Its five years now since Persian Punch won the Jockey Club Cup on that golden day in october, and we have been regulars at the Champion Stakes Meeting ever since. Even though the main race itself struggles slightly to attract a proper Group I field nowadays, due to the rigid international timetable and the Breeders Cup only a week away now, New Approach won as a Champion should; he looked better than ever beforehand and gained his most impressive win of the season. It was particuarly nice to see Barshiba winning her swansong race (she is due to be covered by Norse Dancer in 2009), and the Meeting ended on a very emotional note when both Classic Punch and Distinction contested the very Jockey Club Cup, now the last race of the saturday. No win for both, but as it was farewell to Distinction too, it was good to see both warriors come home safe&sound.
The regally bred Rapid Water (by Anabaa out of Lochsong) leads out Swiss Diva from David Elsworth´ yard
Image:
Shock 50-1 winner Charlie Farnsbarns, with substitute jockey Ryan Moore, after Eddie Ahern missed the deadline for weighing out by 1 minute
Image:
Charlie gets up to beat Bankable in the Darley Stakes
Image:
Barshiba
Image:
Race favourite Spacious, the 2008 1000Guineas second by Nayef, was all sweat beforehand and looked clearly over the top. As Barshiba was one cool cookie on her way to the track we had the right betting-head on for once:
Image:
Barshiba sprints clear - sorry about the rail!
Image:
Newmarket Roweley Mile-King Plum Pudding (amazingly all his 6 career wins have been recorded at this track so far!) sprints clear for the opposition. Unfortunatly this race ended the career of old favourite Somnus, who broke blood vessels and had to be pulled up by Jamie Spencer.
Image:
Day 2 and Hughie Morrisons Stimulations gets up to beat Cat Junior in the Challenge Stakes
Image:
Dewhurst Stakes next, and this was our idea of the winner beforehand - Ashram:
Image:
Royal Applause´son Finjaan goes out onto the track:
Image:
But its little mickey-mouse Intense Focus (no disrespect to the horse, but he IS small and just simply never looks the part - but he is nothing if not tough and game)-with Blinkers- who proved me wrong again and again this season, getting home by a whisker in a pulsating finish from Lord Shanakil (just the jockeys sleeve in photo) and Finjaan on the rails. The first three home could be covered by a blanket (in fact Finjaans jockey Richard Hills was convinced he got up on the line and could be heard swearing on the way back to the winners enclosure); the yellow-dressed Shaweel in 4. not far away either. Ashram unfortunatly had the worst possible trip and could never get into the race proper.
Image:
New Approach is saddled in Brigadier Gerards shadow.
Image:
Champion Stakes contenders: This is Twice Over:
Image:
Linngari, who might become in sire in Germany at the end of his racing career, on his way onto the track:
Image:
It was hard to get a good spot this year - The Champion Stakes head-on:
Image:
Problems of an unofficial photographer:
Image:
The winner after:
Image:
German-bred Carraciola finally had conditions to suit in the Cesarewich, and duly went one better from his 2nd place in this race last year; he thus became the oldest horse to win this prestigious handicap (at the tender age of 11) and did so at odds of 50-1! Guess who chose this day one of the few days NOT to back him?
Image:
The wonderful Distinction, such a stalwart for owners Highclere Racing, and lass Kerry Jones on their way to the track one last time together:
Image:
Classic Punch
Image:
No fairytale ending for Distinctions career, but a house well decorated to return to:
Image:
Sir Michael, just one week off his arguably biggest win in 2008, takes his time to pose with the old boy, with Kerry and Stuart, whose hack Distinction might become now, on the right:
Image:
The 2009 2000Guineas winner? - Evasive, who clearly looked promising in the Horris Hill at Newbury
Image:
Distinction
Image:
Visiting Sergeant Cecil and Amberleigh House:
Image:
We close with him: Pastoral Pursuits is already wrapped up for winter
Image:
Other pages:
This is the text-only version of this page. Click here to see this page with graphics.
Edit this page |
Manage website
Make Your Own Website: 2-Minute-Website.com