Weighed In W/E 23.7.00
Peter Bell
be of interest to some.
Ayr, July 17th
PEREGIAN (56) showed nice acceleration to win the nursery, from the battling
TORTUGUERO. Both horses pulled well clear of the remainder. The key to the
winner seems to be fast ground and provided the handicapper doesn't get
carried away, there is more to come whilst the sun is out.
ENDLESS HALL (78) put up a Group 1 time, for a horse that seemed
unconsidered in the betting. Cumani, without the Aga Khan's horses this
year, is fighting for every victory at present and this horse could be the
stable star this year. He will be equally effective over 1m4f and whilst the
ground rides fast should be followed if / when stepping up in class.
Doncaster, July 19th
SUMMONER (68), returning to his favourite track for his third win out of
three here, he did this in nice style and a quick time. After niggling
injuries which hampered his preparation for the Guineas, this colt looks to
be set to make up for lost time now. Although he has won on softish ground,
a flat, galloping track and top of the ground seem to be the requirements
and Rodger Charlton might try for some black type with him back here or at
York perhaps.
Kempton, July 19th
TAKWIN (63) took the 1m 5f maiden in some style and in an 'ahead of class'
time. He has come up against some useful types previously and, making all
here, he beat some animals from the big stables very convincingly. Tried at
1m 6f previously, this could now be his trip, but if left at 1m 4f expect
similar front-running tactics to be employed.
Yarmouth, July 19th
ROSSE (65) took the 7f fillies event in a quick time, without having the run
of the race and with a 4lb penalty to contend with. Over 7f she can pick up
black type, not necessarily against her own sex either. Like her half
sister, Rebecca Sharp, she is improving as she matures and expect the
ultra-shrewd Geoff Wragg to place her to maximum advantage.. (NB The May
Newmarket maiden, won by Meiosis, in which she came fourth has thrown up
several winners.)
Leicester, July 20th
ROYAL ARTIST (65) took the 7f handicap in eye-catching fashion. I hope this
was 'the plan' as the handicapper is likely to take a dim view of the 6
length victory. However, the quick time (despite being heavily eased), and
his acceleration to take victory could make him hard to keep tabs on in 7-8f
furlong handicaps over the next few weeks.
Newbury, July 21st
THREE POINTS (74) will have gone into a few notebooks after this 4 length
win in a course record time. He quickened nicely off a strong pace. Now his
correct trip has been sorted out he should progress into Group company on
the evidence of today.
Newbury, July 22nd
Pretty much ditto the above comments for AUENKLANG (76). A course record
time, quickening from the front and leaving some smart types trailing in his
wake. The Stanley Sprint Cup beckons for this unexposed Godolphin colt.
Ripon, July 22nd
Another of my (many) bugbears. How can the only race of the day to beat the
standard time be described as having a slow run first half? Go ask the
Racing Post. They must have fixed turbo chargers to MINI LODGE (66) for him
to have won in such a quick time. A change in tactics - held up instead of
bowling along - and a step up in trip seems to have worked the oracle here.
Jimmy Fitgerald knows the time of day when it comes to placing smart
handicappers, so expect more from this son of Grand Lodge.
To follow from this week:
MINI LODGE
AUENKLANG
THREE POINTS
ROYAL ARTIST (but check new handicap mark)
ROSSE
ENDLESS HALL
PEREGIAN / TORTUGUERO
--
/}
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\}
Peter Bell
Peter Bell
Peter Bell
Firebeast
In web site, I've neglected the actual posts for quite a
while now.
The other lads have kept up the good work though.
I've now got the site into some kind of shape, and it is now
viewable for anyone. URL at the end of this post.
I've included some new entries to my lists, and I'm
including them here.
Some have been mentioned by other contributors already, but
it's all extra information -
BOREAS (New Entry) 20/7/00
Having his first run since late '98, put up an impressive
display, at York. (14/7) This was a good training fete by
Luca Cumani, and I have a feeling he could be repaid for his
efforts, in no uncertain terms. He pointed to a serious leg
injury, for the reason for his long absence, and after this
said he'd be going for the Ebor. I really hope he makes that
race, as he should get in with a light weight, and the way
he ran here suggests he'll be better over a longer trip.
Always close to the pace, he took it up with around a
furlong to go, and cruised away from them, winning by 3
lengths, but value for more. Although the competition wasn't
exactly the best, they are good yardsticks and of course,
none of them have had the problems of the winner. It's good
to see the Cumani stable hitting some kind of form again,
and I for one, will be hoping he can keep it going to the
end of the season. In behind the impressive winner, was
FLOSSY, who finished 6 lengths away in 4th, she looks like
she could be heading back to form if this is anything to go
by. It'd be nice to see, as last year she was a very good
filly.
FANDANGO DREAM New Entry 20/7/00
FANDANGO DREAM was full of running inside the last, waited
for a gap to come between horses, that wasn't ever going to
come! Young George Baker, rode, unusually for him, a bad
race. Once he realised he wasn't going to get a gap, came
round outside, and still managed to run on. Considering his
last race, which he won well, was a pretty bad affair, (this
wasn't much better) he's still in good form. He's at the
right end of the handicap (OR 27), OK, he possibly deserves
to be, but he should gain compensation for this. He's not
going to set the world alight, but kept to this low level
(Class E/F) could put in another couple of quick wins.
LINCOLN DEAN New Entry 21/7/00
Put in a great effort in finishing 2 lengths 2nd to PENTAGON
LAD. (Hamilton 9f). LINCOLN DEAN was over 3 lengths clear of
the third. He had hinted at coming to hand last time out,
over course and distance, and the same good to firm ground.
His form figures are pretty un-inspiring throughout his
career, but this is his second good run on the bounce. He's
also tumbled down the handicap from 70 (June '99) to his new
low of 40, so he's still going to be handily weighted.
He's just been running out of steam in the last few yards of
these last two 9 furlong races, so he could be interesting
if dropped back a furlong, or dropped in class, after all
this was a class B hcp. That's a good step up from the E's
and F's he's been contesting
PENTAGON LAD New Entry 21/7/00
A good tussle between PENTAGON LAD and LINCOLN DEAN at
Hamilton. PENTAGON LAD, always looked like getting to the
leader LINCOLN DEAN, and in the end did just that, to score
a shade comfortably, by 2 lengths. (Conceding the best part
of 2 stone to the runner up) This wasn't the best B handicap
in the world, and PENTAGON LAD did have quite a few things
in his favour. Not least, a liking for this course, and the
the firm ground. He could go up a little too much in the
handicap after this easy win, and he's never won from a mark
above 69, so caution is probably the by-word here. Whenever
he's dropped below that mark though, and has his favoured
conditions, he would be a very good bet. However, he did win
this well and he could now be hitting his best patch of
form, enabling him to go on from this. I'll be keeping a
keen eye on him, in his next few races.
Both he and the runner up finished a good distance in front
of the rest, 3 1/2 lengths back to 3rd, so LINCOLN DEAN
could give the form a boost next time out.
PERSIANO 31/5/00
At Goodwood (23/5), both the winner, PERSIANO and the second
REGAL PHILOSOPHER should go on from this race. I know REGAL
PHILOSOPHER has run since this race and finished a one
length 4th, but that was on heavy ground, and a return to
slightly better ground will suit him. Both pulled away from
the others, although the 3rd IRON MOUNTAIN ran one of his
better races, finishing well. Since this post:
PERSIANO has run twice, finishing 3rd and 2nd, in a couple
of the top handicaps. This horse is a real battler, and
generally gives his all. He seems to go pretty well on most
types of ground, but acts best on good or firmer. Indeed his
jockey stated as much on his last run. It also appears he
likes a right handed, galloping track. (Goodwood/Sandown) In
view of the fact that the Glorious Goodwood meeting is
coming up, it could be worth bearing in mind.He hasn't won a
Class B Handicap yet, but I'm more than confident he's up to
it.
PINCHINCHA (New Entry) 18/7/00
An admirably consistent mature gelding, who must deserve a
change of luck. One run apart, this year he hasn't been out
of the first four and that bad run was on heavy ground. The
problem is, he usually manages to find one or two too good
for him. It's hard to believe he hasn't won since his 3 yo
days back in 1997. He's run in some decent handicaps all his
life, and always runs well. (Without winning). Strange thing
is though, he hasn't been back to Ponte since that win,
maybe that's what he needs, the stiff challenge of Ponte's
uphill finish. I wouldn't want to put the mortgage on him,
but he's always good value for a decent EW bet, giving his
all. In his last race at Sandown, he went off at 40/1 and
finished in the places. Finishing fast, without looking like
he'd catch the winner.
I'm going to attempt to try and find his optimum
requirements with the HOTBOX, and see if we can pinpoint
when he's going to win again. If there's any justice, he'll
surely get his head in front.
PRESTO New Entry 20/7/00
This horse has been in reasonable form of late, 2 wins from
last 3 runs. Formally with Willie Haggas and claimed by
Merrita Jones, he usually holds his own in this type of race
(Class E Hcp). Held up at the back, Jamie Spencer was never
too bothered about chasing after the leaders, and seemed
content to play a waiting game. As we all know though, this
can be a dangerous game at the best of times, but at Epsom
doubly so. As he made his move, he got hampred by the horse
to his right, then as he went for a gap, to make up ground,
it closed. He did run on at one pace after this, and could
never get near the leaders. He could make amends next time,
with a more enterprising ride.
PYTHIOS (New entry) 18/7/00
This lightly raced 4 yo colt must have gone into virtually
everyones notebooks when he encountered trouble in running
behind CARIBBEAN MONARCH in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal
Ascot. He was finishing very fast, and hampered crucially in
the dying strides. He was fitted again with a tongue-tie,
and back on his preferred ground, good to firm. He didn't
handle the course/ground at Epsom last time and much prefers
this ground on a galloping track. He won last year at both
Ascot and Doncaster on good to firm, and will do so again,
when he gets his conditions.
Since this post:
PYTHIOS has run at Doncaster in a 5 runner conditions race,
and was beaten by SUMMONER, into second. I think it may be
that he needs covering up, and wasn't able to have this in
this race, as he should have won this really. He shouldn't
be written off yet, and when returning to Hcp company, in a
reasonably large field, he should do better. I hope so, as
I'd hate to have to consign him to the Monkey Pile.;o)
ADDED TO THE LIST:
BOREAS
FANDANGO DREAM
LINCOLN DEAN
PENTAGON LAD
PINCHINCHA
PRESTO
PYTHIOS
-
That's me up to date now.
If anyone wants to check out the Weighed In web site it's
at -
http://www.geocities.com/weighed_in/
Be gentle, it IS still under some construction. Remember
though, ANYONE can contribute.
Cheers,
Steve.Beastie.
--
Widda Lidda Bidda Luuuurrrv Kummin Atchya!
'Your name vill also go on ze list. Vot iss it?'
'Don't tell him Pike'
Homepage:- http://www.firebeast.co.uk
ICQ - 47608346
Firebeast
ROMANTIC AFFAIR (New Entry)
This horse has John Dunlop stamped all over him. He's yet
another of those classy looking battlers that the excellent
trainer turns out year after year. At Salisbury (7/7/00) he
won a reasonably competitive Class D Hcp from a couple of
good horses. AFTER THE BLUE and STAR CAST. He was sauntering
just inside the 3 furlong marker and once getting the better
of AFTER THE BLUE, he went on to win by an easy looking 2 ½
lengths. He could well go on to something better after this.
The way he won suggests he could even get further than this
12 furlongs, though I doubt his shrewd trainer will want to
attempt it at this stage of the horses career. On a stiff
track though, he could be hard to beat, whether he races
over 10 or 12 furlongs. I like this horse a lot, and his
attitude in particular.
SOBRIETY (New Entry 20/7/00)
SOBRIETY started the season winning a little 8 runner
Conditions race at Doncaster, and since, has gone on to
contest some the best handicaps around over a mile. He's
been beaten in them all barring his last race at York, but
has been putting in his best work at the finish. He first
went into my notebook at Ascot (22/6) when he finished 6th
behind EL GRAN PAPA and SIGN OF HOPE in the Britannia
Handicap. Again finishing well, despite not getting a clear
run. He then went to Sandown and contested the mile handicap
won by CARIBBEAN MONARCH, beaten less than 3 lengths in 5th,
but a length clear of the 6th horse. Considering I believe
that winner to be one of the best (If not THE best) handicap
milers around, it was a good performance.
His crowning moment so far though, came at York, in the John
Smiths.
John Reid was back in the saddle here, and brought him round
the outside to deliver a beautifully timed run. Considering
the good horses he had behind here, in particular NOOSHMAN,
the performance is highlighted even more. Whenever Reid is
on board this horse, it should be taken as a plus.
The horses trainer thinks he's going to give him a stab at
listed company now, and I think he's definitely up to it. He
probably won't ever win his races by much, but he will win
more races. He looks to like a bit of cut in the ground,
although IMHO, GENUINELY GOOD ground looks to be his
optimum.
The York win, significantly was a step up in trip for him,
to 10 furlongs, his first attempt at the trip. His style of
running had suggested he had been crying out for it, and so
it proved. This improving 3 yo has a little bit of class,
and he should find the step up in class within his grasp.
Cheers,
Steve.
--
http://www.geocities.com/weighed_in/
G-Man
> http://www.geocities.com/weighed_in/
Excellent site, Steve - should make up into a GREAT one.
Cheers,
G-Man
chris.mc...@which.net
a great idea if this is what Rob is workng on. There are many like
myself I'm sure who appreciate your's and other WI. contributors
efforts. Simply brilliant.
Chris Mac