Future Champions Day
October 7, 2011
Romance in Paris, a stiff Rowley mile before the climax at Ascot for Champions Day. ” It’s all about sex baby” the end of the Pattern season in Europe. No, not for you or I but for the champions thrown up over these three consecutive weekends.
It’s not a cock and bull to say this weekend is about future stud value. On the contrary, remove the bull then you know what I mean. The first prerequisite here for these top two year old contests at Newmarket, the Middle Park Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes is to be an entire.
These winners will populate the breeding sheds of Europe. Future Champions Day will provide the sires of the future. Set up as the prelude for next weekend, we must hold on, we don’t want to rush it, let’s enjoy the pleasure of today.
Prior to the reorganisation of the seasons close there was a two week gap between these races and plenty of horses have attempted to win both. Only one has managed in recent times, Dieses in 1982, if you can call that recent. Dream Ahead tried it last year having won the Middle Park he took on Frankel in the Dewhurst coming up short on ground he actually found too easy.
Having the two now on the same day sharpens the mind.
The Middle Park run over 6 F open only to colts should point in the direction of futures sprinters while the the 7 F of the Dewhurst open to colts and fillies puts the classics firmly on the radar. In reality,the 2000 Guineas, you’ve got to go back to 1957 to find the last filly to win it, Torbella 111.
By the time the 16 colts go to post for the Middle Park Les Bleus will have exited the Rugby World Cup at the hands of Les Anglais leaving gallic pride in tatters. One colt offers restoration. A win in the Prix Papin in July stood out and next time out in the Prix Morny only last weeks Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Dabirsim got the better of him. Let’s hope he is better managed than the rugby team. Casper Netscher boasts a Gimcrack and Mill Reef under his belt and Bapak Chinta took the Norfolk at Royal Ascot to head the home defence however the early morning triumph of the rose over the rooster will be reversed.
In the Dewhurst Power tops the bill. His blemish in the Pheonix was forgotton in the National, both at the Curragh. If he bags Englands premier two year old race to add to Ireland’s he will undoubtably be crowned champion juvenile. Bronterre, substitute for Harbour Watch, is unbeaten in two. He doesn’t boast the same profile as the favourite but his first appearence in Group 1 company is merited with his impressive display in a Listed race at Goodwood last time. Extihaam steps up from a conditions event where he gave 4 lbs and a a 4 L beating to Mizwaaj, an event won last year by Frankel. Most Improved will have to be if he is to add to his maiden victory with the same applying to Spiritual Star, a 6 L victor of his Newmarket maiden. Trumpet Major benefits from a Champange Stakes win over Red Duke and now Johnny Murtagh in the plate while Factory Time would require reaassessment should Casper Netschter win the Middle Park having been 3 1/4 L off him in the Mill Reef.
There is an intriguing one.
A son of Teofilo, the winner in 2006 he is likewise trained by Jim Bolger. The trainer is attempting a fourth Dewhurst in six runnings having provided New Approach in 2007 and Intense Focus in 2008. He hasn’t much to make up on the favourite through a line with Dragons Pulse who went down a 1/2 L to Power in the National Stakes. Bolger’s colt was beaten 1 3/4 L in the Furturity by Dragon Pulse and his profile is then more similar to the 2008 winner rather than the 2006 star or 2007 superstar.
Ok, it’s cheap chic lit going on here. Thankfully the racing isn’t, another day of top quality. Let’s get back to clean, it has to be Family One in the Middle Park and in the Dewhurst, Parish Hall must be the call.
Bless me Father for I have sinned…………………..
