Fairytale Nunthorpe was a joy to behold but York deserves another Group 1 prize
The three Group 1s at York last week fell to the might of Dubai’s Shadwell, Ireland’s mega rich Coolmore and Steve and Jolene.
That’s Steve and Jolene de’Lemos by the way. Oh the beauty of this great game.
Selling this fantastic sport on racing stories alone will never be the answer in the search of a new audience and to keep the one we already have.
But gosh it helps, and the fairytale success of Live in the Dream in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes was a joy to behold.
Has there ever been a Group 1 in the UK where one of the winning owners went up to collect their prize with no socks on and the other no shoes? I doubt it.
But it provided a sense of normality to racing that is rarely seen from the super powers.
Now don’t get me wrong, those super powers are crucial to the sport and in many cases misunderstood.
Sheikha Hissa, who took over the blue and white silks from her late father Hamdan Al Maktoum, is now hugely knowledgeable about racing. In a way that might surprise a few.
And Aidan O’Brien, the Ballydoyle maestro, is one of the most entertaining people out there.
His interaction with racegoers straight after Paddington’s defeat in the Juddmonte International was a moment I will never forget. O’Brien was like a rock star – and was happy to be mobbed by fans.
That all said, Steve and Jolene stole the show. Both landed on me in the paddock straight after their big-race success, and with some force! The joy the victory brought them was truly infectious.
And remember the success at racing’s highest level, also a fairytale for their trainer Adam West who has many a time been on the verge of giving up, came on the back of a miserable experience in British racing when the stall failed to open on time at Epsom for their sprinter Live in the Moment.
Steve had really fancied his 6-1 favourite and it’s fair to say the whole affair left him pretty disillusioned.
Steve and Jolene are not on the bread line, but their success just shows dreams do come true. Magical.
Steve told me: “I’m a director and shareholder for a Surrey based insurance broker and I suppose we are a comfortable middle class family but more importantly lucky!”
Steve sent me a message Saturday morning which just read: “My head hurts”. It’s fair to say the celebrations were significant.
It’s a cliche that York do a great job. The team at the Knavesmire are so established in excellence that to be honest it will only be when something goes wrong that a journalist need comment.
One of the aspects that racing loves about York is the input of terrific prize money, and its one of the few tracks that actually tells us where its World Pool money goes. For most of the others it’s a secret, which is worrying.
In particular, the fund for Saturday’s City of York Stakes was incredible, being up from £400,000 to £500,000. That’s a massive pot for a Group 2.
There are relatively strict rules about upgrading races to Group 1 level, and there’s no doubt in general there are too many Pattern races in the Pattern.
That said, York and the City of York Stakes deserve to host the Uk’s first Group 1 at seven furlongs. I’m sick and tired of always having to flag the Foret up as the ultimate 7f prize.
There is a shape to a 7f campaign for horses. The three-year-olds get the Jersey Stakes, and then people can head to the Lennox at Goodwood before the York contest and Foret.
That suggests the pool of horses out there for a 7f Group 1 should be strong enough, and obviously there is a chance for 6f performers to edge up in distance and 1m campaigners to drop.
Technically, for a race to receive a Group 1 upgrade it has to achieve an average rating of 115 from the first four home over a period of three years.
Before they are adjusted, winner Kinross was 119, second Audience was 113, third Sandrine 105 and fourth Isaac Shelby 115. So that would only come to an average of 113.
A judgement, first from the British Pattern Committee and then from the European is required. And it’s not a majority decision at the latter committee – France could veto on the basis of the Maurice De Gheest. And in the past there will have been opposite views.
That said, it’s a matter of record that the British Pattern Committee has a long-standing ambition for a Group 1 7f race in Britain. Hence the upgrade of the City of York to a Group 2 (putting it in direct competition with the Hungerford) and the removal of penalties to encourage Group 1 horses to take part at a lower level.
Extraordinary upgrades can happen but only as part of a pan-European initiative with a specific defined aim – e.g. the coordinated upgrade of the mares, sprint and staying programmes in recent years.
But, British analysis of the worldwide Pattern shows there are too many Pattern races for the relevant horse populations. So, whilst it remains an ambition for the City of York it might have to wait a year or two.
If, and when it happens, though, I’ll be all for it.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org