Social Discourse: Monday 3rd June
This week’s Social Discourse revolves around the four European Group 1’s of the week, and especially the three Classics. They provided more than enough controversy, drama and performance for even the most demanding racing thrill-seeker, and if you happened to miss any of it, look no further. Twitter was abuzz this week…
- Anthony Van Did It
It’s a magnificent seven for Aidan O’Brien, and what a race it was.
At the end of 2 minutes and 33 seconds, this was all that separated the first five:
What a race – what a pic @laurawootton – @UnibetRacing guest in The Winning Post hospitality area – inside the course, less than 100m form the finishing post! Winner nearside…. pic.twitter.com/b8woJHVhHl
— ednicholson (@EdNicholson68) June 1, 2019
Credit to the magnificent Laura Wooton for the above shot.
The Heroes Of The Hour:
First, let’s give the groom, Sumith Pathrannelage his due – it almost didn’t happen in The Oaks, but more on that later.
Secondly, Seamus Heffernan, take a bow. The 46-year-old, riding in his twelfth Derby, finally came across the line in front, and did so the hard way. Off a slow gallop, Anthony Van Dyck was being rousted along before they even came to Tattenham Corner, with Sir Dragonet going best of all whilst a host of fellow Irish challengers made their big moves.
Thrilled for Seamie Heffernan. Stunning move from centre pass scrum to rail to cop the win. Brilliant move; brilliant jockey. Trainer's OK too (his 7th Derby). https://t.co/OBBfcfyFBF
— Susan Trevelyan-Syke (@racingint) June 1, 2019
He didn’t get a run for about a furlong as Heffernan had to manoeuvre past the retreating Circus Maximus and Telecaster, before Mhadmoon and Sir Dragonet’s challenges, before then taking the time to divert to the inside rail and force himself past a wall of four challengers.
It must rank as one of his best ever wins, alongside his Breeders’ Cup steal on Highland Reel, his all-out drive to win the 2012 Oaks on Was, or his Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes wins for So You Think.
What a ride from Seamie Heffernan. Had to weave his way through traffic; never panicked; had complete faith in his brave horse. Anthony Van Dyck almost leapt for the line: yes, yes, this is all mine.
— Tania Kindersley (@taniakindersley) June 1, 2019
It was apt that he earned O’Brien this triumph, given that the trainer had five of the first six home, but might have failed had it not been for Anthony Van Dyck, Mhadmoon running a sterling race to take second by a nose from Japan.
https://twitter.com/LauraKingDXB/status/1134855410693955585
Heffernan’s quick thinking and strength were also instrumental, as three-quarters of a length separated the first five home; what experience can do for you, even after spending millions and decades at the top, eh?
Don't think anyone would begrudge Seamie Heffernan winning the Derby for the boss. Been a very loyal servant for many years now
— Tim Carroll (@T_J_Carroll) June 1, 2019
The Race In Review:
1 Anthony Van Dyck stayed on strongest to get the better of a whole host of runners under a superb Seamie Heffernan ride, giving Aidan O’Brien a seventh Derby, and he’s as short as 6/1 for the King George and 9/1 for the Arc
2 Madhmoon ran a screamer for Kevin Prendergast, preventing O’Brien equalling Michael Dickinson’s achievement of training the first five home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup; failing by only half a length, he has a very bright future, especially at 10 furlongs
“We haven’t made any definite plans yet."
Where would you run Madhmoon next? Kevin Prendergast says his son of Dawn Approach is in ‘good shape’ following his gallant Derby effort >>>https://t.co/t8c3vxFdmx pic.twitter.com/h6pPIcrivP
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 2, 2019
3 Japan ran a mighty race after an interrupted season, defying another major raceday drift and leaving his Dante fourth well behind despite Wayne Lordan dropping his whip. He has potential to be better than this again.
Caught up with Saturdays racing thought Japan shaped like a leger winner from the derby but not gone unnoticed 6/1 best price. Victory command went into the tracker. Can see him bagging a decent handicap this summer
— jonathan pack (@jonopack) June 2, 2019
4 Broome came with a rattling late run, as is his custom, and might well have a future going further than this, like a number of the Ballydoyle horses
If Broome doesn’t end up the best of those, I’ll eat my hat
— Will Hoffmann (@StopwatchRacing) June 1, 2019
5 Sir Dragonet did not disgrace himself at all in finishing a close fifth, having come with a powerful and sustained run down the outside, and after just three runs it would be no surprise if he was able to go forward from this too
Sir Dragonet
— Philip Herbert (@PhilipHerbert7) June 2, 2019
6 Circus Maximus didn’t handle the track according to Frankie Dettori, but given the way he folded in the last two (after being bumped a couple of time to boot), might also be a 10 furlong horse.
7 Humanitarian was the best British horse, something which will alarm some observers for all that he might well have been the only home-trained contender to run anything like his best form. We might not have seen his best days and he too could be better over further.
8 Norway finished roughly the same distance behind Sir Dragonet as he did at Chester, suggesting he might not be much better than this.
https://twitter.com/MaybeSoYouThink/status/1135087102541074435
9 Line Of Duty was reported to need an ease in the ground by James Doyle but this was a second disappointing run and the way he faded late suggests 10 furlongs might be in order
10 Sovereign struggled to get up to the lead early and didn’t appear to set a fast early pace before dropping away
11 Hiroshima wasn’t good enough for the bump he got leaving the stalls to do him any real harm
12 Bangkok was very keen early and according to Silvestre De Sousa he didn’t handle the track. He’s not one to give up on for the rest of the season
https://twitter.com/TheRacingJosh/status/1134847009263955968
13 Telecaster was the race’s big disappointment, having been keen early with a horse to follow, before settling nicely at the head of the field. He went into the home straight with a decent chance, but was quickly going backwards before being eased. Oisin Murphy said he just ran flat, but he was beaten too far for that only to be the case and this effort can be forgotten.
#Derby thoughts 5: Hughie said of Coolmore: "maybe they were using the right stallions for longer… maybe we have a shortage of good mile and a half horses over here because, New Approach apart, we've been lacking in the Northern Dancer line."
— Scott Burton (@seenthestars) June 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/1135256485196206080?s=20
- Anapearler
24 hours before, the Ballydoyle team wouldn’t have been in such a good mood, as his great rival John Gosden got the better of him when Anapurna edged out Pink Dogwood in a tremendous tussle for the Oaks.
Another competitive race on paper proved to be a thriller, with the front two only a length and a half clear of the fast-finishing Fleeting in third and Manuela De Vega in fourth.
ANAPURNAAAAA
— Max Banner (@maxbanner17) May 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/UAE_Racing/status/1134484113229045760
Anapurna lands the Oaks!!! What a run from her.
— Kaitlin Free (@kaitlinefree) May 31, 2019
FRANKEL has a first European Classic Winner
— AIDANOBRIENFANSITE (@aobrienfansite) May 31, 2019
Pink Dogwood 1.08
— Tony Calvin (@tony_calvin) May 31, 2019
There was only a neck in it at the end, so no surprise that people focused on the jockey’s rides. There were strong opinions to be had…
Still Moore wins a point with another fastest sectional? #F1Rules
— Jon (@CreamOnTop) May 31, 2019
Let down by his pacemakers? They went a right crawl and Frankie was in a way better position all race
— Dan (@DWilkinson_11) May 31, 2019
https://twitter.com/Mr___Ed/status/1134485618145280000
A bit wider than ideal. Not a bad ride, but not a great one either. Thought he definitely got it wrong on Kew Gardens though
— Oliver Brett (@sport_oliver) May 31, 2019
The Verdicts:
Are we of the opinion that the best horse has won?
— William Kedjanyi (@KeejayOV2) May 31, 2019
I was on the winner and it looked to me like it would have only placed had it not been for a masterclass from Frankie.
— Randy Iron (@CheRyan) May 31, 2019
Best horse came nowhere, best 1m 4 horse won. IMHO
— John Dance (@johnedance) May 31, 2019
Best stayer won. As always with Epsom, we are likely to get a stronger outcome on a more conventional track.
— Justin O'Hanlon (@rpdarkhorse) May 31, 2019
Maqsad is the "best" horse but not at a mile and a half. Winner outstayed them.
— David (@cgullman) May 31, 2019
On the day, I'd say yes.
— Cathal Gahan (@CathalGahan) May 31, 2019
The Take: The strongest stayer – and only just – won the race. That’s not necessarily down to jockey error. The best horse… might well have finished eighth (Maqsad).
The Credit and The Glory:
If you’re reading this, it’s possible you know who Taufique Alam is. For the uninitiated, he is the groom of Anapurna, although you wouldn’t have known it from the immediate aftermath of the race:
Can we not yank the grooms out of the way like that. I really don’t like seeing it. pic.twitter.com/M8yfHafJJE
— Amy Nichol (@Amykins_1) May 31, 2019
Disgusting behaviour. Stable staff work their arses off day in day out!! https://t.co/kpq4zlPrO0
— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) May 31, 2019
Quite rightly, many people were up in arms about this, but who saved the day? John Gosden and Rachel Hood.
Seen a lot of comment about the groom after the Oaks – here's what you might not have seen afterwards. Worth a look. Good touch from the Gosdens, all considered – thoughts in right place. pic.twitter.com/uXn7wfiFTi
— Tim Williams (@SportTimW) May 31, 2019
In behind we had a rough race.
Tarnawa and Pink Dogwood had a bumping match; Mehdaayih then got squeezed by Delphinia; Manuela De Vega, coming under a drive, also slammed into the unlucky on the day favourite. Along came Maqsad, who slammed into Manuela De Vega, ending the chance – if anything – of the unlucky Mehdaayih, with Delphina and Frankellina getting a good shunting for their trouble.
ANALYSIS: Rab Havlin endured a tough passage all the way round on Mehdaayih while it was quite the opposite for @FrankieDettori on Anapurna after Ryan Moore probably thought he'd done enough on Pink Dogwood#InvestecOaks
Results ➡https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/YZ9zE6vzrT
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 31, 2019
Poor Robert Havlin got no luck, and will have other days, whilst Maqsad, who travelled best into the race, will surely have a bright future dropped back in trip. Don’t forget Frankellina, who came with a good late run down the outside and who is still very much growing after just the three runs.
- Defoe Shoots, Defoe Scores
There was a turn-up in the Coronation Cup, when Defoe clawed back Kew Gardens to cause something of a shock, at least according to the betting, and fulfil a promise that had been years in the making.
Defoe scores at Epsom
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) May 31, 2019
What a battle! Defoe wins the first Group 1 of Racing's Greatest Show @EpsomRacecourse – the Investec Coronation Cup just ahead of Kew Gardens! pic.twitter.com/X34Ssgc8e4
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 31, 2019
When Ryan Moore took Kew Gardens from the very rear to the front of the race, he looked set – as a St Leger winner – to see it out and give Ballydoyle yet another Coronation Cup. However, Defoe snuck up the inside and finished the stronger to emerge the highlight of an Andrea Atenzi treble on the day.
Kew Gardens 1.01 job no 2 – £5,726 at minimum price
— Tony Calvin (@tony_calvin) May 31, 2019
Guess what people were talking about after the race. I’ll leave it to you to find out.
"Ryan Moore doesn't have the best relationship with the press so he's an easy target when they think something's gone wrong" – @McGracing
What do you think? Did Ryan Moore judge his ride on Kew Gardens correctly?
Watch #LuckOnSunday live for free
➡ https://t.co/sa1AAEKRG4 pic.twitter.com/C3kuapRm9T— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 2, 2019
- Too Much……. Sottsass
Yeah, I know, that name confused me too, but there was nothing unclear about the method of Sottsass’s victory.
Super winner – Sottsass wins the Group 1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club at @fgchantilly … pic.twitter.com/Nypxo2E2ai
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 2, 2019
In what was another rough and tumble renewal, Persian King, the Poulains winner and hot favourite, cantered through the race and loomed on the outside, going best with two furlongs to go. He went on and started winning a duel with Motamarris, who ran well to be third, but Sottsass was beginning to find his top gear and when he did so, Cristian Demuro found an impressive response, with the son of Siyouni remorseless in eating the ground ahead of him. He ran out what could eventually be called a comfortable winner.
Well I didn’t see that coming!
SOTTSASS takes the #JockeyClub going away from PERSIAN KING and well clear of the rest!
Bravo JCR and @CristianDemuro!
Would have been a pretty price indeed!— Ande Humphrey (@ashsh) June 2, 2019
SOTTSASS (Siyouni; @AgaKhanStuds ) is the winner of the French Derby 2019. Guns down Persian King to win quite cozily in the end. pic.twitter.com/YSEtOIjlcv
— Jess Samy (@Frankel1313) June 2, 2019
Motamarris ran a good race in third off a strong pace and enhanced his reputation in losing his unbeaten record, whilst Cape of Good Hope ran on very well for fourth, suggesting 12 furlongs could be on the cards. He improved a good deal on his Epsom Derby trial win.
C’est Genius: Best wishes to Jean-Claude Rouget, who had his fourth Qipco Prix du Jockey Club winner and a third in four years despite being taken ill earlier in the day. Anything Aidan O’Brien can do…..
– William Kedjanyi
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