his paperwork for his license was not complete and the horse was scratched.
Since then the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has requtested extra paperwork from the owner and proff that he has licenses in other racing jurisdictions.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramzan_Kadyrov)
John Veitch, a steward at Keeneland, said yesterday to THOROUGHBLOG
“The KHC is looking into some matters (with the owner) that he is alleged to have done, but we have been supplied with his other licenses.”
The Ontario Racing Commission have no issues with the horses racing here, the ORC Rule book does allow for a look into a licensee’s records and ‘character’ but the owner is expected to be licensed for the race.
AND NOW FOR SOME PICKS…
A collections of options include ARCTIC COSMOS, making his 2nd race off a long layoff due to an operation, TREASURE BEACH, whose trainer Aidan O’Brien not only is celebrating a birthday today but he sent a filly to Keeneland to win a big race yesterday off just 1 week rest, REDWOOD, he’s fresh, and QUEST FOR PEACE, a lightly raced up and comer.
In the EP Taylor, the selections are MAHBOOBA, DREAM PEACE, STRAWBERRYDAIQUIRI (out of champion British Columbia mare Strawberry Morn).
The Nearctic , well, I have gone with GRAND ADVENTURE one more time, but BATED BREATH, BEWITCHED look good from Europe as does RIGHT ONE from the U.S.
Go with the Euro’s today and enjoy!
