Royal Defeat, Royal Ascot and a Royal Encounter

Mickael Barzalona’s victory aboard Pour Moi in last week’s Epsom Derby catapulted the 19 year old’s talents into the public domain. If they didn’t know already. He has lit up racing with magnificent rides in France, Dubai and now England. Ironically many of his big race wins previous were for the boys in blue of Godolphin, this time in the dark blue silks of Coolmore. Barzalona looks like a ready replacement for Sheikh Mohammed and co. when 41 year old Frankie Dettori calls it a day. But with Aidan O’Brien’s policy of using the best available not altogether working out this year (Fallons late withdrawal from Recital due to injunction), the signature of Barzalona could be sought by Ballydoyle. I am baffled by the use of Pat Smullen over Seamie Heffernan in substitute of Fallon for Recital. I am as baffled as to how Seamie Heffernan didn’t partner one of O’Briens Derby quartet in the first place. The riding arrangements of the Coolmore operation are understandable in using the best available but this definitely creates dissonance in the camp. Therefore, overall it is a poor tactic in my opinion. A settled team with appreciation of its cogs in the wheel (Heffernan, O’Donoghue), albeit behind a settled star or leader (Kinane, Fallon..)  would make for a far better structure in Ballydoyle. Disharmony is a theme I will deal with further later.  

    

Barzalona standing tall in the irons of Pour Moi with 5 yards to go in the Derby, whilst not yet passed the eventual runner up, is an image that will live long in the memory. The exuberance of the teenager was quite astonishing and equally stupid. His ride up to that point was a fantastic waiting ride. Bollocking and heart in mouth aside, it was a memorable moment. A talking point. The coming of a new showman. He nearly cost his connections the derby and millions in stud value. One jink, or if the horse reacted to him pulling at his mouth or if for any reason he momentarily lost balance, he was gone. Madness.  

It makes him a bloody interesting character though. I refer back to my friend Seamus’ post on Sex, Drugs and Sausage Rolls. We lack these sporting playboys these days. Stars with infinite confidence where their actions contain no trace of ‘what if I f*ck up’.

Barzalona’s actions made me think of a pet hate of mine though. One portrayed more than most by one of jumps greatest ever jockey’s no less, Ruby Walsh. Ruby often on the way back to the parade ring, or winner’s enclosure (considering the success he enjoys) after a race stands tall in the irons; and as a direct result, pulls on the horse’s mouth.    

I remember vividly seeing him standing upright on Kauto Star on the way back past the stands after remounting after taking a heavy fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2010. I thought it was entirely inappropriate. It looks bad, almost cruel, regardless of whether it is or not.

Once the race is over it seems the jockey forgets about how conscious they were during the race about the handling of the horse. It is silly that Ruby, such a genius of getting a horse to travel in a race for him, can’t continue that gift of horsemanship till he’s back unseated in the paddock. That gift which once again came to the fore on Friday night. Ruby rode a driving finish from the last hurdle with one rein, after they snapped, coaxing Cootamundra to victory in Wexford. Walsh for quite a while now, and Barzalona more recently have a tall standing in their respective codes of the sport of kings. For my tupenceworth, they need to quit standing tall in their irons.       

Royal Ascot starts today (Tuesday) and provides the most wonderful racing through to Saturday. For me it will hopefully mean a busy week in the betting office. I will once again battle with my double persona; bookie vesus racing enthusiast. So You Think (1/2) and Frankel (4/11) are two good examples of mixed emotions for me this week. I think they will both win. I hope they win. Yet I think they are both too short at their current prices and I will want to lay them. And maybe against them take advantage of generous each way prices on Planteur (4/1) and Excelebration (8/1) respectively. Aidan O’Brien and SIR Henry Cecil should dominate the headlines this week and rightly so, both run impeccable operations. Sir Michael Stoute is also just coming into form at the right time with 5 winners on Saturday. Ryan Moore was evens last week to be top jockey and that has rightly dried up, he looks a certainty for the yellow jersey this week.

I hope So You Think wins and triumphs impressively to put some Australian doubters of O’Brien’s talents to bed. Seamie Heffernan’s quote a couple of weeks ago after winning the Irish 1000 Guineas sticks in the mind when asked about Moore’s earlier win on So You Think. He graciously sidestepped the jockey arrangements question and said he was blessed to ride him once, and if that opportunity arose in the future he would be honoured. More importantly though, Heffernan stated So You Think was the best horse he ever sat on. On the track or at home!

Heffernan has ridden some horses; presumably Galileo, Rock of Gibraltar, Giants Causeway and Dylan Thomas to name just a few. That statement rocked me. His boss’ rise in the ranks is sometimes forgotten. Aidan O’Brien was a stable hand who made his way to the top. Champion amateur rider and champion jumps trainer before taking over the reins at Ballydoyle from his namesake Vincent O’Brien. No relation. Aidan O’Brien has since trained 175 Group 1 winners and won every classic in Britain and Ireland, eclipsing his predecessor Vincent O’Brien. Still no relation.    

Louth lose to Carlow

1/6 favourites Louth lost to Carlow last Sunday in their first game of the Leinster Championship. In losing Louth lost what looked like the easiest opportunity for years for the Wee County to reach another Leinster Final. Peter Fitzpatrick TD, manager of Louth has to be under some pressure now after a poor defeat to League 4 side Carlow. Louth in both Gaelic and politics could be forgiven for thinking we had seen a new dawn with the participation in a first Leinster Final in 50 years and wholesale change in our elected representatives in the Dail. The news of both Fitzpatrick employing his daughter as his part time secretary in the Dail and questionable team selection this week, including his son’s participation in the game last Sunday kind of sends out the wrong signal in both jobs. After 100 days of a new government which claimed they’d end nepotism and cronyism for good, some have shot themselves in the foot. I am not questioning the man’s integrity, by no means. From what I hear he’s very well in respected in all walks of life. Neither would I question his appointments talent wise both on and off the field.  What I would question however are his PR and motivational skills. I would consider Michael Fanning a friend, a sound man and a hell of a footballer. Mick returned in the last month from travels abroad which meant he missed Louth training since the start of the year. Fitzpatrick started Fanning in the defence last Sunday. I only saw the highlights. I can’t comment on how he played. I don’t doubt he played well and fully deserved his place in the starting line up. What I do believe however is that this sends out the wrong message to the rest of the squad and the county. What is pre season for?  I’m no expert on Louth GAA but I’d be pretty sure that upset some of the squad. I neither doubt that Peter Fitzpatrick’s daughter Grace is the best person for the job. But surely this was not advisable and shows no sensitivity to the mood and anger of the nation.

Louth’s win of the League Division 3 now looks fortunate, as it felt then. They now face, suprise suprise Meath in the first round of the qualifiers. Cue the recollections of that famous Sunday in Croker and Meath’s Leinster win over Louth with the aid of an illegal goal. What price Sludden to ref the tie?!  

Post by Peter Kingston

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