Classic impact

IT seems certain that we are going to see a lot more of Deep Impact in pedigrees in the European classics after Saxon Warrior’s dominant win at Newmarket.

Deep Impact also had a home Group 1 winner the following day with Keiai Nautique in the NHK Mile Cup (Grade 1) and another exciting classic colt appeared when Study Of Man won the Prix Greffuhle.

September is still to reappear and with Winter and Minding, among star runners in foal to the Japanese champion, it’s clear he’s the number one in Coolmore’s need for an outcross for Galileo.

Who’s the Daddy?

Van Beethoven, Sergei Prokofiev, So Perfect. What odds Scat Daddy’s progeny go off favourite for the Coventry, Queen Mary and Norfolk Stakes?

Curragh comments

By the time this goes to print, racegoers will have had an impression of the ‘new’ Curragh, even if we have the worst of the weather again. Reports are favourable that it is beginning to look like the facility it should be.

Last year was a PR disaster but reports from ParisLongchamp this week might help justify the decision to race on with the actual racetrack being the most important element of that decision.

Christophe Soumillon was reported to be critical of the state of the ParisLongchamp track. This week there was a strong rumour that a top trainer was reluctant to race at the track as the racing surface was not protected during the construction period.

In hindsight, some of us may have to reconsider that the decision to keep racing at the Curragh during the redevelopment has had a hidden benefit.

Cat’s Curse

Before the Kentucky Derby: “Black cats. They kill me every time. I can just feel it when I see one. The only thing that gets me is black cats.” Bob Baffert on Tuesday

After the Kentucky Derby: “We broke all the curses,” Bob Baffert on Saturday. (Stable cats rest easy)

Racing away

Watching the 2000 Guineas on Racing UK. A very good winner, good story with Donnacha O’Brien winning his fist classic. Looking forward to seeing him return to the winner’s enclosure. No, hold on … “we have to go to Wetherby for a seven furlong, class 4 fillies’ handicap.” Irish racing, where will we fit in?

Townend on TV

BBC’s Badminton coverage last week gave a distraction from things on the racetrack. Ollie Townend came in for some criticisms for his rides. You couldn’t but wonder what the reaction might have been had been if it was a jockey after a race, who gave that post cross-country interview saying, “I can win prettily and I can win ugly,” after being reprimanded for his use of the whip on both of his horses. Front page, trade paper?

On TWITTER

Greg Jones@WOOKIE318

Mendelssohn, starting from gate 14. No horse has won from 14 except Carry Back in 1961 and the last horse to place or show from No 14 was Impeachment in 2000. Sorry. [Someone knew]

Simon Bray@SimonTVG

I know good horses make great trainers, but good horses can go bad in the wrong hands. Bob Baffert for me is the greatest dirt trainer of the modern era. Justify in other hands maybe starts as a 2yo and doesn’t even make the Derby. He knew what he had and told me so this winter.

Jack Teague@JackWTeague

Huge shock that but delighted for Sean Levey. Very consistent jockey and deserves his moment in the limelight #1000Guineas

Paul Smith@PaulSmith0094

Huge thankyou to everyone at Ballydoyle for Saxon Warrior’s win at Newmarket this afternoon. Special thanks to @donnacha_obrien who always believed in this fella.