Two lessons learnt over the weekend were that Godolphin's Log Out Island is a sprinter rather than a 2,000 Guineas colt - and that racing authorities are now prepared to exercise their overriding power and flexibility to achieve what they consider best for the racing industry.
Two lessons learnt over the weekend were that Godolphin's Log Out Island is a sprinter rather than a 2,000 Guineas colt - and that racing authorities are now prepared to exercise their overriding power and flexibility to achieve what they consider best for the racing industry.
There were a few dissenting voices when the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) decided very late on Friday to stage the Newbury card (abandoned because of waterlogging) at Chelmsford City on Saturday. It meant calling for new entries.
Possible obstacles were that a high class Turf meeting would be transferred to an all-weather surface, and that it involved a major geographical switch of more than 120 miles. I wonder how many Newbury members took up the invitation to race at the Essex track.
Let me tell you, this could never have happened 25 years ago. Thankfully, though, racing is using all the avenues open to it to ensure the sport grows and prospers. Officials are no longer hamstrung by rules that prevent them from showing some imagination and flair when it comes to saving or reprogramming fixtures.
I suppose that staging a 3-runner G3 Greenham Stakes on Polytrack was, to some, bordering on sacrilege. But I doubt whether I would take that view if I owned or trained a Guineas contender, who needed a prep race before Newmarket. No, full marks to the BHA for a radical move welcomed by the majority.
The William Haggas-trained Tasleet scraped home by a short head from Knife Edge in the Greenham, with Log Out Island a further 12 lengths away, last of the trio.
Trainer Richard Hannon had wanted to see if Log Out Island had any chance of running a strong mile at Classic level. The answer was provided in the first half of the race when the colt refused to settle and ran free. He now reverts to sprint distances, with Royal Ascot's Commonwealth Cup an obvious target.
The G3 Fred Darling Stakes went to the Hannon-trained Marenko, who had been taken out of the G1 1,000 Guineas but might just now be re-instated. This would involve the owners paying a significant supplementary fee.
The Sydney Autumn Carnival came to an end at Randwick on Saturday, with James Cummings, grandson of the legendary Bart Cummings, emerging as the star of the meeting. Cummings saddled the first G1 winner of his career (as sole licence holder) when Prized Icon landed the G1 Champagne Stakes.
Gai Waterhouse took the remaining feature, the G1 All-Aged Stakes, when talented filly English beat Black Heart Bart and Kermadec by a head and a half a length. The winner may now be heading for Royal Ascot in June.
Another possible overseas visitor to the Royal meeting is Tepin, the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile winner, who won the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland at the weekend. She is expected to run at Churchill Downs next month en route to Ascot.
