Gilded Reflection

You would see worse examples in those colours on a weekly basis,the untouchables.

Sure isn't he great for the game,look at the amount of employment and sponsorship he gives to the sport.

From a normal punter's perspective his whole racing operation is a disgrace. The opaqueness of the operation means their their shorties have a deserved apparent premium on their prices.

As for the trainer, it's hardly a great endorsement for the integrity of the yard that he employs your buddy Betfair Eddie.

I accept m in a minority over Ahern,I think he was badly treated.

Even were I to accept he was guilty as was claimed I dislike the vindictiveness that would stop him scratching a living as a workrider and what a workrider he would be.

There is an assistant there who's name i can't recall but he was training in England disappeared to Austrailia leaving a trail but is a genius,they have high hopes he will turn the stable around.

I wouldn't begrudge Ahern a wage but was merely highlighting the standards that David Wachman applies at his yard.

Harshly treated my eye,anyone watching racing with the last 10-15 years knows he was as guilty as sin if they are in anyway independent.

Mark Wallace left Australia owing half the country money so you have probably highlighted another example of Wachman's view on ethics.

An enterprising set up to be fair,hard to believe it was 12 years ago. In my memory it had won easier than described below.


Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 07:21 AM
A late jockey switch involving Kieren Fallon and a raw apprentice at Brighton yesterday sparked a controversy and has been referred to Jockey Club headquarters in London for investigation.

Champion jockey Fallon won the seller on the gambled-on Hanton as a last-minute replacement for 7lb claimer Karl Bowman, who had only ridden once in public before.

Bowman was reported to be stuck in traffic and did not arrive in time for the M&M Office Supplies One Year Anniversary Selling Stakes.
Punters who placed their bets early on morning paper favourite Costa Del Sol received a shock when the champion was announced the partner for Hanton, who is trained at Newmarket by Mark Wallace.

Fallon has ridden several winners for Wallace this season, including a double on two juveniles at San Siro in Milan earlier this month.

Bowman, 20, was issued with his licence in March and on his only ride in public finished sixth at Doncaster later that month.

Hanton opened at 5-2 and touched 5-1 on course before being backed down to 7-4 market leader, with bets of £2,750-£1,000, £2,250-£1,000 (twice) and £2,000-£1,000 (three times) among those recorded.

Fallon needed all his strength to get the unraced two-year-old home by a neck from Costa Del Sol after the youngster had shown signs of greenness when mounting her challenge at the furlong marker.

The filly attracted plenty of interest at the subsequent auction before being retained by connections for 28,000 guineas, a record for the course and well clear of the previous best of 15,000.

After an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the late jockey change, stewards’ secretary Jeremy Ker said: “The stewards held an inquiry because they felt that the somewhat irregular betting patterns warranted it, in that she was backed down from 10s in the morning to favourite.

“They interviewed the trainer, Bowman – the jockey who didn’t turn up – when he eventually got here, the trainer’s secretary, who was doing the driving for the jockey, and Kieren Fallon, who eventually rode the horse.

“They also heard evidence from the clerk of the scales over the timings of what had gone on in the weighing-room.

“Having done all that they established that, quite correctly, the clerk of the scales had allowed the change of jockeys, because the declared jockey wasn’t here a quarter of an hour before the start of the race, and it was immediately announced that Kieren would take the ride.

“However, because all the aspects of the betting in the morning weren’t available to the stewards, they referred the matter to Portman Square for further investigation.”

Jockey Club rules allow for the replacement of a rider under such circumstances and put no ability restriction on the substitute chosen.

John Maxse, the Jockey Club’s director of public relations, said: “The decision to refer means that the Jockey Club’s security department is now in a position to complete the inquiry armed with the evidence given on the day by the relevant people.

“But obviously our own inquiries can now cross-check their evidence with anything else relevant, from off-course betting information to any other factors.

“In view of the subsequent result and backing for the horse, I can understand the suspicions.

“It is only right that we take the time to thoroughly conclude our investigation, to see if there is any evidence which can back up such suspicions. But it is not sufficient to rely on those suspicions alone.”

In a slightly ironic twist, Wallace got a judgement against owners in relation to outstanding training fees when he was in England. He obviously took a different viewpoint when it came to his own liabilities.

On the subject of the green and gold eyecatchers, they get away with even more on the Flat than they do over jumps. There's been any number of similar performances (e.g. Boherbuoy on the first day of the season).

as I think he'a moral with the 8lbs WFA against Solow and had intended to get stuck in (assumption of fast ground) but the impending jockey change has not altered the prices at all.

the ride joseph gave words the other day was...well beyond words!!

Wachman told me years ago that Wallace was a friend of his so no surprise he should end up there in the circumstances

I wonder if the turmoil in the South Riding will have implications at the end of this year?
In the past both sides knew what was in their best interests and the relationship remained in tact. This time around could be different, blood being thicker than the % cut on stallion fees. APOB went to Tipp on Sunday to see his daughter ride a winner trained on the Hill rather than witness his main employers pick up the feature race (Group 2) on the card at HQ.

the biggest load of bolloxxx of all time
The biggest of all time? That's a fair call Mincer. Wouldn't be quite so sure. So far there's no sign of a decent 2-y-o in the yard. AP has broken most records already. If there is a parting of the ways it would be interesting to know the T&Cs on any settlement. I doubt if "the lads" would want to be in opposition against him in the future.

I wonder if the turmoil in the South Riding will have implications at the end of this year?
In the past both sides knew what was in their best interests and the relationship remained in tact. This time around could be different, blood being thicker than the % cut on stallion fees.

Aidan does not get a % cut in stallion fees if that is what you are referring to?

I very much doubt that Weld would tolerate a situation where his retained or main rider could get on board a rival colt or filly in a Group race that he is also contesting. It would go against anything that I have ever heard or know about Weld and the fact that Smullen would be so familiar with his horse and therefore could plot a method of beating it, would not sit well with Weld at all.

Similarly if there was a big race in Ireland on the same day that a Juddmonte horse for another yard was competing in the UK or abroad and Smullen was required overseas, I cannot see Weld allowing that situation to occur continually.

Can you imagine Smullen being at Goodwood for a few days next week, riding in some of the main races over there rather than winning handicaps with 90+ horses running off marks in the 50s and 60s on the week that Weld has his annual coronation?

Distant View 22 Jul 15 09:5

Aidan does not get a % cut in stallion fees if that is what you are referring to?

DV, it is not be quite as simple as I stated in the post above; however I don't think you're that naive that you wouldn't acknowledge financial incentives to APOB to produce stallions, whether that be through nominations etc. Why else would he be talking up the "greatest ever", "natural speed", "incredible constitution"...annually...?

AOB gets a good number of nominations to the lower level stallions and probably favourable terms on the more expensive ones. Frequenting Fastnet Rock when other breeders were wary has proved a good move.

Has anyone else heard the rumour that JP is now the significant shareholder in the operation? Allegedly had to bail out "The Boys" property investments at a time when renegotiating with lenders was very difficult. Don't really buy it myself but got it from a sound source all the same.

The horses of his wife's in the Orange silks are all homebreds I'm guessing, the sires of those would give us a good insight into what he is into maybe? or are they just fun horses?