Debussy’s tune to be played loud and clear

By Rory King

I’d like to start with a word on the Sariska failing to start incident this week and the ensuing debate about whether she should be deemed a runner or not. In my opinion there is no logistical way for punters to get their money back from such an incident on a regular basis (I know some firms refunded bets on Sariska on Thursday out of goodwill). You will hear John McCririck harp on about how punters have not had a ‘run for their money’ and so, according to him they should get their money back. Well, where do you draw the line? Interestingly (and ironically) Jamie Spencer’s mount in the very next race at York, Zarebiya, lost all chance at the start by rearing up and hitting her head on the top of the stalls. She was never in the race after that. Did punters who backed her have a run for their money? If it was up to me, I would leave the rule exactly as it is, as I don’t think punters who backed the winner should be penalised with a Rule 4 deduction (as a Middy backer I’m trying not to talk through my wallet here!)

Ok, so many punters will lose out from backing a horse who doesn’t start, but once we know any horse has refused to start before, that will be factored into their price next time. So really, the argument only applies to the first time a horse may refuse to come out of the starting stalls, as in the future, the possibility of that horse not starting is offset by a price larger than it would have been had the horse not say, even turned up at the racecourse the time before.

It was a week of stellar racing last week, and one performer who I would particularly like to pick out is Kieren Fallon. Although he is unlikely to win the Jockeys’ Championship again (although I wouldn’t put it past him), his talents in the saddle were brilliantly advertised last week. He is a brilliant horseman, highlighted by how many of his mounts he gets into contention, let alone gets to win under that trademark left-hand drive. The way he cajoles horses along from some way out, slowly getting them to close and dissipate their energy fairly equally through the latter part of a race rather than asking for one big effort on the back of a strong pace or into a quickening pace was shown to full effect on the Knavesmire. He was also one of the only jockeys to use their brain and not be one of the ‘sheep’ of the weighing room Franny Norton described the collective members of the weighing room as, by coming down the middle of the track when most of the jockeys were hell-bent on getting right over and grabbing the stands’ side rail. By coming down the middle, Fallon (and others who did so) ensured they travelled less ground, avoided all the trouble on the inside that followed from so many horses congregating on the rail, and travelled on ground that was arguably at least as good as right up against the stands’ rail. It is certainly good to have King Kieren back riding in this country.

Lastly, I want to reflect on two astonishing international performances from British-trained horses this weekend. Debussy and Dream Ahead both put up seriously impressive displays in the Grade 1 Arlington Million and Group 1 Prix Morny respectively, the latter on the back of a single maiden win only. I have watched the Arlington Million several times since Saturday night and still cannot see from where Debussy has produced that finishing kick. He has always been a good horse with some cut in the ground, but the acceleration he showed up the short home straight at Arlington having seemed to be out of contention after not finding a gap turning in was unreal, and cannot all be down to the first time Lasix. He went past the defending Champion Gio Ponti as if the favourite was running through treacle. If Gosden can get Debussy to reproduce this effort back in Europe then he should have no trouble in landing a Group 1, particularly in France where the early pace is often slow, meaning his acceleration will be more pronounced.

Winning rider William Buick flew over to France to take the ride on the David Simcock once-raced Dream Ahead in the Prix Morny where he was rewarded with a fine victory. For Dream Ahead to dismiss this field with such disdain for one so inexperienced, he must be a top class horse. Let’s hope he can reproduce the form of his two runs on quicker ground. If so, Simcock has a serious horse to go to war with for the Guineas next year.

By Rory King