Half term report

By Alan Conway

With the Irish Derby confined to the history books and the Galway festival on the horizon now seems a good time to take stock at the halfway point of the flat season and assess some of the key issues of an already memorable flat season thus far.

Who needs a stable jockey?

Ryan Moore, Colm O’Donoghue, Seamie Heffernan and Joseph O’Brien. All these jockey’s have one thing in common. They all have ridden a Group 1 winner for Aidan O’Brien this season. When it was announced that Ballydoyle would use a “best available” jockey policy for this season many people were sceptical. Yet the Coolmore/Ballydoyle axis proved the doubters wrong as they have lead the way in winning Group 1s this season. It may prove one of the best decisions they have made in the recent past, not having a stable jockey will not stop them enjoying success this season.

Frankel is everything we thought and more

The outstanding Frankel proved he was everything we thought he could be when, on that never to be forgotten day in May, he left his hoof print on the annals of racing with a performance that defied belief. Frankel broke from the gate and took off as if the devil was behind him. Then when we thought he would be reeled in he kicked up another gear and won by an easy six lengths. Unbeaten thus far this season no matter what he does from here on in he has left his mark on this season and for many more.

Even the best of trainers suffer lean spells

Sir Michael Stoute and Dermot Weld are fine trainers of people as well as horses. However this season both men have slipped a little behind the furious pace set by Aidan O’Brien. Of course this doesn’t mean that they have become bad trainers overnight rather it highlights the importance of having a strong crop of horses in a yard. Without a star three-year-old it is hard to challenge for the top honours in the early part of the season. However supporters of Dermot Weld can sleep easy. Galway is just around the corner.

The rush to stud has been halted

In normal years we wouldn’t have seen Workforce running in the Coral Eclipse last Saturday. A Derby and Arc winner would usually be rushed off to stud as soon as his three-year-old season is finished. Nowadays keeping horses in training appears to be in vogue. Along with Workforce, Cape Blanco, Fame And Glory and Goldikova being kept in training it has added to the depth and the excitement of the 2011 flat season immeasurably.

Time we focused on the positives

With debates about what kind of future racing will have either side of the Irish Sea and with the whip still the source of heated debates people outside could be forgiven for thinking that racing is on its last legs. We should all remember how lucky we all are to be around in the time of Frankel, So You Think, Fame And Glory, Goldikova and many more wonderful horses that light us up when they appear on a racecourse. Yes times are tough, but remembering what is at the heart of the sport and the joy they give us will help us overcome any internal problems that we face ahead.

By Alan Conway