Big Brown the new star of American racing
Those of you who thought yesterday was all about the 2,000 Guineas will have missed an astonishing performance last night from Big Brown, who defied history when running away with the Kentucky Derby. No horse since 1929 had won the 'Run for the Roses' from stall 20, hard against the outside rail, while every winner since the filly Regret in 1915 had had at least four racetrack outings, against Big Brown's three.
But trainer Rick Dutrow had been extremely bullish about the chances of his horse, who was sent off favourite and justified the support with an emphatic victory. He produced at least two bursts of acceleration to go clear from the top of the stretch and was descibred as "the best I've ever ridden" by jockey Kent Desormaux, winning his third Derby.
Every year, Americans respond to the Derby winner by asking if this horse can win the Triple Crown, but the answer is almost invariably 'no, don't be daft' - it hasn't been done for 30 years. Still, Big Brown is such an impressive specimen that one could believe he would be the one to pull it off. In any event, unlike the pampered stars of European Flat racing, we won't have to wait long to see him again. Leg two of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico, near Baltimore, while leg three is the Belmont Stakes in New York on June 7 (also known as Derby day - that's the Epsom Derby).
Second home in last night's race was the filly Eight Belles, who produced a magnificent effort herself to go clear of the pack. Tragically, she broke both legs as she crossed the line and had to be put down, an outcome which will be all the harder for her connections to deal with, as she was only switched away from Friday's Kentucky Oaks when she was given a better stalls position for the Derby.
Hers is the third high-profile death in two years caused by racing on American 'dirt', following the fatal injuries suffered by Barbaro in the 2006 Preakness and George Washington at last year's Breeders' Cup. Californian courses have, in recent years, scrapped their dirt tracks in favour of surfaces similar to the Polytrack used here at Kempton, Lingfield and Wolverhampton, and the result appears to be a greatly reduced rate of injury.
However, there have been serious drainage problems with the new surface at Santa Anita, which will stage the next two Breeders' Cup meetings, and the replacement of 'dirt' remains hugely controversial. There is certainly no immediate prospect of a change at Churchill Downs, home to the Derby.
1pm Tips for today
Anyway, back on this side of the pond, it's 1,000 Guineas day at Newmarket. The big race is not that attractive from a betting perspective - the odds available about the market-leaders Natagora, Infallible and Spacious look about right to me - but the one bit of value in the race is Saoirse Abu (3.20), from the Jim Bolger stable that won this last year with Finsceal Beo.
Surely there can't have been many dual Group One winners who have lined up at 30-1 for this race, but that's what you can get on Betfair about Saoirse Abu, who beat yesterday's 2,000 Guineas hero Henrythenavigator in last year's Phoenix Stakes. Her last two starts have been disappointing but she appeared not to enjoy the going at Ascot last backend and needed her reappearance run. She has the credentials to run a big race but has never been very popular, possibly because she always wears blinkers or, as today, visors.
Monterrico (3.40) looks like the day's good thing in Salisbury's 1m2f handicap. Bred for this trip, he won his maiden at Lingfield when stepping up from 7f and seems the kind of improver Geoff Wragg does well with.
3.30pm Natagora wins the Guineas, Saoirse Abu third at 20-1
An impressive victory for the 11-4 favourite, trained in France by Pascal Bary and ridden by Christophe Lemaire. It's a good day for France, as Andre Fabre's Getaway won the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes earlier. Natagora stuck to her guns gamely when challenged by Infallible and Spacious, who looked likely to go past her when they made their move together.
Saoirse Abu ran on into third behind the winner and Spacious -- MillieJ, I hope you were on each-way!
Lush Lashes, also trained by Jim Bolger, ran a great race for a filly with such little experience, while Nahoodh met all sorts of trouble in running and should also be given plenty of credit.
