Controversy at Windsor racecourse surrounded what was to be
a classy card of early season flat racing.
Windsor was to stage the first race of their £75,000 sprint
series, the final in August, together with the £16,000 listed race the meeting
was to be one were trainers could make an early start on their end of season
winning tally.
But it was not to be.
Looking back in records I cannot see the
last time the Berkshire course had abandon racing only three races old, and
with Her Majesty in residence in shouting distance of the course, a lot though
it a very rum to do.
An evening that started well enough, before racing a
Shetland pony race using the final two and half furlongs, all young jockeys
donning the royal colours to impress awaited press, the crowds arriving in
their evening finery.
And a first race ran in the relatively dry overcast
atmosphere, a five furlongs’ novice’s filly stakes won by Mark Johnston’s Sea
of Snow, ridden by James Doyle, in a close fought finish beating Richard
Hannons Tiggalisious.
The two-year-old by Distorted Humor out of an Oasis Dream
mare, certainly bred to go a little further, Doyle mentioning that the race
gave no hiding places for any of the runners, especially this small filly, that
showed a good turn of foot.
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| Sea of Snow (grey colours), ridden by James Doyle |
‘I think we would like to get another run in he before we
decide on a plan for her.’ Mentioned the jockey who has a big week of big time
races in front of him. Riding this Sheikh Hamdan possible improver, a massive
start to the week for the young jockey.
As the second race hacked down to the mile two furlongs
start, the rain started to cover the Berkshire track. Roger Varian sending to
post Central Square the 11/10 favorite for the maiden stakes.
The four-year-old gelding by Azamour took on the race driven
by Andrea Atzeni to stay on well to beat Doyle on charge for a quick double on
Hugo Palmer's Paris Magic.
‘He is a nice laid back sort, that needs a bit more of a
galloping track really, over a mile and half he might be one to pick up a
decent prize,’ The jockey already sowing a few doubts in racegoers minds that
the home bend that would cause controversy later on mentioning the gelding had
felt uncomfortable as they turned toward home.
 |
| Central Square |
The jockey with a nice book of rides for the week, was
looking forward to finding out a little more about Choreographer his ride in
the group two Dante on Thursday. The well-built colt by See the Stars that took
his maiden at Windsor and would be looking to improve.
The rain continued a little more dominantly during the third
race, a one mile two-furlong handicap for three year olds. But not hard enough
to wilt the Charles Hills colt Grapevine ridden by Michael Murphy.
The home bend now showing a little more concern as the
leader stumbling slightly as he turned for home.
‘The bend is very slippy at
the moment, but the horse was well balanced so he managed to keep going
forward.’
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| Grapevine No6 ridden by Michael Murphy. |
The trainer who had a very promising Chester the previous
week mentioned that he was a nice horse that had done well to keep on his feet
 |
Charles Hills colt Grapevine who won the one mile two furlong handicap
|
The concerns of the winning jockey and of others who had also
found pulling up on the sharp right handed bend a little tricky, was enough to
send trainers, jockeys, stewards and safety officers down to the affected parts
to check the state of the ground.
An inquiry was held as some showed
astonishment in the length of time it took to make what they though were a forgone
conclusion.
Racing was abandoned, reports that most of the jockeys were
happy to ride in the fourth, the six furlong sprint challenge, were quashed by stipendiary
steward Richard Westropp who mentioned in the safety of all in concern we have
put measures in place to abandon the meeting.
The cause, a slippy surface on the home turn and the pull up
area, were the grass was short enough not to allow the horses gain their grip.
The conclusion the right one.
Of course there will be racegoers and professionals on both
sides of the fence, controversy, plenty.
But to be fair to say all live to take on another day, the only causality
being the meeting itself.
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