JC / Railbird

Breeders’ Cup

Progressively International

Chris McGrath applauds the recent Breeders’ Cup changes:

… there is a case for wondering whether the latest such initiative will prove one of the most significant in the history of the international sport. For with a single stroke, the Breeders’ Cup has dismantled the barriers that have historically confined European participation to a minority blessed by unusual luck or resources.

The main criticism of the Challenge series, from the start, was the asterisk attached to Win and You’re In. Removed, the event truly goes global.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing several Euro juveniles at Churchill Downs this November, none more than Frankel, so dominating in his first two starts. But I may have to wait another year, writes Nick Luck on BC360: “Given the colt’s likely intended path through European Classics in 2011, however, an appearance at Churchill this time around is pretty unlikely.”

Real-time gets richer: Twitter unveiled significant updates to the service last night, which will be in place for all users in the next couple weeks. The new right pane will display videos and photos alongside the stream, which opens up some intriguing possibilities for on-the-scene tweeting from Louisville.

Posted in Racing on September 15, 2010 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Euro Perspective, Frankel, International, Juveniles, Social Media, Twitter

Watch this Kid

Rising rider William Buick made quite an impression over the weekend:

In the Foy it was the jockey who caught the eye as much as his mount. When a sportsman’s eye is in, it’s in, and young William Buick and his boss John Gosden, triumphant in the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday with Arctic Cosmos, rounded off a dream weekend by taking the older horse prep with Duncan, the outsider in a field of six.

Buick, 22, is one of the weighing room’s outstanding emerging talents and for the second day in succession showed all the qualities that prompted Gosden to fast-track him to the big time. On Arctic Cosmos, he had ridden a finely-judged race from off a demanding pace to notch his first Classic; yesterday he controlled the game for most of the way.

Buick insists he’s not the new Frankie Dettori, but:

With good looks, youth and talent on his side, Buick’s rise has gathered momentum. Twelve months ago he landed a valuable but relatively insignificant sales race at Doncaster. Now he has five Group Ones and the prospect of two tasty mounts on the massive Breeders’ Cup stage in November with Arctic Cosmos (Turf) and Debussy (Classic).

He’s going to be a star at Churchill Downs during Breeders’ Cup week.

Posted in Racing on September 13, 2010 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, International, Jockeys, Rising Stars, William Buick

Every Winner’s Circle a Stage

Frankie Dettori, “the housewives’ favourite jockey,” on his most famous move:

“Everyone associates me with the dismount,” admits Dettori, who perfected it with seven winners in one famous Saturday at Ascot in 1993. “I’m the slave to my own act now. I do it because children on school holidays, perhaps having a day out at Lingfield, expect me to. It’s part of the thing I’ve created. I can’t get out of it.”

Flashback to 2008: About that award-winning Dettori dismount photo.

On the subject of ebullient jockeys: John Scheinman profiles Calvin Borel on BC360. “At Churchill, trainers stand in line like I’m selling ice cream,” says agent Jerry Hissam of his client. “At Saratoga …”

Posted in Racing on September 9, 2010 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Calvin Borel, Frankie Dettori, International, Jockeys, Media