TACTICAL BLUNDER
PAGES OF FANTASTIC GREYHOUNDS START WITH HORSE RACING
NEVER has the use of a pacemaker backfired with such dire consequences for the Ballydoyle team as it did in Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable was represented by Cliffs Of Moher, sent off the 7-4 favourite on the back of his second in the Epsom Derby, and their pacemaker Taj Mahal, a 50-1 chance.
Last month’s Derby-winning rider Padraig Beggy was entrusted with the role of partnering Taj Mahal and stable jockey Ryan Moore was on Cliffs Of Moher.
All looked to be going to plan when Beggy led the field for a mile at a decent gallop.
But rounding the home turn, Beggy allowed his mount to drift off a straight line and impede Decorated Knight who subsequently gave Cliffs Of Moher a hefty bump, nearly putting him over the rails.
Not surprisingly Cliffs Of Moher was put out of the contest and under the circumstances did well to finish fourth behind Ulysses.
As expected Beggy finished last, very much with his tail between his legs.
O’Brien remarked: “Ryan didn’t say much but he ran well. I didn’t get a good look but races don’t always go smooth.”
Beggy refused to comment, but James Doyle, the rider of Barney Roy, the second home, said: “Ryan hit the rail and nearly came down.”
The stewards took a dim view and handed Beggy an ® eight-day ban for careless riding.
Team-tactics had enable Ballydoyle to triumph in both the 2,000 Guineas, with Churchill, and the Epsom Derby with Wings Of Eagles, but on Saturday they contributed to their downfall.
It will be interesting to see if they will use a pacemaker at Ascot for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the race they will be hoping to win for the second time with Highland Reel.
But they will not be needing a pacemaker for Caravaggio when the speedster runs in Saturday’s July Cup.
Unbeaten in his six races, Caravaggio is even money to take the six-furlong dash. TOWNSIDE TITAN STEPASIDE GRACIE EMILYS PRINCESS KILLOTTERAN LUCY AMAZING HERO NIGHT OF THUNDER STRIDES MARILYN STUNNING BUSTER KILVIL SKYLARK LOGANS TREASURE HI I AMBER SKIPROE MICK GENEVA JAZZ BURNT OAK BEANO