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Epsom 2:05, 6f Listed (1), "Woodcote Stakes" |
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| Horse | SP | [EST] | LB | Run | Wnr | Trainer | Dw | Hf | LBL | Run Notes | ||||
| 1 | Baitha Alga | 1.88 | 68.0 | - | 3 | m/G | R. Hannon (Jnr) | 1 | 1.5 | B1, Ld Erl SHld, Sttld+0.5f Rc Away from RL, Hdd+1.5f & 2nd 1Wd Sttld, TvCmf-2f+ Ngl, Po-2f HnH, Ld-1f+ Po, 2.5Clr-0.5f, Po HnH, SCmf | ||||
| 2 | Ballymore Castle | 3.33 | 62.0 | 2.0 | 3 | m | R. A. Fahey | 8 | 6.5 | RE, 4th+1f SHld, Bmp+1.5f -1L Drop Last STTR, Dv+2f XB, SUnbal to HS, Po-2.5f SHgR, SwcR-2f to Cent, 7th-1f+ PO, 2nd ins-0.5f Po | ||||
| 3 | Red Icon | 4.5 | 59.8 | 2.8 | 3 | m | T. G. Dascombe | 9 | 4.0 | Supp 11/2, B-1 Wdst, STTR Erl & Last, SPprg+0.5f Wdst, Drop-in+1.5f 6th 2Wd, Dv-2.5f Cent TTR, Whip-2f Po SHgL, 4th-1f Po, poLt | ||||
| 4 | Burtonwood | 16 | 53.8 | 4.8 | 4 | m | R. A. Fahey | 7 | 2.7 | BkWL Wd, Dv Erl Resp, 2nd+0.5f SHld, 3rd+1.5f 2Wd, Dv-2.5f STTR, SHgLOv, Whip-2f, Po ins-2f, po-0.5f+ Ln1, FdLt MvAwk | ||||
| 5 | Lightning Stride | 8 | 50.0 | 6.0 | 3 | m | B. J. Meehan | 5 | 2.5 | Drift 7/1, STrblLdg, BRear-1 P-1, HgL rErl & Last, Dv+0.5f Resp, Pull to 2R+1.5f RL, Dv-2.5f Po, SOutpcd-2f Po SHdUp, po-1f+ Drop 7th, Resp ins-1f, HgRLt Esd | ||||
| 6 | Mambo Paradise | 10 | 42.8 | 6.8 | 3 | m | M. Johnston | 4 | -1.5 | B-2 Cent PLh-1, Last Erl FrSd Resp, QEff+0.5f Prg Open RL, Ld+1.5f RL SFre, SHgR to HS, Eff Erl HS & 2Clr PO, Po ins-1.5f, Hdd-1f+, 2nd-0.5f+ po, Fd ins-0.5f | ||||
| 7 | Fine Prince | 14 | 47.1 | 7.0 | 3 | A | R. A. Mills | 3 | 4.2 | Supp 16/1, ShkgHd BkWL, 3rd Erl Resp, 2R+0.5f Fre & Hld, QFFH for 1f+ Unbal+2.5f drop 7th XB, TvOk-2.5f Hmp RL -2L, Resp-1f+ Po, Unbal-0.5f+, Esd ins-0.5f | ||||
| 8 | Exentricity | 16 | 40.6 | 7.5 | 4 | M. R. Channon | 6 | 3.2 | Drift 14/1, BOk, Dv Erl Resp, 2R+0.5f Ngl, SFre+1f Hld, SHgR to HS Hld, Dv-2.5f po but SHgLOv, Hmp-1.5f -2L TTR, po-1f+ Drop 8th, EasedLt HgR | |||||
| NR | Mary Ann Bugg | P. S. McEntee | 2 | NR = Self Cert (In Season). Declared 11:17am. | ||||||||||
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GGS by 10:00am after 6mm of Rain and Dry and sunny since then. GGF to GGS but Showers Forecast for the Day. Medium+ Half Headwind from the Left in the HS. Rails fully in. Fahey in his SL piece = "I’ve got two in the Woodcote Stakes, Ballymore Castle and Burtonwood, and there wouldn’t be a lot between them. At the start of the season I thought Burtonwood was among my very best two-year-olds and I still have high hopes for him as I don’t think we saw the best of him at Newmarket last time out. It was a falsely-run race, he didn’t get a run when he wanted one and then by the time he’d got one, they’d gone. He’ll stay six furlongs well. Ballymore Castle is improving fast and if he finds more, he is going to go close too. I was impressed at Chester last time because it’s not easy for a two-year-old on just his second start around that track. Hopefully that was a sign he will handle Epsom too. They’re both drawn towards the outside but I don’t mind that so much. In fact, I’d prefer them to be drawn out there than in one, two or three. I know you’d like me to choose between them, but I can’t." Hannon quoted on his website = "You need an athletic two-year-old to win around Epsom, and Baitha Alga handled Chester well enough last week to suggest the track will be no problem. He was also nimble enough to do a tasty side-step when he got hampered early in the straight, eventually winning comfortably, and we have always liked him. And, equally important, like Thunder Strike last year, he has the one draw, which is a big plus around there." = Interesting difference of opinion about the Draw between Fahey & Hannon. But, talking about the draw without talking about Run Style (and pace and going) is plain wrong and they both fail that test. On Firmer going at EPSM if you can get to a prominent position on the rail or Lane 1 then it will take an 'aeroplane' to run you down racing wider. A race with a mixed record of quality over thyears but the last 4 editions have included 3 which produced later British Group race winners (Approve, Caspar Netscher & Heavy Metal). The 2009 edition was the least good quality and 2013's lack a Group winner but the 1st was 4th in the Coventry and thend 2nd in the DPY Sales race behind the 3rd from the Woodcote. This year's race didn't look high quality on Profile and lacking an obvious future 'Star' but a solid group of 80-90+ types in the main. Baitha Alga getting an efficient run through the race and able to handle the slopes well and produce a good kick 2f out. Which was enough for a comfortable win. A medium sized and solidly built one and 90+ but Listed level perhaps his peak. Say similar to last year's winner. Another regular 'Character' of the 2yo season is the average plus sized bulky one who gets well behind for some reason and then comes storming down the outside late on as the prominent runners (and those roliing around on the cambered HS and hampering one another) fold back to make the closers look like they are going faster then they are. This type rarely win unless there is a pace war or they are much higher class than the opposition. BAlga going a usable pace here and not fading to set an insurmountable target here. Ballymore Castle played that aprt here and got behind for various reasons even before he started finding going downhill around a bend too much. Produced an extended effort wide on the track but only realy making places as the prominent runners faded. As a 'Rule' these closers usuall fit into the OR85-93 range and following them as 'Eyecatchers' unprofitable over time. Look up the subsequent record of Riverboat Springs who played the role in 2013 if you want an example. He came from even further back to get 2nd, in a faster paced race, but hasn't won since. RSprings looking the uppper end of that OR range but has given the impression in both his last 2 races he needs further. He has managed a win at CHES and a 2nd here without handling either track and making a lot of places late on. So, we also know he isn't that nimble and could really do with a straight track, perhaps with a bit of an uphill incline. Jk Kingscote showing on Red Icon that he can drop in and not always go to a prominent position. A slow start out wide making that necessary. But a laboured effort in the HS and hanging down the camber at times. Only making places late on and BC came from well behind him and ovetook him. A medium one and late 70s into low 80s. Fahey has some previous for misjudging the quality of his 2yos before they run. For example, Warcrown in 2011 was supposed to be close to he best he had ever trained but has won once in a 2 year career, finished on OR67 and mid OR70s at his peak. The talk about Burtonwood seems odd unless the aim is to talk him up, run him in races above his class to inflate his OR and sell him to Hong Kong. Mr Armstrong would presuably like to see some payback fo the high number of expensive ones he has bought. Burtonwood not handling the track here but a lesser laboured effort in context and Nursery future. Lightning Stide looking a bit lightler build in this group and a bit outpaced at times in the HS. As over 5f on debut he looked to be moving best later in the race when he got back to 5th from 7th before starting to hang right and eased. Another who looks likely to rate better over 7f and on a less speed favouring course and OR80s. In the 2013 edition the MaJo runner ended up doing whatever was needed to get to the lead then made a solid effort 2F out but faded out of the picture late on. Most MaJo runners, once competent, seem unlikely to die Not Knowing. Mambo Paradise never got going on a faster ground 5F STO and looking much happier here with some ease in the ground, despite the downhill section. A slow start and hanging left meant the jk on MP had a large gap to make progress through to get to the lead on the rail as the other jks took a pull. But, MP then overdoing it in front and 1.5L clear at Hf and making an early effort in the HS. A solid effort though and it looked for a while that only BA in the S&P spot behind her would ovetake her. Still 2nd into the last 0.5f then a solid fade hid a lot of the good work. Upper 80s type and might leak 90s. Fine Prince seems to be maturing ok physically and a bulkier model that LS and also ok athleticism. Should be ok for mid to upper 80s. But, did a lot wrong here so unbale to show what he can do and another who looks like he would do better on a straighter and more galloping track. The worst puller to Hf and in fighting the jk ended up getting unbalanced and rolling tot he rail. Going well in context to 2F out but had a look at a rail gap which LS closed so FP hampered. Took time to pluck up the course to go for another rail gap but looked ok as he did it but then got very wobbly 0.5f out and the jk stopped riding. Exentricity one of those OR70s ones that Channon seems determined to try to rated to a ridiculously high OR for the Owner Breeder's benefit. Smallest here and the least good effort in the HS while joining the 'Hanging Left' Club. Hampered 1.5f out and a moderate response afterwards. |