Wednesday 1 August 2001
August 1st, 2001 | 2001 Journals
Looking back to the Galway Plate, and Christy Roche did a good job on Grimes, who got into this handicap chase off 128 – a mark 26lb below is current hurdles’ rating. He was always travelling comfortably and won this valuable race with something in hand.
I’m writing this before Barney Curley’s Kalingalinga has run in the extended 1m 0-60 but, having landed a touch with the similarly lowly-weighted Magic Combination here a couple of years ago, this unexposed son of Zafonic does rather leap off the page.
Fortunes were left behind at Goodwood on Wednesday when Mark Johnston’s Leo’s Luckyman had his limitations firmly exposed in the Champagne Lanson Vintage Stakes. The son of Woodman was given every chance by Kevin Darley but didn’t pick up in the same way he had at Ayr. This was, of course, much tougher opposition but even so connections were left bitterly disappointed.
Noverre put up the best performance of his career when swooping late to take the Sussex Stakes. He produced a hitherto unseen turn of foot to take this valuable prize, which provided connections with a little consolation for having the French Guineas taken off them after a prohibited substance was found in the colt’s blood.
No Excuse Needed looked the winner a quarter of a mile out, but he couldn’t respond to the late thrust of Noverre. This was still a good run from Sir Michael Stoute’s colt, who did at least reverse St James’s Palace Stakes form with Black Minnaloushe, who ran on gamely to be third.
Bye for now.
Marten
