Differences in Manners
It is now almost two weeks since the news broke that
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoun was removing his horses from Luca Cumani’s racing
stables to those of Roger Varian’s. According to the Cumani Stables website
that meant loosing 21 colts, 9 fillies and 4 geldings.
Luca Cumani said he had detected an inkling of what was
to come but to date there has been no reason given for the change. It seems the only reason Sheikh Mohammed
Obaid Al Maktoum has made the change is ‘because he can’. To me such a huge
upheaval should at least have an issued justification for it made public. The
Roger Varian camp is of course staying silent. One wonders what all those
employed at either stable are thinking and if they are allowed to talk about it
even.
It must throw the finances of running a yard right up in
the air but I am sure lots of owners will beat their way to Luca Cumani’s doors
to get their horses in with him. As one or 34 doors close as they say, 34
stable doors open. An opportunity to good to miss.
Cumani is noted to have said a public thank you to the
Sheikh for being allowed to train his horses over many years. Well Cumani may
be Italian but that response is typical of non confrontational English
manners. If it were me I would tell such
an owner where to stick his horses, but then I’m from the land of the red
dragon not the land of the ‘oh so polite’.
On 6-8th October at the Tattersalls’ (6th-8th) Book 1 Yearlings Sales. Frankel’s first progeny will be up for sale.
All thoroughbreds and Frankel of course can be traced back to one of three thoroughbreds that started it all. In the 1680’s Byerley Turk, Darnley Arabian, 1704 and Godolphin Arabian 1729, began the Brit love of racing. Good old Wiki informs me that 118,000 thoroughbreds are now registered worldwide every year.
All thoroughbreds derive from a watched live natural mating between mares and stallions. No embryo transfers or insemination allowed.
Lets see what Frankel’s kids make at the sales. Watch this space.
(Click on picture to enlarge)
Excitement in France
Next weekend is the Arc de
Triomphe in Paris. Treve, Ruler of The World and Golden Horn are at the ready
whilst Postponed now at the Varian stables is ruled out. (I wonder why.) Thierry
Jarnet is on Treve, Frankie is on Ruler of
the World, so let
us hope the weather holds and lets Golden Horn into the equation on a large
supplemental fee. Lots of jockey
competition as well as the horse racing.
Excitement in
England
The jockey’s flat
racing championship seems to be in the hands of Brazilian born Silvestre De Sousa
although three jockeys lower down the rankings have higher strike rates. De Sousa
has 18%, William Buik 20%, Ryan More, Frankie Dettori and George Baker all have
21%. We see all of them on Channel 4 racing and elsewhere.
This Saturday we
have racing at Ascot, Redcar and Newmarket which is followed by even more
excitement during the week.
Jemima J.Jones - Blog Writer