The appeal by Sky Lantern’s connections over the result of Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes has been dismissed by the BHA.
Writing on Twitter the BHA said the disciplinary panel was satisfied Elusive Kate "did not improve [her] placing by virtue of interference, and the appeal has been dismissed."
As always punter, trainers, and connections will be hoping for consistency in any future rulings on interference, especially in the big races.
Showing posts with label Sky Lantern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sky Lantern. Show all posts
21 July 2013
15 July 2013
Falmouth Result Under Appeal
The result of Newmarket’s Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes is to be appealed by connections of the runner-up Sky Lantern.
Sky Lantern (4/7f) was beaten by just a neck by Elusive Kate (3/1) in Friday’s race but was hampered in the closing stages by the winner, who hung left across the track.
Elusive Kate’s jockey William Buick was given a three-day ban for careless riding in the stewards’ enquiry which followed the race but the result of the race remained unaltered.
The stewards’ report read:
The Stewards held an enquiry under Rule (B)11.6 into possible interference from one and a half furlongs out. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that the winner, ELUSIVE KATE (USA), ridden by William Buick, had interfered with SKY LANTERN (IRE), placed second, ridden by Richard Hughes, and that the interference had not improved ELUSIVE KATE (USA)’s placing. They ordered the placings to remain unaltered. The Stewards found Buick in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he allowed his mount to drift left. They suspended him for 3 days as follows: Friday 26, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 July 2013.
The Stewards noted that William Buick, the rider of ELUSIVE KATE, had struck the SKY LANTERN (IRE), across the nose once, one furlong out, but after viewing a recording of the incident they were satisfied that it was accidental.
It might seem strange that a jockey can be found guilty of careless riding and interfering with a rival but that the placings can remain unaltered when the winning margin is as small as a neck.
As a racegoer and a punter it is instructive to read the guidelines and questions the stewards consider when making their decision.
According to the BHA's rules, the stewards are required to consider “whether the sufferer [of the interference] would have beaten the interferer [i.e. causer of the interference] but for the interference.”
In attempting to do this the stewards should ask the following questions:
1. Where did the incident take place in relation to the winning post?
2. How were the horses involved in the interference going at the time of the incident?
3. How serious was the interference i.e. how much momentum did the sufferer lose and/or how much ground was lost?
4. If the sufferer had had an uninterrupted run to the line, might it have finished in front of the interferer?
If NO - order placings to remain unaltered
If YES i.e. there is some doubt - proceed to question 5.
5. How easily did the interferer beat the sufferer?
But more crucial in the deliberations are some of the guiding principles given to stewards. In particular:
Generally speaking, the longer the Panel discusses whether the placings should be altered, the less likely it is that they should be. If the Panel is unable to conclude one way or the other, the result should stand.
So, the longer it goes on, the less likely the result is to be changed. This should bring some comfort to those who have backed the first past the post next time there is a lengthy enquiry!
Remember: in amending the placings you are demoting the interferer not promoting the sufferer.
Other key guiding principles:
c) The benefit of doubt should go to the horse which finished in front.
Coupled with the idea above that the longer an enquiry goes on the less likely it is to alter the placings, this principle also explains when many ‘first past the post’ horses keep the race.
d) The Panel should have in mind that interference is likely to have impeded the sufferer to some degree and therefore a reversal of placings is more likely to follow where there is only a nose between the horses.
e) The further away from the winning post that the incident occurs, the less likely it is that the result should be changed.
i) If a horse is carried off its intended line, the effect will vary depending on the distance from the winning post.
One wonders whether or not technology might eventually take more of a part in determining the outcome of interference. In cricket hawk-eye tracks the path of the ball and predicts its trajectory had it not hit the batsman’s pad in LBW decisions.
In a similar fashion, would it not be possible to track a horse’s line of travel, speed at the time of interference, acceleration/deceleration, and extra distance travelled, in order to assess which horse would have gone past the post first had the interference not occurred?
Sky Lantern (4/7f) was beaten by just a neck by Elusive Kate (3/1) in Friday’s race but was hampered in the closing stages by the winner, who hung left across the track.
Elusive Kate’s jockey William Buick was given a three-day ban for careless riding in the stewards’ enquiry which followed the race but the result of the race remained unaltered.
The stewards’ report read:
The Stewards held an enquiry under Rule (B)11.6 into possible interference from one and a half furlongs out. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that the winner, ELUSIVE KATE (USA), ridden by William Buick, had interfered with SKY LANTERN (IRE), placed second, ridden by Richard Hughes, and that the interference had not improved ELUSIVE KATE (USA)’s placing. They ordered the placings to remain unaltered. The Stewards found Buick in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he allowed his mount to drift left. They suspended him for 3 days as follows: Friday 26, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 July 2013.
The Stewards noted that William Buick, the rider of ELUSIVE KATE, had struck the SKY LANTERN (IRE), across the nose once, one furlong out, but after viewing a recording of the incident they were satisfied that it was accidental.
It might seem strange that a jockey can be found guilty of careless riding and interfering with a rival but that the placings can remain unaltered when the winning margin is as small as a neck.
As a racegoer and a punter it is instructive to read the guidelines and questions the stewards consider when making their decision.
According to the BHA's rules, the stewards are required to consider “whether the sufferer [of the interference] would have beaten the interferer [i.e. causer of the interference] but for the interference.”
In attempting to do this the stewards should ask the following questions:
1. Where did the incident take place in relation to the winning post?
2. How were the horses involved in the interference going at the time of the incident?
3. How serious was the interference i.e. how much momentum did the sufferer lose and/or how much ground was lost?
4. If the sufferer had had an uninterrupted run to the line, might it have finished in front of the interferer?
If NO - order placings to remain unaltered
If YES i.e. there is some doubt - proceed to question 5.
5. How easily did the interferer beat the sufferer?
But more crucial in the deliberations are some of the guiding principles given to stewards. In particular:
Generally speaking, the longer the Panel discusses whether the placings should be altered, the less likely it is that they should be. If the Panel is unable to conclude one way or the other, the result should stand.
So, the longer it goes on, the less likely the result is to be changed. This should bring some comfort to those who have backed the first past the post next time there is a lengthy enquiry!
Remember: in amending the placings you are demoting the interferer not promoting the sufferer.
Other key guiding principles:
c) The benefit of doubt should go to the horse which finished in front.
Coupled with the idea above that the longer an enquiry goes on the less likely it is to alter the placings, this principle also explains when many ‘first past the post’ horses keep the race.
d) The Panel should have in mind that interference is likely to have impeded the sufferer to some degree and therefore a reversal of placings is more likely to follow where there is only a nose between the horses.
e) The further away from the winning post that the incident occurs, the less likely it is that the result should be changed.
i) If a horse is carried off its intended line, the effect will vary depending on the distance from the winning post.
One wonders whether or not technology might eventually take more of a part in determining the outcome of interference. In cricket hawk-eye tracks the path of the ball and predicts its trajectory had it not hit the batsman’s pad in LBW decisions.
In a similar fashion, would it not be possible to track a horse’s line of travel, speed at the time of interference, acceleration/deceleration, and extra distance travelled, in order to assess which horse would have gone past the post first had the interference not occurred?
24 June 2013
Telegraph Fantasy Racing Update
A hectic week of selections at Royal Ascot with moderate success for our fantasy stables. Our leading stable has slipped backed to around 4,700th place with the other languishing in mid-13,000s.
Tom Queally picked us up 42 points for third place on Gregorian (16/1) in the Queen Anne Stakes. The Hannon-Hughes-Toronado (5/1) combination earned a total of 50 points for the runner-up spot in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Gold Cup and the Coronation Stakes were the most profitable races for us because we picked both Estimate (7/2) and Top Trip (7/1) in the former and Sky Lantern (9/2) in the latter.
Onwards to the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
Tom Queally picked us up 42 points for third place on Gregorian (16/1) in the Queen Anne Stakes. The Hannon-Hughes-Toronado (5/1) combination earned a total of 50 points for the runner-up spot in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Gold Cup and the Coronation Stakes were the most profitable races for us because we picked both Estimate (7/2) and Top Trip (7/1) in the former and Sky Lantern (9/2) in the latter.
Onwards to the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
Royal Ascot 2013: Day 4
Richard Hughes’ ride aboard Sky Lantern (9/2 jf) in the Coronation Stakes was the highlight of day four of Royal Ascot 2013.
Hughes had a wide draw on the 1000 Guineas winner and decided to drop in at the back of the field in the early stages. In the home straight he took the filly wide of the field to pass her rivals. She quickened her pace very well in the closing furlong and drew away to win by four lengths. It was a ride of great confidence, especially as Hughes had endured a frustrating week to that point.
The Queen’s Vase was run in memory of Sir Henry Cecil but Disclaimer was not able to win the race for Lady Jane. Instead, Leading Light (5/4f) for Aidan O’Brien was the well-backed winner.
O’Brien had endured disappointment earlier on the card when the odds-on favourite Battle Of Marengo (10/11f) was defeated by Sir Michael Stoute’s Hillstar (15/2) in the King Edward VII Stakes.
Champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson saddled Forgotten Voice to win the Wolferton Handicap at 12/1 on a day on which the bookmakers just had the upper hand.
30 May 2013
Racing Preview: Investec Oaks
The Epsom Oaks is a Group 1 race for 3yo fillies and is the third Classic race of the Flat season. Recent runnings of the race have seen some big-priced winners – the last two Oaks heroines have been returned at 20/1.
Trainer Ralph Beckett’s Look Here was another outsider to win the Oaks, victorious at 33/1 in 2008, but he has a much more fancied contender for the 2013 event in Secret Gesture. The Galileo-sired filly finished second in her first maiden race last October. Later that same month she won her second maiden race before returning this season and running out an easy 10-length winner of the Oaks Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park earlier in May.
Another fancied Galileo filly is Moth for Aidan O’Brien, who finished third to Sky Lantern in the Qipco 1000 Guineas. She travelled towards the rear of the field for much of the race but finished the mile very strongly to take third place, despite encountering some minor interference. The extra four furlongs in the Oaks could well benefit O’Brien’s filly.
Banoffee is unbeaten in two races and won the Listed Cheshire Oaks over one mile three furlongs round Chester in early May. As such, the Epsom Oaks’ distance should be no issue and she seemed to handle the cornering round the Roodee satisfactorily.
Ralph Beckett has a strong second contender in the race in the form of Talent. By New Approach, Talent won the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket in May, which is a recognised trial for the Epsom Oaks. There is an interesting line of form from the Pretty Polly with William Haggas’s Lady Nouf. Talent beat Lady Nouf by half a length in the Pretty Polly. Lady Nouf had previously beaten Secret Gesture by a length in the Leicester maiden in which Secret Gesture had made her racecourse debut.
Trainer Ralph Beckett’s Look Here was another outsider to win the Oaks, victorious at 33/1 in 2008, but he has a much more fancied contender for the 2013 event in Secret Gesture. The Galileo-sired filly finished second in her first maiden race last October. Later that same month she won her second maiden race before returning this season and running out an easy 10-length winner of the Oaks Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park earlier in May.
Another fancied Galileo filly is Moth for Aidan O’Brien, who finished third to Sky Lantern in the Qipco 1000 Guineas. She travelled towards the rear of the field for much of the race but finished the mile very strongly to take third place, despite encountering some minor interference. The extra four furlongs in the Oaks could well benefit O’Brien’s filly.
Banoffee is unbeaten in two races and won the Listed Cheshire Oaks over one mile three furlongs round Chester in early May. As such, the Epsom Oaks’ distance should be no issue and she seemed to handle the cornering round the Roodee satisfactorily.
Ralph Beckett has a strong second contender in the race in the form of Talent. By New Approach, Talent won the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket in May, which is a recognised trial for the Epsom Oaks. There is an interesting line of form from the Pretty Polly with William Haggas’s Lady Nouf. Talent beat Lady Nouf by half a length in the Pretty Polly. Lady Nouf had previously beaten Secret Gesture by a length in the Leicester maiden in which Secret Gesture had made her racecourse debut.
06 May 2013
Telegraph Fantasy Racing Update
After the first round of races in the Qipco British Champions Series Turf Accounts’ two fantasy stables are sitting in around 2,900th and 4,700th position.
Good points were picked up by selecting Sky Lantern and Just The Judge in the 1000 Guineas and Richard Hughes was one of the stable’s jockeys.
But we missed out on the big points earned by Glory Awaits for Kevin Ryan and Jamie Spencer in the 2000 Guineas.
Good points were picked up by selecting Sky Lantern and Just The Judge in the 1000 Guineas and Richard Hughes was one of the stable’s jockeys.
But we missed out on the big points earned by Glory Awaits for Kevin Ryan and Jamie Spencer in the 2000 Guineas.
Newmarket Qipco Guineas Meeting Review
The firm ground ensured some fast times were recorded by several winners over the two days of the Qipco Guineas meeting at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course.
Sole Power (7/2 jf), trained by Edward Lynam, powered to a time of 57 seconds for the five furlongs in the Group 3 Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes.
Kevin Ryan’s Hamza (5/1 jf) was simply too quick for his rivals in the six furlong Harbour Watch Handicap and he made every yard of the running under Neil Callan to win by 2 ¾ lengths in a time of 1 minute 10 seconds.
The trainer was also delighted by the run of Glory Awaits, who finished second at 150/1 in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.
There was a celestial connection in the names of the Guineas winners with Dawn Approach (Jim Bolger) winning the 2000 Guineas and Sky Lantern (Richard Hannon) the 1000 Guineas. Sky Lantern’s victory gave jockey Richard Hughes with his first British Classic winner.
Aidan O’Brien’s Moth finished third in the 1000 Guineas, showing on the racecourse some of the potential connections knew she had. As a result, the Galileo filly is now just 7/2 for the Epsom Oaks at the end of May.
Mark Johnston’s Windhoek looks a fine horse and is now unbeaten in three races after taking the Listed Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes. The colt was successful in the 200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy over the same course and distance in April. The colt holds an entry for the Betfred Dante Stakes at York in a couple of weeks, as well as for the King Edward VII Stakes (Royal Ascot) and Sandown's Coral-Eclipse in July.
The appropriately named Talent won the Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies. Ralph Beckett’s filly is sired by New Approach and could certainly be one to follow during the season. She holds entries in the Epsom Oaks (Group 1), the Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2 ) at Royal Ascot, and the Irish Oaks (Group 1).
Sole Power (7/2 jf), trained by Edward Lynam, powered to a time of 57 seconds for the five furlongs in the Group 3 Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes.
Kevin Ryan’s Hamza (5/1 jf) was simply too quick for his rivals in the six furlong Harbour Watch Handicap and he made every yard of the running under Neil Callan to win by 2 ¾ lengths in a time of 1 minute 10 seconds.
The trainer was also delighted by the run of Glory Awaits, who finished second at 150/1 in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.
There was a celestial connection in the names of the Guineas winners with Dawn Approach (Jim Bolger) winning the 2000 Guineas and Sky Lantern (Richard Hannon) the 1000 Guineas. Sky Lantern’s victory gave jockey Richard Hughes with his first British Classic winner.
Aidan O’Brien’s Moth finished third in the 1000 Guineas, showing on the racecourse some of the potential connections knew she had. As a result, the Galileo filly is now just 7/2 for the Epsom Oaks at the end of May.
Mark Johnston’s Windhoek looks a fine horse and is now unbeaten in three races after taking the Listed Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes. The colt was successful in the 200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy over the same course and distance in April. The colt holds an entry for the Betfred Dante Stakes at York in a couple of weeks, as well as for the King Edward VII Stakes (Royal Ascot) and Sandown's Coral-Eclipse in July.
The appropriately named Talent won the Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies. Ralph Beckett’s filly is sired by New Approach and could certainly be one to follow during the season. She holds entries in the Epsom Oaks (Group 1), the Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2 ) at Royal Ascot, and the Irish Oaks (Group 1).
05 May 2013
Sky Lantern Lands The 1000 Guineas
Sky Lantern (9/1) came from off the pace to win the Qipco 1000 Guineas, taking the prize from Just The Judge on the line.
The filly made up for the disappointment of the Hannon stable after the poor showing of Toronado in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday.
Jockey Richard Hughes, riding his first British Classic winner, delivered his mount with a well-timed ride to collar Just The Judge (7/1) by half a length. Aidan O'Brien's Moth (9/1), supplemented for the race last week, finished in third place.
Sir Henry Cecil's Hot Snap (5/2f) never really featured in the race and looked under pressure from some way out.
Jockey Jamie Spencer had a 'nearly' weekend, finishing runner-up in both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas on Glory Awaits (150/1) and Just The Judge (7/1).
The filly made up for the disappointment of the Hannon stable after the poor showing of Toronado in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday.
Jockey Richard Hughes, riding his first British Classic winner, delivered his mount with a well-timed ride to collar Just The Judge (7/1) by half a length. Aidan O'Brien's Moth (9/1), supplemented for the race last week, finished in third place.
Sir Henry Cecil's Hot Snap (5/2f) never really featured in the race and looked under pressure from some way out.
Jockey Jamie Spencer had a 'nearly' weekend, finishing runner-up in both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas on Glory Awaits (150/1) and Just The Judge (7/1).
22 April 2013
Hannon Starts Season Strongly
Trainer Richard Hannon has made a strong start to the new Flat racing season with 23 winners so far and a strike rate of 20%.
After the Classic trials races at Newmarket and Newbury last week, Hannon looks to have some serious contenders for the big races later in the season.
Toronado was a notable winner of the Craven Stakes at Newmarket and is currently 3/1 second favourite for the Qipco 2000 Guineas in May and 7/1 for the Investec Derby at Epsom at the start of June. Olympic Glory is also entered in the season’s first Classic, the 2000 Guineas, and won the Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury in a solid but unspectacular manner. But it seems that the Choisir colt will go for the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp rather than the English version.
Writing on his website richardhannonracing.co.uk the trainer explained: “France was always the plan for Olympic Glory, and, though he was only workmanlike, he is a bull of a horse and it is not easy to get the weight off him as all he does is eat and sleep. He is not the flashy type - he is lazy and he will always do enough and no more. You saw that in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last year, and it was again all too evident at Newbury. But one thing is certain - he will be sharper next time and he will also improve for stepping up to a mile, while if the brollies are out in Paris on May 12 we won't complain as Olympic Glory loves soft ground.”
Maureen, winner of the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury, and Sky Lantern, second in Newmarket’s Nell Gwyn Stakes, are both priced around 14/1 for the Qipco 1000 Guineas.
In discussing Maureen’s chances trainer Richard Hannon stated: “She has bundles of speed, so we held her up to stay the seven [furlongs], and she got the trip well. She is not there in her coat yet, so there is more improvement to come, but obviously Hughesie [jockey Richard Hughes] will have to adopt exaggerated waiting tactics if she is to get the mile at Newmarket [in the 1000 Guineas].”
But jockey Richard Hughes was also not disheartened by Sky Lantern’s defeat to Hot Snap in the Nell Gwyn Stakes: "Henry's (Cecil) filly is clearly smart, but I am looking forward to taking her on again, and if the ground rides faster we might get a different result.”
“Sky Lantern loves it like a road [ie firm ground] and it can dry up quickly at Newmarket, whereas Hot Snap is by Pivotal, most of whose progeny enjoy some juice [ie softer ground] in the ground.”
"I am certainly no less optimistic about Sky Lantern winning the Guineas than I was before the Nell Gwyn. We went very fast and I was conscious of the fact that we had a 3lb penalty [a weight penalty carried because the filly has won a Group 1 race], so, though we were travelling like a dream going to the Bushes [a point on the Newmarket Rowley Mile course just over 2 furlongs from the finish], I did not want to make my move too soon."
After the last week’s racing action, the Herridge Racing Stables have much to look forward to in the coming months.
Quotation source: richardhannonracing.co.uk
After the Classic trials races at Newmarket and Newbury last week, Hannon looks to have some serious contenders for the big races later in the season.
Toronado was a notable winner of the Craven Stakes at Newmarket and is currently 3/1 second favourite for the Qipco 2000 Guineas in May and 7/1 for the Investec Derby at Epsom at the start of June. Olympic Glory is also entered in the season’s first Classic, the 2000 Guineas, and won the Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury in a solid but unspectacular manner. But it seems that the Choisir colt will go for the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp rather than the English version.
Writing on his website richardhannonracing.co.uk the trainer explained: “France was always the plan for Olympic Glory, and, though he was only workmanlike, he is a bull of a horse and it is not easy to get the weight off him as all he does is eat and sleep. He is not the flashy type - he is lazy and he will always do enough and no more. You saw that in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last year, and it was again all too evident at Newbury. But one thing is certain - he will be sharper next time and he will also improve for stepping up to a mile, while if the brollies are out in Paris on May 12 we won't complain as Olympic Glory loves soft ground.”
Maureen, winner of the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury, and Sky Lantern, second in Newmarket’s Nell Gwyn Stakes, are both priced around 14/1 for the Qipco 1000 Guineas.
In discussing Maureen’s chances trainer Richard Hannon stated: “She has bundles of speed, so we held her up to stay the seven [furlongs], and she got the trip well. She is not there in her coat yet, so there is more improvement to come, but obviously Hughesie [jockey Richard Hughes] will have to adopt exaggerated waiting tactics if she is to get the mile at Newmarket [in the 1000 Guineas].”
But jockey Richard Hughes was also not disheartened by Sky Lantern’s defeat to Hot Snap in the Nell Gwyn Stakes: "Henry's (Cecil) filly is clearly smart, but I am looking forward to taking her on again, and if the ground rides faster we might get a different result.”
“Sky Lantern loves it like a road [ie firm ground] and it can dry up quickly at Newmarket, whereas Hot Snap is by Pivotal, most of whose progeny enjoy some juice [ie softer ground] in the ground.”
"I am certainly no less optimistic about Sky Lantern winning the Guineas than I was before the Nell Gwyn. We went very fast and I was conscious of the fact that we had a 3lb penalty [a weight penalty carried because the filly has won a Group 1 race], so, though we were travelling like a dream going to the Bushes [a point on the Newmarket Rowley Mile course just over 2 furlongs from the finish], I did not want to make my move too soon."
After the last week’s racing action, the Herridge Racing Stables have much to look forward to in the coming months.
Quotation source: richardhannonracing.co.uk
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