Horses for Sale
- Tuesday, 04 August 2015 08:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is day two of jump racing's Summer break and I have to say that I am missing the action already! There are four flat cards taking place on these shores with action from Salisbury, Catterick, Chelmsford City and Ripon. Meanwhile, just like yesterday the Irish are hosting a jumps card at Roscommon and there is no shortage of runners. Indeed, the smallest field is in the bumper which has attracted twelve participants - perhaps we could learn something from their model? David sends out one runner on the level this afternoon as Kie competes in the 1m6f handicap at Salisbury at 5pm. He finished runner-up on the flat over two miles as a three year old and has since developed into a very useful hurdler/chaser - David looks to have found him a good opportunity and I must admit that a mark of 49 looks tempting. He will be partnered by promising apprentice jockey Tom Marquand so let's hope for the best.
I see that Michael Dickinson is preparing to revive his training career in America. Dickinson performed some incredible feats including training the first five home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1983 and after moving to America and concentrating on the level he went on to train dual Breeders' Cup Mile winner Da Hoss. He retired from training seven years ago but is clearly itching to get back into it. I am sure that he will be a great success, although the sport seems to be getting more competitive year by year on either side of the Atlantic - it will be fascinating to see how he gets on.
Apparently there is to be no match between Derby winner Golden Horn and US Triple Crown hero American Pharaoh in the Breeders' Cup. I can't say I am surprised - one is a dirt horse, the other competes on turf and there is no incentive for connections of either horse to get beaten with a stud career beckoning at the end of the season. While the winner of such a match would doubtless do his stud value no end of good, the vanquished would become a less attractive proposition and I can't see either owner fancying that possibility. While it would make a fantastic spectacle, it is just pie in the sky I'm afraid.
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The fourth Ashes Test match between England and Australia gets underway on Thursday at Trent Bridge and it looks as though Durham man Mark Wood is set to replace England's all-time leading wicket taker, injured Jimmy Anderson...they are certainly big shoes to fill! With England 2-1 ahead in the series with only two matches left to play my wager on the Aussie's to win the series isn't looking too clever. While I am pleased to see England handing out a beating to the tourists it isn't going to help me much from a financial point of view. Who to cheer for? What a dilemma!
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There are many interesting theories and sayings in racing - always back the outsider of three, always back the runners from the first horse box you see, follow jockeys with one ride at a meeting etc. However, have you ever wondered about some of the other saying from a more general walk of life? For instance, 'burying your head in the sand'...in a study spanning over 80 years and 200,000 ostriches there was not one single instance reported of an ostrich burying it's head in the sand! Right, I'm heading back to my sun lounger...have a nice day!
