Team of Racemakers 2016 |
This
year's Champions Day at Ascot was as early as 9 a.m. start in the racecourse
for me and other racemakers. Basically, racemakers are the people who helps
people to find places in the racecourse, identify possible winner in the
paddock, lay bets or just to get racegoers more involved in racing and answer
the questions. This job is volunteering role, but it is rewarding when you want
to add this on your CV or just for making connections. Trying racemaker’s role
for the first time I found it very enjoyable, as I kept myself busy welcoming
people coming to the racecourse, having a chat with some foreign people who are
visiting Ascot for the first time, but been involved in racing for a few years.
Additionally, I never used twitter that much on one day! I hope this will turn
out somehow useful.
Mme Corine de Barbe. @Michael R Smithson photo |
Raceday
started with parade of Corrine de Barbe beloved gelding Cirrus Des Aigles
parade with his main jockey on top Cristophe Soumillon. It is amazing how much
money this racehorse has made in his racing career (over 6mln pounds),
especially knowing what his stallion is used for National Hunt purpose. The
more amazing is how much this horse is loved by his trainer Corine, groom and
even jockey Cristophe Soumillon as each week one of them is uploading a new
video with his horse enjoying his retirement in paddock with other horse or
simply riding him out in the seaside. I wish that every racehorse would get as
much love as Cirrus is having after doing the job they are created for. After
this parade, Olympic and para-Olympic medal winners had their parade in the
parade ring. Stobart Jockeys championship winners were not forgotten and
Josephine Gordon had her mementoes given in front of the stands as British
Champion Apprentice and Jim Crowley was greeted as a Champion jockey. After
amazing opening ceremony, weather became much more welcoming with much more
sunshine and only very light breeze, horses for the first race been led up in
the paddock.
Qipco British Champions
Long Distance Cup (Group 2)
Sheikzayadroad. Foto@Michael R Smithson |
David
Simcock’s trained 7 years old gelding showed his class here, while 4/6 Fav
Order of St George finished just fourth behind the post. This just showed, that
only 13 days of rest and travelling back and forth to France was clearly not
enough rest to win the 2miles long race on the good ground in Ascot. It is
shame that Simple Verse could not prove that she is better than boys and
finished only third. In my opinion, jockey was not the best choice here. Andrea
Atzeni done a good job on her by winning last year’s St Leger in Doncaster and
Fillies Stakes in Ascot and I am surprised why he was not recruited for the job
as he was not booked for any other ride in this race.
Qipco British Champions
Series Sprint Stakes (Group 1)
The Tin Man |
Tom
Queally would not stayed to win all the races with Frankel if he wouldn’t been
good enough. Here he showed his class on James Fanshawe trained gelding The Tin
Man (odds 13/2). Victory of this 4 year old gelding was very important for
Newsells Park stud, as he is out of their stallion Equiano. My nap Signs of
Blessing finished only fourth, as he looked very close to the victory if the
finish post would have been about 50 yards closer than it was. Shame of John Gosden’s
only once beaten colt Shalaa, as he looked magnificent on the day, but probably
field this time was too strong for him. Quiet Reflection and Mecca’s Angel did
not showed impressive result either, but definitely helped to create the strong
field of sprinters. Nevertheless, finish looked impressive!
Qipco British Champion
Series Fillies and Mares Stakes (Group 1)
Race
over 2000meters been held for 3 year old and older fillies in the thirteen
runners field. I was lucky enough to be walking around with Harriet Fuller who
is writing for The Sun magazine racing section and we had a great look to
horses while standing in the pre-parade ring. I always admired John Gosden as a
trainer and always been great believer in horses trained by him. I was very
lucky to stand in pre parade ring yesterday, when he walked with owners after
saddling a mare and one if the owners just said ‘ I just want her to come back
home safe and sound. This all we need today.’ I took this as good omen, but
have not lay it as it usually brings bad luck and horses I lay bets on does not
win. Well, 4 year old Dubawi daughter Journey, ridden by Frankie Dettori came
back home safe and sound, I would say really safe as she finished few lengths
in front of other contenders. And yes, crowd loves Frankie Dettori, and they do
love his flying dismount more, so most of the people were rushing to the parade
ring just so see and how he jumps off the horse! I was impressed by Journey,
but also felt a bit sorry for Dermot Weld trained Zhukova as she looked quite
impressive before the start, but only managed to finish 7th.
Journey and Frankie Dettori |
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
(Sponsored by Qipco) (Group 1)
Minding beats Ribchester |
Only
fourth race brings racing glory to O’Brien and Ryan Moore. 7/4 Favourite
Minding brings victory quite easily, when William Buick ridden Ribchester comes
second. Godolphin must felt a bit bitter, as win of Ribchester would have been
easy victory of Champion owner of the year. Now, it will take a bit of time
again to find out who will be Owner of the Year. However, Minding is just
completely classy horse which deserved this victory. Finishing third to
Almanzor in Irish Champions Stakes a month ago showed how good she is, and
winning Queen Elizabeth just brought extra cherry on the cake or in other words
her impressive racing career.
Qipco Champion Stakes
(British Champions Middle Distance) (Group 1)
What
a racecard here. It just looked amazing, and probably more impressive than
Arc’s card thirteen days ago. Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs, who sustained
pelvic injury and was not racing for a while, did look impressive on the day.
Found, Arc winner and filly who was not afraid to beat Golden Horn last year.
And of course, French raider Almanzor, three year old colt out of only 18 progenies
given stallion Wootton Bassett. Leaving the fact, that this stallion is not
very popular, Almanzor must have looked pretty good in 2014 Arqana Sales as he
was bought for 100,000euros. Luckily, he was absolutely worth every penny of it
as his racing career is quite impressive and he ends 2016 season by easily
beating Found and Jack Hobbs here on Champions Day in Ascot. It was great to
see this amazing horse winning the biggest prize of the day under brilliant
ride of Cristophe Soumillon. Also, it was great to see his wife taking the kids
and taking them to walk back with Almanzor to the winning enclosures.
Balmoral Handicap
(Sponsored By Qipco)
This
stunning raceday has finished with 12/1 outsider Yuften winning Balmoral
handicap under the ride of Andrea Atzeni. Remarkable came second and Firmament
was third. Finish was very close and took a lot of shouting from fairly drunk
crowd.
Meeting
ended with Afterparty inside the main building, with Sara Cox and Sigala
appearance. All in all, all the racemakers had a great day and I am sure I will
be working as a racemaker again sometime soon!