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Weekend Review - King George Disappointment & A Couple Hit the Frame

Weekend Reflections - The King George VI


HUKUM takes the G1 King George


The King George VI : Hukum's Heroics make him the Hero of the day. 

Auguste Rodin & Emily Upjohn were sent off in the top 2 in the market and both failed to impress. 

I must admit, I was left disappointed with the big race on Saturday. My top picks, AUGUSTE RODIN and EMILY UPJOHN, failed to perform despite being favoured. AUGUSTE RODIN was backed into favouritism but ended up tailed off, leaving some unanswered questions. 

POINT LONSDALE'S role as a pacemaker for AUGUSTE RODIN didn't pan out, and I believe he might drop in grade and distance in his next race.

EMILY UPJOHN, though fancied by many, ran flat. She had previously beaten WESTOVER, who finished as the runner-up, but the quick step up to 1m4f after a tough race against PADDINGTON may have been too much for her.

However, HUKUM stole the show with a fantastic performance, going head to head with WESTOVER. His stamina played a vital role, as he's a winner over 1m6f, making him only the 2nd 6-year-old to win this race in the last 20 years. Keep an eye on him for the Arc in October.

DESERT CROWN was my mid-week pick for the race, but he had to be withdrawn due to injury. Still, I believe he has a shot at reversing the form with HUKUM and I'm eagerly waiting for his return to the track for a rematch.

Not Very Prosperous🔮.

The NAP, My PROSPERO, fell short as another of Haggas' short-priced favourites beaten in this race. Despite having a good chance to win, he couldn't get ahead, and I'm not convinced we'll see him competing in any Group 1 races anytime soon.

On the bright side, AFAILA made a strong comeback after a lengthy break and continued his impressive upward trajectory. Keep an eye on him as he might step up to take on some Group 1 races in the future.

Just Mist out 🌫.

The next best, ROMAN MIST put on a fantastic show for us at 9/1 each way, earning us some place money after finishing 2nd. Although she quickened impressively, she narrowly missed out on taking the lead from RANDOM HARVEST, who is rated 7Ibs higher on ratings.  

Oisin Murphy delivered a great ride, and I believe Roman Mist is one to keep on side after her impressive performance.

Drawn on the Wrong Side ❌.

TACARIB BAY was our longshot pick, and despite being off the track for a while and being gelded (which actually may have eked out some improvement), he put up a brave performance. 

In big field handicaps like this, the groups tend to split, and unfortunately, he was drawn on the unfavourable side. Despite that, he won the race on his side & managed to secure a place, and I believe he could be one to watch in his next outing.

Conclusion:

Even though we didn't get the big race right, we did manage to secure some place money in other races. It felt like hitting the crossbar, but I'm hopeful that things will start to come together soon. We'll keep aiming for some bigger-priced winners alongside the shorties that have been performing well in recent weeks. There's plenty more racing action to look forward to!

Bonus Eyecatcher of the Week 👀:

FRANKEL has truly established himself as the top sire this season, and I was impressed by TASK FORCE, who recently debuted at Salisbury under Ralph Beckett's guidance.

Being sired by FRANKEL and out of SPECIAL DUTY, a 1000 Guineas winner, TASK FORCE carries an impressive pedigree.  

With an entry in the Doncaster Betfred Champagne Stakes G2 in September, a strong showing there could potentially set him on a path towards the 2000 Guineas next year. Keep an eye on this promising youngster!

Please let me know how you think I can improve the blog. I will listen all suggestions and ideas. 

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