Justin Snaith pulls the number six draw for July legend Do It Again (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Do It Again Draws Six In Sixth July

The two biggest talking points of this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field Announcement and Draw Ceremony were the draws landed by Do It Again and his three-parts brother See It Again, who is the big race favourite.

Do It Again is not only out to be the first to win the big race three times, but will become the first to run in the big race six times.

It was thus ironic that he drew barrier number six.

Trainer Justin Snaith immediately realised the significance when fishing out draw six for the great horse.

“Draw six in his sixth July,” he said to master of ceremonies Graeme Hawkins.

Do It Again will also, of course, carry saddle cloth number six due to the system in place at present of numbers being the same as draws.

There have been number omens in the past which have turned into July victories.

In 2004 on the tenth anniversary of democracy in South Africa saddle cloth number 10 was made in the colours of the South African flag and the Mike de Kock-trained Greys Inn carried it to victory under Anthony Delpech.

In 1960, a week before the July, the Springboks beat the All Blacks 13-0 and both tries were scored by the left wing, Hennie van Zyl. Unbelievably, a horse called Left Wing was number 13 in the July a week later and this horse became the great Syd Garret’s third July winner as a trainer. That July has been known ever since as “The Rugby July”.

In the 1990’s trainer Alec Laird purchased the great racing painting done by Henk Vos, which depicted all winners of the July. However, Vos still had to complete the last frame of the painting, frame 20, and he joked that perhaps an Alec Laird-trained horse could fill it.

In the following July, 1996, Alec’s horse London News was saddle cloth number 20 and he duly won the race and became the horse who filled frame 20 of the great painting.

The draw for the July favourite is always the most eagerly anticipated and See It Again’s trainer Michael Roberts admitted to being nervous in the build up to the ceremony.

However, the pressure was taken off him because he was the last trainer out of the hat and there was only one draw left, draw seven.

Roberts revealed owner Nick Jonsson had actually predicted landing draw seven, because it was his father Benji Jonsson’s lucky number.

Roberts had wanted any draw of 8 or below, so he was thrilled.

Do It Again might also set another record in the July, because See It Again is by the same sire as him, Twice Over, and is out of a half-sister to him. See It Again is thus a three-parts brother to Do It Again.

There have been full-sibling running in the July together e.g. Pocket Power and River Jetez, but have there ever been three-parts siblings, which is probably rarer because it covers two generations?

Durban businessman Nick Jonsson part-owns eight-year-old Do It Again and owns three-year-old See It Again outright.

It will still be a milestone moment for Jonsson if See It Again wins because Do It Again does not run in his colours. Bernard Kantor’s yellow colours with blue epaulettes hang in the classic’s room’s July wall of honour in representation of Do It Again’s two victories.

Jonsson also owns the Snaith-trained Without Question, who landed draw two.

Michael Roberts will be out to join Syd Garrett, David Payne and Bert Abercrombie, as July-winning jockeys who have also trained a July winner.

See It Again will be his first July runner as a trainer, 26 years after he won his only July on the David Ferraris-trained Super Quality in 1997.

The draw ceremony brought with it, as usual, connections who were happy with their draws and others who were at first disappointed, but who later became philosophical.

Traditionally in horse racing the lower the draw the better, but since the advent of the narrower track for the July in 2014 the joint most common winning draw has been 18 out of 18 and there has also been a winner from draw 17 out of 18.

The other joint most common winning draw in the nine renewals on the narrower track has been 8.

However, there have only been three single figure winning draws and the lowest winning draw has been six.

The winning horses and their draws since the advent of the narrower track in 2014 have been Legislate 11/16, Power King 6/18, The Conglomerate 18/18, Marinaresco 8/18, Do It Again 15/18, Do It Again 8/16, Belgarion 17/18, Kommetdieding 18/18 and Sparkling Water 12/18.

It can be surmised that the reason the low draws have a relatively poor record is the slingshot effect that horses towards the outside enjoy as they enter the straight, whilst the horses on the rail can be trapped in a pocket and can thus lack momentum entering the relatively short 450m straight.

Legendary jockey Weichong Marwing, who once rode 14 Grade 1 wins in a single season, was present at the draw ceremony. He said it was only after the draw ceremony that an analyst would be able to choose where they would like to be drawn, because only then can an analysis be done on which horses would be going forward and which would be dropped out and which would be just sat on from the off.

As Far as the final field goes, there were no shocks, although the connections of both reserve horses, Nebraas and Jimmy Don, would have been disappointed.

The only question was if Nebraas was left out of the top 18, why was he put above Pacaya on the final log? The probable answer is that although neither horse ran again after the publication of the final log, Pacaya’s Gr 2 WSB 1900 win was franked by runner up Winchester Mansion going out and winning the Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphin Cup Trial by 3,10 lengths. Furthermore, there is a race condition that states the winner of the WSB 1900 and HWB Dolphins Cup Trial will be given preferential consideration for inclusion in the final field.

The final field for the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July:

Hollywoodbets DURBAN JULY (Grade 1) FINAL FIELD
Sc#	Horse	Mass	MR	Draw	B A T M	Jockey	Trainer
1	BLESS MY STARS	52.0	109	1	A	A Mgudlwa	Sean Tarry
2	WITHOUT QUESTION	54.5	120	2	A	R Fourie	Justin Snaith
3	TIME FLIES	55.0	117	3	C A	L Mxothwa	Brett Crawford
4	WINCHESTER MANSION	53.0	112	4	C A	K Matsunyane	Brett Crawford
5	BILLY BOWLEGS	53.5	118	5	A	S Veale	Alec Laird
6	DO IT AGAIN	57.0	121	6	B A	G Lerena	Justin Snaith
7	SEE IT AGAIN	56.5	124	7	B A	P Strydom	Michael Roberts
8	SILVER DARLING	55.0	117	8	B A	J P v’d Merwe	Justin Snaith
9	SON OF RAJ	53.0	115	9	B A	M Yeni	Weiho Marwing
10	DAVE THE KING	55.5	122	10	A	C Zackey	Mike de Kock
11	PUERTO MANZANO	58.0	123	11	B A	K de Melo	J A Janse van Vuuren
12	PACAYA	53.0	110	12	A	G van Niekerk	Justin Snaith
13	SECOND BASE	56.5	120	13	B A	C Maujean	Robyn Klaasen
14	SAFE PASSAGE	58.0	123	14	A	C Soumillon	Mike de Kock
15	RASCALLION	57.5	122	15	A	C Orffer	Vaughan Marshall
16	TRIP OF FORTUNE	60.0	127	16	B A T	A Domeyer	Candice Bass-Robinson
17	RAIN IN HOLLAND	56.5	120	17	B A	S Khumalo	Sean Tarry
18	POMP AND POWER	58.0	123	18	A	B Fayd’Herbe	Justin Snaith
Reserve Runners
19	NEBRAAS	55.0	117	19	B A T	Reserve 1	Sean Tarry
20	JIMMY DON	53.0	116	20	A	Reserve 2	Erico Verdonese

Sean Veale, who rides Billy Bowlegs, and his wife Maxine at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Final Field and Draw Ceremony (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Billy Bowlegs Good Value At The Weights

The Alec Laird-trained Billy Bowlegs looks to be good value for the Hollywoodbets Durban July at 33/1 with the sponsor.

The The United States three-year-old colt ran on well for third after being dropped out from a wide draw in the Gr 1 WSB SA Classic.

He then ran on well again for second in the Gr 1 WSB SA Derby over 2400m.

Then in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge he did not settle perfectly in the early stages, so did well to stay on for a 1,10 length fourth.

The Champions Challenge is a a weight for age race and Billy Bowlegs will now face the winner Puerto Manzano on terms 3kg better than weight for age and he will be 1,5kg better off than weight for age with both the runner up Second Base And third-placed Rain In Holland.

Rain in Holland on 25/2, Puerto Manzano on 17/1 are shorter than him in the betting, despite the weight turnaround favouring him.

Billy Bowlegs also looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement.

Sean Veale gets his third ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July on Billy Bowlegs, who landed a good draw of five.

Sean said, “I’m very happy with the draw and he’s doing well so I’m very excited. I’ve been up to Jo’Burg twice to gallop him and will go up on Thursday and his final workout will be on Friday. At the weights I think he has a chance. He’s still a young horse but he’s doing very well. He’s a very progressive horse.”

Going back to the draw Sean said he would be able to settle Billy Bowlegs from the off from draw five, which was perfect for a horse who lacked early pace. He also believed he would be able to hold his position on this horse, who is a nice size.

Sean’s best July finish was in 2021 when fifth on Rascallion and he added, “And I couldn’t get a run.”

Alec Laird will be out to land a 17^th July for probably the race’s most prolific extended family.

His father Syd won a record seven July’s as a trainer, his grandfather Alec won one July as a jockey, his great Uncle Syd Garrett won two Julys as a jockey and three as a trainer, his cousins Dennis Drier and Charles Laird each won one July and he himself has won one July.

It is 27 years since Alec won the July and 16 since Charles landed the last of the 16 Julys for the racing dynasty, so they are overdue for another.

Lot 72 goes for R500,000 (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The United States Shone At Mixed Sale

Billy Bowlegs’ sire increasingly popular

Action Racing Online (ARO)

Moutonshoek’s red hot resident sire The United States proved the star turn at Friday’s Cape Racing Winter Mixed Sale, with the son of Galileo supplying the top priced yearling at Friday’s auction.

A colt by The United States made R500 000 when knocked down to Jonathan Snaith.

Consigned to the sale by Maine Chance Farms, the colt (Lot 72) named Blue Ribbon Day is out of the winning Silvano mare Bandola.

His sire The United States has had a wonderful year in the sales ring. He had yearlings make up to R700 000 at the 2023 National Yearling Sale, while The United States colt Palancar made R850 000 to top this year’s Cape Yearling Sale.

The chestnut full-brother to multiple G1 winners Hermosa and Hydrangea has also had a wonderful season on the track, and The United States is currently the fourth Leading Sire of 3YOs in South Africa, by stakes, for the 2022-2023 season.

His numerous high-class three-year-olds this season include G3 Sea Cottage Stakes winner Billy Bowlegs (who has earned over R800 000 in prize money), G3 WSB Variety Club Mile victor Without Question, and East Cape star Khaya’s Hope.

By the same sire as star stallions Frankel, Teofilo, Australia, and Churchill, The United States has two colts on offer at the upcoming KZN Yearling Sale.

Paddington was a brilliant winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday (Focusonracing)

Aidan O’Brien Hails ‘incredible’ Paddington After Becoming Royal Ascot’s Most Successful Trainer

Racing Post

Paddington surged impressively clear of 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean under Ryan Moore to help Aidan O’Brien become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history as he recorded his 83rd winner at the prestigious meeting.

O’Brien had earlier levelled Sir Michael Stoute’s record of 82 winners when Moore guided River Tiber to win the Coventry and Paddington, who was last seen landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas on his first start in Group company, emphatically followed up his win at the Curragh.

Chaldean, sent off the 13-8 favourite, led under Frankie Dettori as they turned for home but Paddington stayed on powerfully to score by three and three-quarters of a length and was promptly cut to 2-1 (from 10) for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Paddington was fifth on his debut at Ascot in September but is now unbeaten in five subsequent starts after becoming O’Brien’s ninth winner in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

“He’s an incredible horse,” O’Brien told ITV racing. “He came here as a maiden as a two-year-old and he was very green. We gave him time and he went back to the Curragh and won very well and we didn’t run him anymore.

“The lads have given him time through the winter and he won a handicap very impressively in Naas. Then he went and won the Tetrarch on the way to the Irish Guineas. He’s just improving and improving. He’s a smart horse, is really quick and handles all types of ground.

“Ryan gave him a beautiful ride because he was out there and he knew it was going to be tactical and obviously when Frankie’s in front it’s very dangerous. Ryan gave him a masterful ride because he didn’t panic, he produced him. He’s able to quicken very well and that’s what makes good horses great.”

Moore, who was winning the Group 1 for the third time, added: “He took me there going easy and we just kept the foot down and he was finding plenty. He’s a very good colt, he’s improving and I’m very happy with him. He’s got a big engine and a lot of class.”

Lucky Lad romps home in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Lucky Lad Avoiding Golden Horseshoe As Tarry Plans For The Future

Sean Tarry has opted to avoid the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe with his unbeaten colt Lucky Lad, whose four wins, including his easy victories in both the Gr 2 SA Nursery and the Gr 1 Gold Medallion, have put him ahead in the race for the Equus Champion Two-year-old male award.

He said he might still run the classy colt in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes on Gold Cup day.

“I would only want to run him one more time this season at the most. There is more value in running him in the mile because it will answer the question about his stamina and help with the planning of the new season. But he is not a certainty to run on Gold Cup day.”

Tarry has had many great days in his career and in 2019 went within a head of landing the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Gr 1 grandslam.

On June 3 this season, he increased his record-holding number of Gr 1 wins at the Pietermaritzburg track by another three, to go to 18 in all, and this time went within a 0,90 lengths of landing the Grandslam.

He said it was certainly the most anxiety-free of all of his career greatest days.

He said, “Each horse, when they popped the question, the race was over. Even though Lucky Lad had the most to do … he looked like he was a length or two further back than he he should have been … when asked the question it was eye-popping.”

Talking about the latter phenomenal performance, Tarry said, “He’s got to be a very good horse. You still want to see how that form works out etc. It’s always hard to know what these juveniles are at this stage, but when they win in that manner it really bodes well for the future.”

Lucky Lad certainly has a classic pedigree. He is by champion sire Gimmethegreenlight and his dam Imperial State, by stamina influence Caesour, won twice over 1600m and was a narrow second in both the Listed Ladies Mile and in a Gr 3 over 1800m. Furthermore, she is a half-sister to Jet Master mare State Coach, who won two listed races over 1600m and 2000m respectively and she went to to produce the Silvano Gr 2 Betting World Derby (2400m) winner Silvano’s Jet, who was also second in the Gr 1 Champions Cup.

Tarry added, “Lucky Lad’s got the temperament to get more as well. He’s quite a relaxed horse and even in the running he doesn’t do much and then when you ask him it’s there instantly. I think everything’s there, but you don’t like to get ahead of yourself. He does get a bit unsettled in the gates. We will need the starter to help us out and load him last or late.”

He also wants to give Mrs Geriatrix only one more run this season. She is entered in the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. This Vercingetorix filly is also unbeaten in four starts, including a narrow win in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery, followed by an easy win in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship.

Tarry said, “If I did put her in a race it would probably be the 1400m, the mile will probably be stretching her, whereas with Lucky Lad I would be a little more confident to go the mile.”

He added, “I am still processing the decisions and thinking more about how it would impact their future careers.”

Tarry had Mrs Geriatrix on his list at the BSA National Yearling Sale.

He recalled, “I suspected she might not make her reserve and I was correct.”

Breeders Clifton Stud came to see him afterwards and his decision to take her for the reserve price of R200,000 was immediate.

The Magical Lady Syndicate, whose nominee is Natalie Turner, CEO of the Racehorse Owners Association, had previously partnered with Tarry in a horse called Miss Magician. The latter was fortuitously nearing the end of her career and a replacement was being sought.

Mrs Geriatrix, whom the Magical lady Syndicate own outright, became the replacement.

“Most of the ladies stayed in, but unfortunately some of them got out,” said Tarry. “But, there is a lot of new interest too. It is a lovely story for them.”

She has already earned R775,000. It is exciting times for the ladies, who add colour to the course with their pink outfits, which match Mrs Geriatrix’s colours. They also add vibe such is their vocal support.

Lucky Lad, on the other hand races in the famous brown and white Beck silks, owned now by Anthony Beck. The Varsfontein Stud-bred colt cost R850,000 and has earned R900,000.

Mrs Geriatrix has drawn well in five out of 31 entries for the Golden Slipper.

Princess Calla, who has been transformed into a top class sprinter under Tarry’s care this season, will revert to the mile in the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes. She won the Gr 1 HSH Princess Charlene Stakes Empress Club Stakes over a mile last season and comes off a facile 3,20 lengths victory in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint. She has drawn eleven out of 20 in the Garden Province and Richard Fourie has already been declared.

If the Flower Alley mare takes her place in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint on Gold Cup day she will be in contention for the Equus Champion Sprinter award.

Tarry said, “Equus Awards are always up to play for and worth considering. But at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what we hope for, things have to fall into place in terms of draws and preparation.”

Thunderstruck, Gold Medallion winner last year and runner up in the recent Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint, has drawn well in the Gr 2 Post Merchants on July day, although he will have a tough task at the weigthts with Golden Horse winner Gimme A Prince.

Ryan Moore

Ryan Moore Previews His Day Two Rides At Royal Ascot

This includes a big chance in a “top-notch” Prince of Wales’s Stakes

Betfair

Ryan Moore has another full book of rides on day two of the Royal Ascot meeting
Moore rides Luxembourg in the sole Group One on the card – the Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Moore enjoyed a strong start to the meeting by steering River Tiber to victory in the Coventry Stakes

2.30 – Balsam

I obviously haven’t ridden her before but it looks like she is progressing with her racing and she won her Listed race in Vichy last time.

That will probably need improving on a fair amount – the runner-up was well beaten in Group 3 company next time – but this race is all about potential, in the absence of a stand-out, so of course she has her chance.

The stable had the runner-up to Lady Aurelia in this race back in 2016.

3.05 – Crystal Caprice

She had a golden spell last summer, which included a course win over this trip, albeit on the straight track, and she looked on the way back when fourth over 1m2f at Ayr last time.

The handicapper has refused to budge from a mark of 101 for her, despite her having been beaten in her last four starts, which is disappointing, but I do think the step down to a mile that will suit this filly. Hopefully, she is primed for a career – best and any more rain will help her chances. Her draw in 20 could have been better.

3.40 – Jumbly

She has something to find with the likes of Prosperous Voyage, but I’d be surprised if she isn’t pretty competitive here. It certainly looks like the betting thinks she will be.

This beautifully bred filly changed hands for a lot of money after winning here last July and everyone was delighted with her comeback run at the Curragh, a race in which she shaped very well in second against a mare that got on the lead and never came back.

She will be all the better for the run, and I’d expect a fair amount of improvement here.

That said, I do like Grande Dame, a filly who I won on at Sandown last season, and I can see her going well, too, though it’s a big ask to be winning this first time up. It’s a tight-knit race, with several in with a chance, not least Prosperous Voyage who isn’t penalised for her Group 1 win.

4.20 – Luxembourg

Even in the absence of Desert Crown, this is clearly a top-notch Group 1. You have to massively respect the claims of Adayar and My Prospero, and I would expect Bay Bridge to be ready to run his best race of the campaign here. Any ease in the ground by Wednesday afternoon would be very much in his favour.

However, I beat him fair and square in Ireland last time and, although many said I got the run of the race from the front there, I would counter and say that my colt saw Bay Bridge off when challenged and was well on top at the line. When my horse is on his A-game, it will take a very good one to beat him.

You could argue that Mostahdaf is the overpriced one in here on his best form, but he has to go and do it at the highest level.

5.00 – Sonny Liston

Again, I have never ridden him before but he was a good horse in the first part of 2022, when he finished placed in Listed and Group 3 company and even took his chance in the Derby.

He looks fairly handicapped off 100 and hopefully he will have been primed to have come on significantly for his return at Newbury, though I did think he shaped okay there on his first start for the stable and the first-time blinkers will hopefully sharpen him up.

5.35 – Peking Oscar

We had four in here at the five-day stage but this looks a good fit for Peking Opera. He had the pace to beat Bertinelli over a mile last season and the stamina to win over 1m5f in soft ground on his reappearance and I’d say that was a decent Listed race.

He takes after Galileo than the speedier distaff side of his pedigree, and he is quite obviously an unexposed colt after three starts. This will be the first time I have ridden him in a race, though.

6.10 – Johannes Brahms

Ideally, you like to come to Ascot with a juvenile with at least a couple of runs under their belt but this Siyouni colt deserves his shot after his debut win at Naas last month. I am not sure just how strong that Naas form is, though the runner-up came out and finished second to River Tiber, but the fact he is here tells you he is reckoned worthy of his place.

This 5f may be a bit sharp for him but he is a horse I like, even though I wasn’t on him at Naas and this will obviously be the first time I have ridden him in a race. We also run Alabama in here, who I have ridden on both his starts, and we believe he is better than he has shown so far. The first-time blinkers could help him.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained None Other clinches an Oaks double last Saturday (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Handicapping Ratings Update

Track & Ball Oaks (Grade 2)

NONE OTHER remains unchanged on a rating of 110 after winning the Grade 2 Track & Ball Oaks for fillies and mares over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 17 June. The Handicappers were of the opinion that NONE OTHER herself made for the most suitable line horse when assessing this race, hence her unaltered rating.

There were ratings’ increases for 2^nd placed DAWNOFANEWDAY, who goes up from 101 to 107, and for 5^th finisher ROCKIE REEF, who is up from 80 to 92. ROCKIE REEF actually ran to a mark of 103, but the Handicappers were unwilling to take this literally and gave her half of the achieved adjustment, hence her new rating of 92. The only other raise was for 6^th placed ELECTRIC SURGE, who is up from 77 to 83 to at least make her the equal of the 83-rated 7^th finisher CAPETOWN BEAUTY.

The only drop was for 3^rd placed LIGHT OF THE MOON, who is down from 110 to 107 to ensure that she is not higher than runner-up DAWNOFANEWDAY.

Track & Ball Derby (Grade 3)

RUNAWAY SONG has had his rating raised from 92 to 116 following his success in the Grade 3 Track & Ball Derby over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. Here it was runner-up ARAGOSTA who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 114. The Handicappers noted that RUNAWAY SONG was racing beyond 1600m for the first time, and therefore could see no reason not to take the big improvement shown at face value and thus seeing no justification in not rating RUNAWAY SONG higher than ARAGOSTA.

There was also a rating’s increase for WITH PLEASURE, who was lowest rated in this 6-horse contest but finished in 3^rd place only 3 lengths behind the 114 rated ARAGOSTA at level weights. WITH PLEASURE achieved a race rating of 110 which is a considerable step up in performance when looking at his overall profile. Accordingly, the Handicappers opted not to take the 110 achieved rating literally and increased his rating to 105.

The only drop out of the Derby was for AIRWAYS LAW, who is down slightly from 110 to 109.

Frankie Dettori in the King’s colours (The Sun)

Dettori Misses Ride On Eclipse Favourite After Nine-day Ban

Careless riding on the King’s horse costs Frankie dear at Royal Ascot.

Frankie Dettori will miss the ride on Coral-Eclipse favourite Emily Upjohn after being handed a nine-day careless riding ban by the stewards on a frustrating first day at Royal Ascot.

Three second-placed finishes was the best the Italian could muster and he picked up the hefty suspension when deemed to have caused significant interference to multiple horses aboard royal runner Saga, who finished fifth in the Wolferton Stakes.

Dettori attempted to switch right handed towards the rail in the early stages of the 10-furlong Listed contest and in doing so, he caused James McDonald to quickly snatch up Cadillac. Certain Lad and Notre Belle, who were behind Cadillac, were also hampered in the scrimmaging.

Cadillac finished 15th of the 16 runners, while Notre Belle and Certain Lad were 11th and 13th respectively in the race won by Royal Challenger.

The ban, which runs from July 4 to 12, means John and Thady Gosden, who trained Emily Upjohn to win the Coronation Cup at Epsom on her last start, will not have the services of the popular jockey at Sandown, where she currently heads the market at 9-4 with the race sponsors.

His suspension will finish a day before the three-day July festival at Newmarket begins, where the 52-year-old will hope to fill one of the few significant Group One holes in his glittering CV – riding a July Cup winner – before his retirement at the end of the year.

Dettori came close to riding a winner on Tuesday, with Inspiral a neck behind 33-1 chance Triple Time in the Queen Anne.

He also filled the second spot aboard St James’s Palace Stakes favourite Chaldean, who was beaten by Paddington, and played second fiddle when Absurde was runner-up to runaway winner Vauban in the concluding Copper Horse Handicap.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Fields, Wednesday

The Derby winner of 200 years ago in 1823, Emilius, was trained by the trainer in question (painting by William Tasker)

Today’s Question

Racehorse trainers were originally way down the pecking order in the sport. Which trainer is credited with raising the status of trainers?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

From left: Frank Buckle, John Wastel, Robert Robson and a Stable Boy (wikimedia commons)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Trainers in the early days of horse racing were usually servants. They are known by historians today as “training grooms”. Their names were rarely mentioned in the press. In fact the press focus was the reverse of what it is today. In modern times the trainer and jockey get most of the accolades and the glory, while owners are often just mentioned in the footnotes, if at all.

In the early days documentary evidence of racing, printed in the newspapers and racing calendars, was almost always for the benefit of the middle and upper classes, and it is likely they were more interested in the ownership and breeding of the horses than the names of the riders and trainers; indeed even the horses’ names were not stated in some cases, and some horses were deliberately not named and might be referred to, for example, as Mr Soandso’s black mare.

Robert Robson (c.1765–1838) was the racehorse trainer accredited with raising the status of trainers.

He was known as the Emperor of Trainers who ran “the outstandingly successful stable of the first quarter of the 19th century.”

The leading racehorse trainer of his time, he raised the status of trainers from glorified groom to professional.

He was based initially at Lewes where he was private trainer to Sir Ferdinand Poole from 1793. In that year he won his first Derby with Waxy.

He then spent rest of his career at Newmarket and trained six more Derby winners – Tyrant, Pope and Whalebone for the 3rd Duke of Grafton, Whisker for the 4th Duke of Grafton, and, 200 years ago in 1823, he trained his last Derby winner, Mr Payne’s Azor and Mr Udney’s Emilius.

Accordingly, he jointly held the record for training winners of The Derby (seven Derby winners) with John Porter (1^st Derby winner 1868 last Derby winner 1899) and Fred Darling (1^st Derby win 1922 last Derby win 1941) until Aidan O’Brien broke the record in 2020 before making it nine Derby winners this year.

Robson’s horses won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes six times, the 1000 Guineas Stakes nine times between 1818 and 1827 and he saddled thirteen winners of The Oaks.

To his contemporaries, as already mentioned, he was known as “the Emperor of Trainers” and his horses benefited from a gentler regime from that then practised by most stables.

Robson continued to live in Newmarket after his retirement in 1828, when, as a testimonial, members of the Jockey Club presented him with a piece of plate.

He was said to be worth £60,000 at the time of his passing.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 20 June, 2023