Horses win races and make news. But sometimes, they do not win races
and still make news. The Green Monkey belongs to the second category.
The Coolmore group has paid $16 million for a Forestry colt. Forestry
is by Storm Cat. Magical Masquerade, a daughter of Unbridled, is The
Green Monkey's dam. Bet down to 45/100 in his debut on September 15,
The Green Monkey finished third. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt was
in the third race at Belmont Park on Saturday. It was a race for maidens
over 1,400 metres and carried a purse of $52,000. The Green Monkey was
the even money favourite with jockey John Velasquez aboard. The Green
Monkey jumped out well and set the pace. He was challenged as they turned
for the run-in and he folded without a fight. The race was won by Giant
Deputy, a Giant's Causeway colt. The Green Monkey retreated to end up
fourth. What’s next for this expensive colt?
Dylan Thomas is now the highest-rated horse in the world. Manduro is
out of the picture. The victory in the Arc has catapulted Dylan Thomas
to the top. Dylan Thomas is going to Monmouth Park in New Jersey for
the Breeders' Cup Turf. He will take on the unstoppable English Channel.
It is going to be a mouth-watering clash.
The Breeders' Cup races will be held on October 26 and 27 at Monmouth
Park in New Jersey. This is the first time that these championship races
will be held at the New Jersey track. The Haskell Invitational, in the
first week of August, is the biggest race at Monmouth Park.
In England, Ibn Khalduhn won the Group III Deloitte Autumn Stakes at
Ascot on Saturday. The rider was Frankie Dettori. Ibn Khalduhn was winning
three in a row. He has won thrice in four starts. He was the 4/7 favourite.
He won by a length. The time for the 1,600-metre trip was 1 44.24 on
the grass. Ibn Khalduhn is now headed to Doncaster for the Racing Post
Trophy, a route that Authorized took in 2006. The incomparable Nashwan
won the Racing Post Trophy in 1988.
Frankie Dettori said, "It was a great ride. He has talent. I waited.
I knew I could get them any moment I wanted. He quickened well when
I asked him."
The Grade III Hawthorne Derby (on the grass) at Hawthorne in Chicago
went to Bold Hawk. In a photo finish, Bold Hawk, a son of Silver Hawk,
got up to win over the favoured Twilight Meteor, a Todd Pletcher-trainee.
Jean-Luc Samyn, Bold Hawk's rider, showed finesse when finding room
in the last 200 metres. Twilight Meteor was playing the role of bridesmaid
for the third consecutive time. The winning margin was a head. The time
for the 1,800-metre journey was 1 47.45. The winner's share of the purse
was $150,000. Bold Hawk returned $10.00.
Kieren Fallon has said that he will not ride until the 'conspiracy'
trial ends. "It's not fair to the trainers. There is so much going
on. My season did not really get going though winning the Arc was the
highlight. Dylan Thomas was the horse for me."
In Keeneland, Bit Of Whimsy rallied spiritedly to catch the pace-setting
Dreaming Of Anna to win the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge on Saturday.
It was the 24th running of this Grade I event. Javier Castellano was
the winning jockey and the winning trainer was Barclay Tagg. The time
for the 1,800-metre race was 1 48.73 on firm turf. Bit Of Whimsy won
by 2 1/4 lengths. The winner earned $310,000 and returned $15.80.
Dreaming Of Anna, with Garrett Gomez, set up shop on the front end.
Coquerelle lay second and was ridden by Christophe Lemaire who had flown
in from Paris. Bit Of Whimsy was sixth and seventh and was on a ground-saving
mission. Turning for home, Dreamin Of Anna found a new gear and saw
off Coquerelle who began to weaken. With 200 metres to run, Bit Of Whimsy
made her appearance on the scene. Making the most of an opening on the
fence, jockey Castellano drove his filly and the response was striking.
With less than fifty metres to go, Bit Of Whimsy swept past Dreaming
Of Anna. Coquerelle finished third and was a length behind Dreamin Of
Anna.
Trainer Barclay Tagg expressed delight. "I thought Javier (the
jockey) would take her back today. It worked perfect. She has an explosive
kick."
Javier Castellano said, "There was speed and I was expecting my
filly to close well. She is good now."
In Australia, action is picking up with the Melbourne Cup coming up
in early November. On Sunday, at Caulfield racecourse, three Group I
races were contested. The Yalumba Stakes over 2,000 metres went to Maldivian.
M Rodd was the jockey and M Kavanagh, the winning trainer. They combined
to win another race, the David Jones Toorak handicap. Divine Madonna
was the winning horse. The Age Caulfield Guineas was won by Weekend
Hustler, ridden by B Rawiller and trained by R McDonald.
Tom Krish in Chicago
