I called Ireland to speak to Niall McCullagh. I exchanged pleasantries with Helen McCullagh and Niall was on the line. “I injured myself pretty badly. My right leg was broken in six places over three weeks ago. I am on the road to recovery.”
I asked Niall about his plans to go to India. “A lot of racing fans are going to miss you,” I said.
“I should be able to resume riding sometime in January. I am planning to be in India in mid-January. I hope to ride in the Classics in Mumbai. I am looking forward to it.” Niall stated.
There are eleven races in the Breeders’ Cup series. Three of them will be contested on Friday, October 26, 2007. Eight races will be run on Saturday, October 27, 2007. The Breeders’ Cup races are the year-end championship events that determine the ‘best’ in different categories. The first Breeders’ Cup was held in 1984. The 2007 series will mark the 24th running of the BC races. This will be the first time that Monmouth Park in New Jersey will host the BC.
The three races that will be contested on Friday are:
BC Mile and 70 yards for horses three year-olds and up
BC Sprint 1,200 metres for fillies and mares three and up
And BC Juvenile Turf 1,600 metres freshmen.
The eight races to be run on Saturday are:
BC Classic 2,000 metres three and up
BC Turf 2,400 metres three and up
BC Distaff 1,800 metres fillies and mares three and up
BC Mile Turf 1,600 metres three and up
BC Sprint 1,200 metres three and up
BC Turf fillies-mares 2,200 metres three and up
BC Juvenile 1,700 metres freshman colts and geldings
And Juvenile 1,700 metres freshman fillies
I have made specific mention of the grass races. The order of races will be different. All races will be carried by ESPN.
Tracks all over America and Canada will carry the simulcast and accept wagers. Most of Europe will be part of the network. I’m not sure if any sports network carries the BC races in India. The BC races get under way on Friday at 4 PM Eastern time. It is noon Eastern time on Saturday.
America is in its mid-Fall phase. For the most part, it will be cold in the Eastern part of the country. Monmouth Park is in New Jersey. New Jersey is on the Atlantic coast. As we get closer, I will report on the weather forecast.
Here is all the news that I deem important. Red Rocks will be back to defend his BC Turf title. The Galileo colt, at 10-1, won the Turf at Churchill Downs last year. Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for Paul Reddam who owns Red Rocks, said, “Red Rocks is on schedule. Frankie Dettori will ride again. He is fresh and in good form and ready to go. He needed the race at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion. The Prince Of Wales was the best-run race in the world this year. He’s very much in it.”
Red Rocks has been lightly raced this year. In April, he won the Group III Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown Park. In the Champion Stakes and the Prince Of Wales, Red Rocks finished fourth and was behind Dylan Thomas who will carry the public purse in the BC Turf. Red Rocks will attempt to emulate High Chapparal who won back to back Turf races in 2002 and 2003.
Dylan Thomas has been confirmed as a starter in the Turf. He will have the company of Excellent Art who will race in the BC Mile. Excellent Art won the St James Palace at Royal Ascot and was second to Ramonti in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes and in Ascot’s QE II Stakes in late September. There will be a third member in the O’Brien party. George Washington is making that trans-Atlantic trip to have another tilt at the BC Classic. George Washington’s name was not in the declaration on Monday for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien confirmed the plan. “George Washington will line up in the Classic and he deserves another chance.”
George Washington ran sixth behind Invasor last year. Mick Kinane rode. In his most recent outing, George Washington was third behind Darkina and Ramonti in Longchamp’s Prix du Moulin in September. In response to a question I had asked about George Washington, O’Brien stated, “we want to scale new heights. I welcome challenges.” George Washington will be running on the Dirt only for the second time in his career.
Talking about Newmarket’s Champion Stakes, Doctor Dino and Creachadoir have been nominated at a cost 24,000 pounds each. Eagle Mountain, Mount Nelson and Song Of Hiawatha represent Aidan O’Brien.
The Godolphin team is likely to be headed by Ramonti. He will go in the Mile Turf. Ramonti has won three Group I races this year. He won the Queen Anne, the Sussex Stakes and the QE II Stakes. He was second tp Darjina in the Prix du Moulin. There is a possibility that Ibn Khalduhn may go in the Juvenile. He has also been entered in Doncaster’s Racing Post Trophy on October 27.
Student Council will go to Tokyo to race in the Japan Cup Dirt. The winner of the Pacific Classic and the Hawthorne Gold Cup will miss the Breeders’ Cup.
Lava Man will be conspicuous by his absence. He will take his chances in the California Cup Classic at Santa Anita in early November. Lava Man ran last in the Oak Tree Mile last weekend.
I will leave Chicago for Newark, New Jersey on Monday, October 22, 2007. My wife is coming with me. It is a flight that will take an hour and 45 minutes. There are several official functions. I plan to attend most of them. We return to Chicago late in the afternoon on Sunday, October 28, 2007.
The BC Classic had an overwhelming pick year. It was Bernadini. This year, the Classic has an open look. Curlin heads the market. Lawyer Ron is in the fray. Street Sense will be there. Any Given Saturday has an army of supporters. An exciting race is in prospect.
