Blog

As much as I like to write about my own horses, anyone who knows me knows I have plenty of opinions about racing in general, and particularly racing in the United States.

The American racing press (which is mostly online these days) has been abuzz this week with Big Brown’s victory in the Haskell and the decision to run Curlin in the Woodward at the end of the month, leaving a possible bid for the Arc, the premiere race in Europe, in the dust. Racing fans seemed relieved with Big Brown’s win and cheered Jess Jackson’s decision to put Curlin back on the dirt; both owner and fans were quick to proclaim Curlin a world champion. Americans have a way of doing that – declaring themselves a “world champion” without ever leaving their own country. Curlin did venture abroad once, to win the Dubai World Cup. That, apparently, was all the proof Team USA needed to proclaim world supremacy.

The trouble with horse racing is that it’s impossible to crown anybody “world champion.” The Americans call the Breeders’ Cup the World Thoroughbred Championships, but it is always run somewhere in the United States, with U.S. rules, which means drugs, and plenty of them. Some brave European owners venture to America, lured by the fame and huge purses on Breeders’ Cup day. Most of them, unfortunately, choose to dope up, because if they don’t, they feel they are giving the American horses and edge. A few have resisted and won anyway. Now THOSE horses are the true champions.

I’m sure Curlin is a fabulous horse, but I would love to see him run truly drug-free. Even though Jess Jackson has come out against the use of race-day medication, Curlin, like just about every other horse in America, runs with Lasix (and possibly other drugs; the use has become so accepted and permitted that most states no longer require reporting them to the fans). Race-day drugs are not permitted in Dubai, but insiders know that testing is….well, let’s just say selective. I’d like to see Curlin run in Europe, where he would most certainly have to run clean, to see what kind of racehorse he really is.

Meanwhile, the buzz about the two big American horses will continue, right up to the Breeders’ Cup. Racing authorities have made noises about limiting medications, and most taken the first and important step of banning steroids. But until ALL of the drugs are banned, there can be no such thing as a “world champion” horse.

Abwaab finished 5th today in Deauville, which means he brought home a little cash and was faster than 15 other horses (there was a field of 20, the usual size for handicaps here). He had won at 1,200 meters in England, but I hadn’t tried him at that distance yet, so this was a good effort, especially on the straight course. I’ll probably look for something around the same distance next time – and he’ll let me know when that will be. Meanwhile, he’s back home in his box, tucked into dinner, and he’ll have a walk and some grazing tomorrow.

The track in Deauville was fantastic, exactly the kind of going he needs. So let’s hope for victory next time out!

Abwaab’s trip to Vichy last week was unfortunately unsuccessful. I’m starting to call him Goldilocks, because he needs everything just right for him to run his race. The track in Vichy was unfortunately rock-hard, despite the official going rating of “good to soft.” There had been racing the previous night, and the track was left full of ruts and holes, which was not at all to Abwaab’s liking. We’ll see if he likes the track at Deauville a little better. He is entered to run the 1,200-meter handicap there next Tuesday. It’s a shorter distance for him, but he won at this distance in England, so maybe he can pull something out here.

The new arrivals are coming along. Pixie looks like the real deal, and I hope she can be ready to run in Deauville in late August. She still needs to settle down a bit — she seems to have a philosophical opposition to trotting and thinks the only galloping worth doing is worth doing fast — but she’ll get it. Tyke will need more time; he seems to be in a bit of a growth spurt, which is a good thing, so we’re not asking too much of him yet. Amour is rebuilding her fitness base after her three-month vacation, so she’ll let us know when she’s ready to step up to harder work.

Well, the two new three-year-olds have been here for about a week, as has the returning Amour Creole, and they are finally starting to settle in to the routine. Cape Tycoon’s favorite part of his new surroundings seems to be the feed bin, while Pixie and Amour are a little more focused on when they can get out and stretch their legs. Pixie has been quite a handful, because she hadn’t been ridden for about a month before coming here. Amour, despite having spent three months on vacation, thinks she should be back to full gallop, so the challenge is to convince her that we have to work up to it gradually.

Abwaab runs at Vichy on Thursday, and we’ve had to change jockeys because our regular, Gregory Benoist, isn’t available. I’ve put up Davy Bonilla, best-known for piloting Marchand D’Or to  Group 1 success. I’m hoping Abwaab handles the expected hot weather and the transport OK, because he’s in very good form at the moment and I think this is a good race for him.

Welcome to the Gallop France blog. I’ll keep you updated here on all the latest news from the yard as I fill the stable and get started on my new career. I plan to run a very small operation, with not more than 12 horses in training at any one time. That way, every horse and every owner gets individualized attention.

Two horses bought at the sales in Newmarket last week arrived this evening: Pixie’s Blue, a three-year-old filly by Hawk Wing, and Cape Tycoon, a three-year-old gelding by Cape Cross.

Pixie was placed several times in England, and we hope she’ll move up to win here. Cape Tycoon hasn’t shown much yet, but all of his siblings are winners over hurdles, so we hope with some time to grow, he’ll come into his own.

They join Abwaab, a five-year-old Agnes World gelding who was bought in Newmarket last year and has won and placed for us, and Amour Creole, a three-year-old Trempolino filly who is just coming back from a break. Hard Way, my three-year-old homebred gelding, also has been in the fields and will come back into training next week.

You can follow their progress (and comment on it) here. It should all be quite an adventure.