Tuesday 31 July 2001
July 31st, 2001 | 2001 Journals Ian Carnaby's Racing News
Like everyone else, I found Saturday’s King George at Ascot a riveting spectacle, and the fact that the first two left the others for dead suggests the form is out of the very highest bracket. Just one point in passing: Fantastic Light actually drew level at one point, but Galileo pulled two lengths clear again at the line. This suggests to me that Fantastic Light will prove a far bigger danger over ten furlongs, and the Irish Champion Stakes should therefore settle all arguments.
I studied the sprint races over the three days very carefully indeed. Continent found every pocket going on Friday, and his Stewards’ Cup chance is in no way diminished. Perhaps it was a little surprising that David Nicholls booked Kieren Fallon for Undeterred, but the former champion has already won on the horse and knows him well. I shall not let the booking put me off Continent, who is now only 12’1 with Ladbrokes having been 20s before the Ascot race.
Linda Perratt thought it worthwhile sending Get Stuck In for the five furlong dash on Sunday, even though the ground was too fast for him. At least he seems to have got over his habit of dwelling in the stalls, and he may well turn up at a big price when the ground eases.
Danehurst would have been my nap of the meeting at Goodwood, but she misses the King George Stakes. It is a pity the ground looks like riding fast, because Ivory’s Joy has the speed to trouble the best of these. High numbers can be favoured on genuinely firm ground here, and there is just a possibility she may dominate from stall 14.
Ian Carnaby
