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GEORGE.B
24 Aug 26 00:41
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Date Joined: 14 Jul 04
| Topic/replies: 66,259 | Blogger: GEORGE.B's blog
Apologies if I've missed the thread on this, but just seen that they held a R & R enq regarding the second, who I think it's fair to say, wasn't hard ridden once the stablemate headed him.


The Raceday Stewards enquired into the running and riding, with particular emphasis on the final fifty yards, of Florida Bay (placed second), ridden by R.P. Whelan, and trained by A.P.O'Brien. Evidence was heard from the rider and the Authorised Representative for the trainer concerned. R.P. Whelan stated that his instructions were to go forward and be handy. He further added that he had gone hard and his mount made an abnormal respiratory noise close to the line. Chris Armstrong, Authorised Representative for the trainer concerned, confirmed the instructions given and added that the trainer had expressed his satisfaction with the ride. The Raceday Stewards also received a report from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer who stated that Florida Bay was post race normal. Samples were taken for further analysis. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards noted the explanations given and took no further action in relation to Rule 212. They were however satisfied that R. P. Whelan was in breach of Rule 213, in that he had failed to report anything which might have affected the running of his mount in a race and having considered his record in this regard (first offence) the Raceday Stewards suspended R. P. Whelan for one raceday.
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Report MJK August 24, 2026 8:36 AM BST
Read a lot on social media about this. The winner was gone by and was winning even if the second had continued to ride hard. There's plenty to question in some of these races but anyone who thinks the second 'let' the winner win is a headcase imop. Whether Whelan heard a noise or not is his opinion but what's the difference in what he did than what the likes of Buick does every day once been headed? And without any questions from the stewards either.
Report Cider August 24, 2026 9:12 AM BST
Do you have a non jingoistic perspective?
Report Rico-Dangleflaps August 24, 2026 9:28 AM BST
see same ev day..leader being headed close to line..what a waste of time.
Report Cider August 24, 2026 9:34 AM BST
I didn't look into the race at all beforehand, but had rtv on in the background and heard the caller getting excited, so looked up to see the finish. Said to myself that the runner up didn't seem to make too much effort once the winner came upsides. Absolutely true, and the winner wasn't wearing the usual colours for that firm so I didn't know who the connections of the winner were when I first viewed it.

But as I say, anyone backing the implied second string knows what they are doing. And if the jockeys were the other way around, the price would be a lot shorter. Up to you if you want to take the chance, but don't moan about it afterwards.
Report MJK August 24, 2026 10:28 AM BST
The second horse was well packed so its not as if it wasn't fancied, and wasn't exactly an outsider. As I say plenty to investigate in other races but it seems the same people just scream conspiracy at any race O'Brien is involved in out of pure hatred for him.
Report MJK August 24, 2026 10:28 AM BST
* well backed
Report Ramruma August 24, 2026 11:26 AM BST
I'm not sure Ballydoyle or Coolmore will welcome any of their horses being announced as having wind problems. Not good for the stallion fees!
Report penzance August 24, 2026 11:50 AM BST
Wnr 2/1 with the 2ND 9/4 from 9/2 in the morning it seems,nicely backed as stated above.
Got beat on merit to me.
Report Cider August 24, 2026 12:16 PM BST
It's absolutely not a conspiracy that the way the operation is run, they use the racetrack as an extension of their training grounds. And they will have a meticulous plan of how the race will be run, a chosen one so to speak. They run group 1 horses as domestiques, and enter runners in group 1 races as stepping stones to more important races. If it's not a big meeting, listed or group 2/3 races are not that important to them.

Even after Alpha's defeat, he was basically making out he was thrilled with the run and claiming basically it was a prep. He said they will ask her to go quicker next time, ie when they really want to win the race. That was on rtv to Gary.

The market isn't too relevant unless you know who was backing who. The point in that respect is some people back the perceived 2nd or 3rd string, invariably if Moore was riding in the race, Moore would be perceived to be the first string and that shapes the early market. So you're getting a bigger price due to it perceived not to be the first string, imv don't moan when it is ridden like that.

Regarding the actual running of the race, as I've mentioned on other threads, if you watch 1000s of races you usually pick up on something out of the ordinary pretty quickly. My first thought was, that jockey accepted it pretty readily, more readily than seemed appropriate. Think horse having its first run type of thing, with the future in mind. So it was no surprise to see the IRISH stewards got involved. I'm not on SM and I don't think there was any chat on here, so that's the first sign that anyone other than myself thought the final stages of the ride looked a little unusual.
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