Same day, same track, same class. The dogs were barking Islay Mist. Now this 3YO gelding had been very consistent at his previous preparation. After a good 4th first up run he had 25 days off before winning at Eagle Farm. This time the first up run was even better, a third to Full Suit but 35 days ago. If few horses win first up, even fewer horses win second up. I never back horses second up and rarely give any value to such a horse when making assessments. There are not too many Let’s Elopes around!
The majority of the contestants were less fit and the 6YO mare King’s Love had been racing consistently. She raced much better than you would expect for a 10/1 shot and duly landed the money easily.
There were far better horses engaged in this race on the day but the one that won it was simply the fittest fastest horse. I have no doubt that a fully fit Islay Mist would have won the race easily.
My philosophy as far as these first and second up gallopers goes like this. Imagine you are a thoroughbred racehorse. You have been brought back from the paddock and fed a carefully selected diet of high energy ingredients. Your daily routine has been stepped up from long striding gallops to fast finishing short sprints. You may have been taken for a ride to the racetrack to barrier trial.
Today is different. You can feel it. The air is full of nervous anticipation. Your stable hand leads you into the parade ring and you can sense that you are about to do what you are bred for. You snort and shuffle around the ring and the jockey mounts. Your resist his control and the clerk of the course grabs the bridle to settle you down as you are led out onto the track.
Now you’re at the barrier. The horses around you and all the activity cause your heart to beat ten to the dozen and you break out in a sweat. Finally, you are maneuvered into the starting gate and your rider holds you firmly. The gate flies open and all at once you burst into stride as your instinct takes over. You run and you run with all that nervous energy pushing you forward.
But now you’re in the straight. Your muscles begin to feel the pinch and you start to shorten stride. Whack! Whack! The rider wields the whip, you push those tired legs as you start to hang in or out. At last not even the punishing strokes of the whip can bring anymore effort out.
Every breath is like fire now as your rider pulls you up. That’s enough for today and you no longer have the energy to play up as your rider dismounts and takes the saddle away.
It’s two weeks later now and you’re at the barrier ready to face up. You’ve recovered from the welts and once again you’ve enjoyed your morning work. The gates fly open and as you stretch out you give more than you can ever give in any trackwork gallop or trial and the muscles strain as the last of the stiffness from the last time comes out. Through the memory and pain you shorten stride and refuse to give your best. You’re rider’s dismounted now and the boys, they shake their head. They can’t explain.
Your trackwork’s fine you’re in again and by now you’re feeling fit. Away you go and as you feel the breeze you know that now you’re fine. The soreness is gone and you do your best as you catch them on the post. A friendly pat as you trot right back to a greeting cheer from the crowd. You know it’s for you and you give then back a friendly snort.
Just as we humans are different, horses are different too. Some horses give their best all the time every time, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. In Race Handicapping we carefully examine all the factors in a race to determine the risk. It is my view that Racing Fitness is essential. I never back a horse until at it’s third run from a spell!
River of Destiny resumed from a spell on December the 26th at Caloundra in a weak welter. She won with little effort.
On January the ninth she was beaten 8 lengths in a Fillies and Mares race at the Gold Coast and was subsequently dismissed as a chance at her next start in Flying company at Eagle Farm. Starting at 12/1 (I got 14/1) River of Destiny won her third start from a spell with ease.
You will see examples of this very same occurrence almost every raceday. The serious Race Handicapper is on the lookout for every such opportunity. You may have noted that River of Destiny won first up. All that means is that this talented mare is one of those racehorses that have now done it. In similar class at the start of her next preparation she may well do it again and if you are to be a winning Race Handicapper you will have noted that fact for future reference. That doesn’t mean that you will then back her first up, but it does mean that you will be aware of the risk when you are assessing the race. In the mare’s current preparation her first up run was a good indication to us that she was capable of repeating her good form from her last preparation.