FRUSTRATED and beaten – but trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Oisin Murphy should have left Ascot Saturday taking huge positives out of the 2023 Flat season.
Be strong lads.
AFPKing Of Steel overtakes Via Sistina after Murphy dropped his whip at a crucial stage[/caption]
Beckett has had a tremendous campaign, with more winners (128 at the time of writing) and prize money (over £4million) than ever before.
But the Kimpton handler has also had 11 seconds in Group 1 races in 2023, namely Kinross (Champions Sprint/Foret), Westover (Arc/King George/Sheema Classic/Coronation Cup), Remarquee (Falmouth/Coronation), Bluestocking (Champions Filly & Mare/Irish Oaks) and Task Force (Middle Park).
It’s a game of fine lines.
Murphy has learned to keep his emotions under wraps, but anyone who knows the Irishman could see him beating himself up inside after the defeat of Via Sistina in the Group 1 Champion Stakes.
The former champion dropped his whip just over a furlong out when he wanted to use it.
Via Sistina kept on well, but was picked up by King of Steel.
The crowd roared. Frankie Dettori was the star and most couldn’t have cared less what happened to the defeated horses.
Murphy was furious, annoyed with himself for losing his stick for the first time this season and doing it in a Group 1, with trainer George Boughey and owner Mrs Hillen foremost in his mind.
There are many classical dilemmas in life, such as whether to go with the head or the heart, withdraw your horse from a high draw at Chester or challenge down the middle of the track or far side on the artificial at Lingfield.
Murphy’s mind will forever wonder what might have been.
As it happens, I suspect it made no difference.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Tote: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Virgin Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets – CLAIM HERE
Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £5 and win or lose you will receive £20 Tote Credit. £20 Tote Credit rewarded as £10 redeemable against racing bets only and £10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org
Virgin Bet: New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ begambleaware.org
Betfair: New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Some of you will probably think I would say that, but I’m used to those kind of comments!
What few really noticed about Saturday’s Qipco Champion Stakes was that Dettori had almost given up on King of Steel from time to time.
Eventually the grey got going and he won snugly.
We could debate all day what might have been, but my gut feeling – fit as it is – leaves me in little doubt Via Sistina achieved her best possible position and also ran the race of her life.
Murphy went to Saint-Cloud yesterday and rode a huge double for back-to-the-bigtime David Menuisier on Sunway in the Group 1 Criterium International and Caius Chorister in a Group 3.
It’s a game for always moving on. Like so much in life if you fill your mind with ‘what ifs’ you get nowhere.
The Champion Stakes was poor for Bay Bridge, another Sir Michael Stoute horse who has struggled to bring it to the table this season, while William Haggas has his work cut out with My Prospero who is clearly more talented at home than on the track right now.
Kyprios was the best horse in the Long Distance Cup, and he will be a real force next term when hopefully he will get a full campaign under his belt. He remains the best stayer out there.
Sweet William didn’t travel as well as he might have done. That said not so long ago he was a handicapper off 85.
He’s come a long way and still has more to show us.
As far as the Qipco Champions Sprint is concerned I will forever wonder how the hell Kinross didn’t win. I still can’t work it out. Can you?
I have a feeling Warm Heart would have hacked up in the Filly & Mare, as may well Savethelastdance.
The former heads to the Breeders’ Cup, and the latter is roughed off for the season, so they weren’t there.
Fair play to Poptronic and her owner-breeders, but she won’t be at the top of the World Rankings later in the season.
And so to Big Rock.
Yes he was my banker of the meeting, so I’m a little biased, but for me his success in the QEII was the performance of the season, and getting to somewhere near Frankel’s jaw-dropping victory in the 2000 Guineas.
Big Rock mixes form with Ace Impact, the Arc hero, and both have been huge for France.
Big Rock has also finished second in big races this term just like Beckett and Murphy did over the weekend.
Yet all three know how to win in style.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chases their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
