1600m Muddy Nunthorpe Sprint Qualifier A messy victory for Kopites- but a clean sweep into the money!

The RaceClubs.com Challenge Series

Monday 20th September 2010 

This Evening's Feature Race

1600m Muddy
Nunthorpe Sprint Qualifier 3YO Colts
to view race click above link

Shankley's so good, Kopites named him twice

	Shankley Shankley	Kopites	Kieran Doyle	LBW
	Monte Carlo	RedHalo Racing	Eric Sun	0.48
	Gentleman Earl	Liveoak Stables	Taz Rowley	1.22
	Flotilla Way	Sky Castle Stables	Wayne Bailey	1.57

Championship Series Standings

The scene was set at a sunny American track and the twelve runners entered the stalls for the eighth race of the championship series. The Nunthorpe Qualifier this season have been extremely competitive affairs with Darley Arabian and the equally talented Gentleman Earl winning four of the races to date thus biting a huge chunk out of the qualifying pie. Although not unbeatable, they ooze class and will always look a monster hurdle to overcome whenever they enter the stalls. However, horses like Shankley Shankley, Toxic Armada, Flotilla Way and Monte Carlo are not phased by the opposition, whoever they are, and revel in the challenge. Again, all four horses lined up against the pair of "mini-monsters" in hope of upsetting the formbook.

As the stalls opened the track was a streak of red and white as Shankley Shankley burst to the fore. The Kopites trained, Shankley Shankley had no intention of coming from off the pace in this race and he duly strode to the front at a very clever clip. Despite the early evening sunshine, the days before had seen a few showers of rain and the inclement weather had made the surface a little sticky, evident by the clumps of kick-back that hurtled from the leaders hooves. Obviously the tactics for the race were to send Shank's to the front and make him a difficult target to aim at. Kieran Doyle took heed of the yard's instructions and the canny Irishman did just that. After the first two furlongs the 3yo had clear daylight between himself and his adversaries. Darley Arabian, from a wide berth under the ride of Pedro Ferreira, needed a quick start to navigate the field to his left and for a split second it looked like he had successfully achieved this. However, when making the turn the rest of the field squeezed and the Squeaky Clean Stable's stalwart had nowhere to go, other then keep forging a wide run. The importance of the draw playing into the hands of his rivals.

The turn seems to sweep for nearly half the race over the 1600m distance at America and can cause races to be won or lost. In a blink of an eye, Darley Arabian had lost his early pitch and that was that for his chances in this race. When hitting the straight there was some progress on the leaders but the horse had just too much to do and had slipped to a disappointing sixth placed finish, two and a half lengths off the winner. Monte Carlo had no such difficulties when handling the turn. His inside draw enabled him to cruise the turn, guided by the runners to his right and the rail to his left, the RedHalo Racing colt came with a clear run off the turn in second and looked the danger to long time leader, Shankley Shankley. The lightly raced colt was having only his tenth career race. His progress have been thwarted by Gentleman Earl and Darley Arabian on a few occasions during his short career but today was going to be a reversal of fortune. Passing halfway and entering the straight both Monte Carlo and Flotilla Way had emerged from the chasing pack, undeterred by the ground to make on the leader and relishing the muddy conditions under foot.

Gentleman Earl had been nearer last than first for most of the race but as always the colt did his best running in the second half of the race. Time and time again this season we have witnessed a last to first effort from the colt, showing a devastating turn of foot. Alas today was not going to be one of those days for trainer Liveoak Stables. Whether it was the conditions of the race or that the horse was just too far off the pace come halfway is debatable. What was clear to see is that the leader had been given far too much respect and the daylight between them was too much to ask, even for a horse of Earl's ability. Up the straight, Shankley Shankley had kicked again and extended his lead to four lengths and was showing no sign of stopping. The three most likely to wear him down were, by now, looked beat and they would have to rely solely on Shankley Shankley's fitness in the last 400m to stand any chance. Kieran Doyle had ridden a masterful race and had all behind him struggling and off the bridle. Yet, the leader kept going and going right to the line.

Monte Carlo showed guts and determination after being headed by Gentleman Earl and Flotilla Way as they entered the final four. He came again with a late rattle to snatch second place and although the gap was closing fast between him and the winner, there always seemed a little left in reserve as the trip for Shankley Shankley was 200m shorter than his best. At the line the punters cheered as they witnessed a fantastic ride and worthy winner in Shankley Shankley. With more to come from the horse, Monte Carlo put his best work in at the death but was given too much to do, the same said for Gentleman Earl and Flotilla Way, who, not disgraced in defeat can take positives from the race as the pair made up the final places.

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