Gauteng powerhouse trainers
Things are really hotting up down here in the Western Cape. That is not just our feature races, which look extremely enticing and exciting in themselves, but our bread and butter races don’t look too bad either. Every race is as competitive as can be and I assure you it is bloody hard work trying to win one at present, writes Joey Ramsden.
Casting my eyes over the Gauteng card, things do not look too much easier there either. This year there seems to be a particularly strong crops of colts and fillies in equal measure. At some point they are all going to be thrown into the cauldron for a heavy mix.
This looks more than likely to happen down here in the Western Cape. If that does not bring people to the races, then nothing will. Mike de Kock, Geoff Woodruff, Sean Tarry, et al all look to have extremely powerful strings and we will have to up our game if we want to compete.
International Jockeys
James Doyle – top rider
This weekend sees us have the International Jockey’s competition. While on paper it does not look quite as strong as in previous years, there are certainly some big names for the future. James Doyle looks a total superstar. He was riding for Khalid Abdullah and it was probably one of the best jobs in racing. He has now moved over to Godolphin and I don’t think I am the only one who is scratching my head at this decision. It must have been a very enticing offer.
It is not just Mr Doyle who has moved across but also William Buick, who has left the services of the ever loyal and brilliant John Gosden to ride for the boys in blue. It looks as if there could be some serious changes in the Godolphin operation coming up, jockeys not being the only change. The papers should soon be telling us all. They certainly do need a little change around as their results, by their own admission, have not been what they should be. I am sure this is only the start of a new beginning for them.
We also have Adam Kirby riding on Sunday. He is an extremely promising young rider. He rode a ton of winners last year and not just on bad tracks either. He has caught many people’s eyes and is a real star for the future.
Always Happy
Heavyweight of the owning ranks…? Andrew Fortune
The only other jockey I know a little bit about is Martin Harley. He is retained by a big stable and appears to be getting stronger and better rides and catching the eye of the people in the know. So while we do not have the top names of old – it is rather a shame to be calling the Spencer’s, the Hughes’ and the Dettori’s old – it certainly looks like the young rising stars of the future will be here on Sunday.
It should be a fascinating meet. I don’t really know the other rider well but will be getting on the internet today and looking him up.
We pull out our old stalwart in Happy Forever. It seems a shame that his part owner, Andrew Fortune, can’t ride him as he has a weight of 57,5 kg. We have engaged the services of Mr Doyle and I can only hope Happy Forever puts in the same type of performance that Kingman did for him last season. That will certainly put a big smile on my dial. I cannot wait for the race. It really is a wide open affair and looks to be a tip top handicap.
The Sales
Sadly, I was not able to report in last week but there were two successful sales over the weekend. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the BSA sale for personal reasons but I did attend the CTS sale.
Set at the Inanda Club, it was absolutely magnificent. With all the sky scrapers peering down, it gave a special feel. Stabling was lovely, viewing was good and it was quite a miracle how they managed to set up something so professional and tasteful in such a short time. It just goes to show what can be done if one puts one’s mind to something.
Mixed Emotions
I had mixed emotions when I picked up my cell phone the other morning and saw I had been Whats App’ed and included in a “whinger’s” group about handicapping.
I honestly try not to moan too much about it, mainly as it never seems to get me anywhere. I usually write a few letters to the handicappers throughout the year but I think they go into file B and are totally ignored.
My record of writing is quite good but sadly the men who do the figures seem to take no notice of it. The only horse I was guilty of moaning about on television was an extremely weak individual of which I sadly own half, called Speed Merchant. She has definitely not lived up to her name and at the age of 4 has only managed to win us 2 races.
It took her close on 2 years to win her second race and when she did, she won by the smallest of margins and got the maximum penalty. She has subsequently run seven or eight times without troubling anyone at all and was still rated far higher than when she won, despite running in the worst company possible.
Frustrations
Forgive me if I am wrong, but when one owns as many horses as some of us trainers do and one keeps getting hammered and knocked back, then the frustration builds up and a little whinge creeps out on air. I now see she is back down to a reasonable level and we will do our utmost to win with her again. She is a filly with absolutely no trip and is an extremely hard type to win with despite being the most lovable animal to have round the place.
The sad facts are that she still costs the same to keep as a Variety Club and an Act of War but with not quite the same returns. Anyway, for the love of the game!
We attend the Lanzerac draw for the Ready to Run race on Thursday . It is always a stunning affair and held at the beautiful Lanzerac Hotel. Sadly, consumption got the better of me last year and I will be taking it a little easier this time. It should be lots of fun and let’s hope I pull a lower number than I did before.
www.joeyramsden.com
