Notnowcato wins Coral-Eclipse 2007
Notnowcato Did It 'His Way' to Win
Exactly one year ago today, a very brave four-year-old horse Notnowcato (Inchinor) almost won the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park Racecourse. This Group 1 (C1) is one of the year's dream fixtures at 1m 2f in which three-year olds compete against their elders.
Second doesn't get you in the Winners' Circle, but close. His de Rothschild connections were proud though somewhat disappointed not to have won. So was his philosophical trainer, Sir Michael Stoute. They were sure they had a very good horse and I thought so too.
This year all the Eclipse pre-drama centered around the foul weather, soft ground, the Coolmore vs Darley (read Sheikh Mohammed) battle for supremacy and their two horses: George Washington IRE (Danehill USA) and Authorized IRE (Montjeu IRE) who is not Sheikh Mohammed's quite yet.
Andrew Cooper, Sandown's Clerk of the Course and Acting MD, got the course in beautiful order and the weather finally cooperated providing a gorgeous two-day meet that, despite heavy competition, drew higher crowds than last year.
The Coolmore vs Darley farce ended in a tactical race which demeaned their two brilliant horses and left both Irish and Arab supporters deeply disappointed. They were not alone.
Might I be so bold as to suggest that the 'powers' give some consideration to the jockeys, racegoers, punters and connections caught in the middle?
And what of the horses?
Authorized constantly swished his tail in the saddling area and was a bit sweaty. He was fine once Frankie Dettori got on him. I won't comment on the ride he got, but think Dubawi. I could have cried then too.
Still I sympathize with the man who was under unbearable strain in a very dangerous sport. Who could blame him in the end?
George Washington was a true gentleman walking with a man on either side. He saved his playfulness for his jockey Seamus Heffernan. When entering the course, he tried several times to toss over him over the far rails and the powerful Seamie had all he could do to stay on him.
At Ascot GW larked about with former rider Michael Kinane, but it was in fun. He does not seem to be all that fond of his work rider and new jockey. Given the ride he got, the horse was smarter than his trainer who switched jockeys.
Kinane would have had far too much respect for GW to let him ride Authorized's tail through most of the race. His horse would have run 'his' race not tried to have spoiled Authorized's.
What was the outcome of this titanic battle of great powers? Authorized beat George Washington who was just held. GW can definitely do 1m 2f on good-to-soft ground and he will never be allowed anywhere near Authorized again.
They spent all that money when we told them all that before the race.
Two days ago I said that a tough older horse who is a seasoned campaigner with a highly motivated jockey, Ryan Moore, and the redoubtable Sir Michael Stoute as trainer could easily win the Coral-Eclipse. They did.
Notnowcato deservedly ended up in the Winners' Circle with the happy de Rothschilds thanks to his smart jockey who actually walked the course, found the best ground, left the tactical herd behind, crossed the course and followed a lone path near the stands.
The foursome threw everything they had at Authorized on the far side and still lost to him.
The 'Lone Ranger' beat them all home by a length and a half. They didn't seem to notice.
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild accepted the silver horse trophy of Eclipse on his son's behalf; David was speaking at Al Gore's ecology fest. How fitting that the de Rothschild horse should win given that Sir Evelyn's grandfather funded the first Eclipse in 1886!
'Stoutie' gulped and grinned at winning his fifth Eclipse and was full of compliments for last year's championship jockey and today's winner, Ryan Moore, who shared his recent four losses at Royal Ascot dubbed as the unlucky duo.
Moore's lovely blond girlfriend was bursting with pride and joy for him.
All he could talk about was his horse Notnowcato in stacato Irish. "He's had his battles. The ground doesn't matter to him. He is very tough. He is a very good horse. I thought we got ahead too soon at 3f out, but he held on. He is a very, very brave horse. We won it."
Sounds as if he is describing himself. Ryan Moore went on to win three more of Sandown's seven races and Notnowcato is up for the Juddmonte International race in August.
Peter Chapple-Hyam, who trained Authorized, barely held back his tears and said "We'll be back."
They had better be. And let us hope that Peter and the rest of us will be spared any more farces.
Exactly one year ago today, a very brave four-year-old horse Notnowcato (Inchinor) almost won the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park Racecourse. This Group 1 (C1) is one of the year's dream fixtures at 1m 2f in which three-year olds compete against their elders.
Second doesn't get you in the Winners' Circle, but close. His de Rothschild connections were proud though somewhat disappointed not to have won. So was his philosophical trainer, Sir Michael Stoute. They were sure they had a very good horse and I thought so too.
This year all the Eclipse pre-drama centered around the foul weather, soft ground, the Coolmore vs Darley (read Sheikh Mohammed) battle for supremacy and their two horses: George Washington IRE (Danehill USA) and Authorized IRE (Montjeu IRE) who is not Sheikh Mohammed's quite yet.
Andrew Cooper, Sandown's Clerk of the Course and Acting MD, got the course in beautiful order and the weather finally cooperated providing a gorgeous two-day meet that, despite heavy competition, drew higher crowds than last year.
The Coolmore vs Darley farce ended in a tactical race which demeaned their two brilliant horses and left both Irish and Arab supporters deeply disappointed. They were not alone.
Might I be so bold as to suggest that the 'powers' give some consideration to the jockeys, racegoers, punters and connections caught in the middle?
And what of the horses?
Authorized constantly swished his tail in the saddling area and was a bit sweaty. He was fine once Frankie Dettori got on him. I won't comment on the ride he got, but think Dubawi. I could have cried then too.
Still I sympathize with the man who was under unbearable strain in a very dangerous sport. Who could blame him in the end?
George Washington was a true gentleman walking with a man on either side. He saved his playfulness for his jockey Seamus Heffernan. When entering the course, he tried several times to toss over him over the far rails and the powerful Seamie had all he could do to stay on him.
At Ascot GW larked about with former rider Michael Kinane, but it was in fun. He does not seem to be all that fond of his work rider and new jockey. Given the ride he got, the horse was smarter than his trainer who switched jockeys.
Kinane would have had far too much respect for GW to let him ride Authorized's tail through most of the race. His horse would have run 'his' race not tried to have spoiled Authorized's.
What was the outcome of this titanic battle of great powers? Authorized beat George Washington who was just held. GW can definitely do 1m 2f on good-to-soft ground and he will never be allowed anywhere near Authorized again.
They spent all that money when we told them all that before the race.
Two days ago I said that a tough older horse who is a seasoned campaigner with a highly motivated jockey, Ryan Moore, and the redoubtable Sir Michael Stoute as trainer could easily win the Coral-Eclipse. They did.
Notnowcato deservedly ended up in the Winners' Circle with the happy de Rothschilds thanks to his smart jockey who actually walked the course, found the best ground, left the tactical herd behind, crossed the course and followed a lone path near the stands.
The foursome threw everything they had at Authorized on the far side and still lost to him.
The 'Lone Ranger' beat them all home by a length and a half. They didn't seem to notice.
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild accepted the silver horse trophy of Eclipse on his son's behalf; David was speaking at Al Gore's ecology fest. How fitting that the de Rothschild horse should win given that Sir Evelyn's grandfather funded the first Eclipse in 1886!
'Stoutie' gulped and grinned at winning his fifth Eclipse and was full of compliments for last year's championship jockey and today's winner, Ryan Moore, who shared his recent four losses at Royal Ascot dubbed as the unlucky duo.
Moore's lovely blond girlfriend was bursting with pride and joy for him.
All he could talk about was his horse Notnowcato in stacato Irish. "He's had his battles. The ground doesn't matter to him. He is very tough. He is a very good horse. I thought we got ahead too soon at 3f out, but he held on. He is a very, very brave horse. We won it."
Sounds as if he is describing himself. Ryan Moore went on to win three more of Sandown's seven races and Notnowcato is up for the Juddmonte International race in August.
Peter Chapple-Hyam, who trained Authorized, barely held back his tears and said "We'll be back."
They had better be. And let us hope that Peter and the rest of us will be spared any more farces.
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