“Golden Horn, do you think he’ll win the Epsom Derby?” I asked veteran trainer Barry Hills earlier this week; “what’s gonna beat him?” he replied!
This is a man I’ve more respect for any other in racing; he’s been there, done it (so often!) and that was a proper, genuine, pragmatic, retort to the question which so many are bound to be asking.
We talk EVERY morning, it’s an education to listen, a bit like Lester Piggott, he never wastes a word and it comes back to the old saying (in racing!), “less said the better, and that’s too much!”
Barry doesn’t do frivolity, he made that clear at the outset and one advises/handicaps his horses, in the full knowledge he can’t ask a question that wont be answered; I know everything, form-wise, about those he trains exclusively for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
We’ve been a formidable combination, ‘two heads are better than one’ and we both value, appreciate, the colossal experience gained during life terms on the racing scene, which combine more than 100 years.
My answer, incidentally, William Buick.
This young man was aboard unbeaten Golden Horn when they stormed away to beat Jack Hobbs over an extended ten furlongs of York last month, achieving a time-handicap mark that wins the Derby nine times out of ten; prior to that Frankie Dettori partnered this Cape Cross colt at Newmarket.
Frankie will be in the plate this weekend, Buick on Jack Hobbs, for the first time in public!
Godolphin has stepped in and purchased a large share of Jack Hobbs and William Buick is contracted to the ‘boys in blue!’
Both are improving at a rate of know and trained by John Gosden!
William is an intelligent young man, cast in the mould of Steve Cauthen and indeed Piggott, he’ll be hell bent on getting it right; his tactics are bound to be setting sail into Tattenham corner and exposing any stamina weakness that Golden Horn has; don’t forget owner Sir Philip Oppenheim is convinced extra distance is unknown territory but a plus for Jack Hobbs.
Perhaps Dermot Weld trained second-favourite Zarwaq will aspire but he needs to improve considerably and in summary I’m totally convinced that Jack Hobbs represents the definite each-way special tag and will reverse that two and three-quarters lengths defeat on the Knavesmire; I’ve bet on it.
Incidentally when asked about the record of Frankie Dettori at Epsom (one out of 19!) Lester said, “some races obviously don’t suit some jockeys, do they?”
Priceless!
Ten go pt to post for the £40000 listed Woodcote Stakes over six furlongs (a one-time juvenile classic!) and Mark Johnston-trained Buratino makes strong appeal, mount of Buick!
Elsewhere one of eight meetings on yet another hugely overwhelming day will be staged at good to firm Doncaster where it will be no surprise if four-year-old Foolaad causes one in the Maiden Stakes over five furlongs.
