Unsure of exactly what of the multi-cultural offerings the place has in store. Or what I would encounter if I went into one of the alehouses listed in the racecard under the drink in Brighton Stakes considerately positioned map, I decided that instead I would have a quick look around the famous Victorian aquarium and dolphinarium near the old coast road. I sort of remember this place from doing some special asphalt surfacing here in early 1990s and hankered after another look at the old place. However probably due to being destracted by a particularly sturdy thighed young brightonian female this time black skirted I sort of missed it. However I am sure it's still there and is a lovely bit of archetecture to enhance your day at Brighton.
I am not very keen on Brighton as a racecourse. It was £20 to get in, the car park I was directed to led to a half mile hike to get in and the facilities are not very good really. However on the plus side you get a great seaside view from the stands, the staff are absolutely fantastic (One gave me their own racecard as I had difficulty fiding a kiosk selling the things) and Derek Thompson must have had been employed down the road today before racing at Southampton to test the cocaine seizure as he was just on the best of form especially a touch of foot in muth self-deprication which shows his down to earth style. The thiing I like about him is I do not get the impression he is up his own aris. He is asked for his favourite restaurant so he names the swanky one in Newmarket. But then saves himself by saying he saves up and then books a table once a month. You can just see him wandering around building sites looking for Vimto bottles and then putting the tanners into a piggy bank until enough is saved for the big night out.
At least you get to see the sea I suppose
Conversations from Thommo in the winner's enclosure today
Winning ticket for free meal for two and entry to Friday's meeting is for Alan Taylor (pause) is alan Taylor here (Pause) Alan Taylor anyone? Yes someone calls. Who are you enquires our announcer. I'm his mate.
To wheelchair-bound lady in the paddock ' may I ask what is wrong with you?' the answer comes back 'I've got cancer' (not what I think he thought the was going to be. Maybe fell off a horse was what he was sort of expecting. So wrongfooted he steadies himself hoping no doubt to retrieve a delicate situation he sympathetically asks 'how bad is it' no doubt hoping the response would be 'chemo's kicking in and I think I am on the right sidenow God willing' but no just a punchy and blunt 'very bad'.
Follwing yet another ticket draw he grandly proclaims 'The winner is William Pee' (prolonged pause followed by several enquireis as to his whereabouts) when a suggestion comes 'I think he's in the gents'
But fair play to him he did tip at big odds the Brighton Mile winner.
We started the August festival off with a selling handicap for three year olds and up run over one and a half miles. It was won by the only filly in the race, What About Now, who kicked on two out after racing in the pack and was soon clear being eased down in the last half furlong for a facile victory. She had shown nothing to suggest suitability to win this race other than a fair run when sixth in a Windsor seller when made too much use of early on. Blinkers first time seemed to help settle better and this together with her 53 mark (which is down to 52 for her Beverley entry on Wednesday) suggests she is well positioned to follow up on this excellent easy win. This left the tactics of Barbirolli in disarray as I am sure they would not have expected this sort of performance from the filly. Barbirolli is a knarred old stager but ran today as if without the winner’s improvement would have been the likely winner himself having been held up and produced he knicked second close home without really having to try too hard. The favourite Easydoesit who appeared well backed from 3/1 to 7/4 lacked the pace of the winner and failed to quicken. He stayed ok but pieces first time didn’t generate any further pace! Expensive loss and I think the connections may be on a recovery mission next time out so rates a negative on this showing as well worth opposing as I think he is a lot worse than the connections think. Of the remainder Alhaque looks mulish, Le Couvee pulled far too hard for his own good but this was probably keeping the engine turning for some jumps action, Senor Tibor looks a dog.
There was a seven furlong maiden event for two year olds which was won in very impressive fashion by Godolphin / Al Zarooni trained newcomer in the form of Counterglow. Moved smoothly and ran on in great style to overhaul the even money favourite Royal Academician. Dealt with the downhill run and cambered nature of Brighton well and looks a potential listed / group horse with time. Didn’t cost much and looks sprinty bred but is entered in next year’s Derby so you never know as style of running temperament and conformation gives plenty of pluses for middle distance races. He comes out as a strong positive. Royal Academician (looked well in the paddock) was made favourite and looked to be worthy of that on the basis of a promising Epsom run. However he was well outpaced today and also did not handle the camber too well giving the impression that he will be better off on a flat galloping track despite having run ok on a similar track in the past. It is possible that he found this race’s finishing speed beyond his ability and rolled about when knackered. Either way I think he is capable of winning a maiden but not with my money on his back. Third home was the Hannon trained Marcus Augustus who had shown enough promise with seconds at Sandown and Salisbury to be the stable choice for the Norfolk at Royal Ascot. Was bit squeezed for room when the favourite was rolling about like a drunken rugby fan on the Temple Bar but was still outpaced. It could well be that this winner is high class and in hindsight Marcus Augustus needs a stiff uphill finish to be seen at best advantage. I think he comes out a bit stronger than the favourite and I would like to see him tried over the mile sometime soon. Not a bad prospect. The other Godolphin runner was shorter priced on opening than his stablemate and then walked in the market from 4/1 to 13/2. Cost an absolutely mint to buy and was very green. Lacks scope to my eye in comparison to this field in general and the winner n particular. I doubt we will see him out again this season.
Impressive Counterglow in blue about to steam in
A well contested feature race the Brighton Mile followed which had prize money of £15,000 added and pitched as a class 4 event. There have been plenty of decent winners of this in the past and when I first visited the course in 1978 I saw Andy Rew win this race. This year’s renewal was won in cosy style by Newmarket based Conciliatory who was placed racing in mid field for the first half mile or so and then produced with a smooth run from 2 out to lead 110 yards from the stick. Had shown plenty of promise as a three year old in debut season winning at York and Kempton including at the prestigious Ebor meeting. Started this season slowly but on a good 80 mark today and over the mile trip that she is ideally suited to came good today. Seams certain that the assessor will have noted such a good run in a well contested handicap so could see a considerable hike. Second home Green Earth ran with credit after a 5 pound increase in rating after a CD win a few weeks ago. Tends to take it up 2 out and hope he can outstay them which is difficult at the best of times and almost impossible in such a well contested race as this one was today. Likely to run with credit again in the near future but maybe he would be better off running with high weights in class 5 than low weights in class 4. Third home Eastern Gift is an interesting one as was making a bit of ground without haring down the track about a quarter mile out but then got into traffic and was forced to switch to find a gap, eventually got going again as was staying on well at the finish with his chance obviously gone. His record of five wins and 14 seconds tells you this is a difficult horse to win with as probably needs holding up till the last second. I think he will go close off this mark again soon over his favoured mile but I cannot have him as a positive on the basis of this issue of timing but he could easily win in the near future at good odds so would not be a lay opportunity. Fourth home was one eyed First Cat (just like that course standing dish of yesteryear Belper). Ran with credit today and I would love to see him have a shot at 1m2f around here. This was his first effort at Brighton and I think he can win at this track. Keep an eye on him and if you do maybe you can lend him your other one. Boom Boom. One to note as a positive is the favourite Night Lily. She was in with a chance two out, a bit chopped for room as many were at that stage, but once it was clear winning chance had gone she was eased to my eye and finished a not bad fifth. She had won in listed company on the all weather where she is rated about a stone better. I am not sure that is accurate reflection as she runs well on the turf and off this 82 mark I am sure she will win again soon particularly on a straight mile track and especially on fastish ground over the mile that she prefers. Of the rest Mujood showed some speed but was a bit of a disappointment again and looks to be over rated needing to come down in the weights a bit. Several looked a bit unsettled on this camber specifically Capitalize (may well be better suited by all weather and is on a 59 AW mark which looks winnable; has won at Salisbury), Rock Anthem (better suited by Sandown type tracks) and Dazeen (suited by flat fast tracks).
Decent race for the Brighton Mile as the grey comes in
We then drifted down in quality to a class 6 over six furlongs Silca Congeliano just hung on in a desperate finish having had some difficulty in getting a clear run entering the final furlong. Tumbled down the weights 47 from 75 but first win out of 23 efforts. Not one to worry about as you can afford to see him win again I would say. Deslaya was having her handicap debut and for an inexperienced three year old she ran with credit in this grade, handled the track fine and was just not quite able to get up. I think she could very well win soon off this mark but I am not sure of the relative merit of this winner / other competitors so I cannot have her as a positive. None of the others stood out for me and looked modest having a bit of daylight behind the leading pair.
Deslaya (orange) good handicap debut
The nursery over five furlongs was won in imperious style by the top-weight and well odds on shot Sea Odyssey. Current mark of 79 is only 2 pounds up on this winning level and this grey colt looks well able to carry a bit more weight in this level. Looks to prefer sharp tracks and clearly handles cambers well. Now he has come to hand there must be at least another prize in him before we close for the year in similar company. Pedigree suggests will stay further however style to date and conformation suggests sprinter. Will be interesting how he develops as a three year old. I have him as a positive. Hannon’s Leenavesta ran fine but clearly second best whilst the other two were thrashed. Selinda (better off going to Yarmouth where has been a success before) and Clarkson (looks modest) both appeared to be inconvenienced by the camber.
Shelling peas
The day rounded off with a very competitive class 5 sprint even though only five turned up it was an interesting race with three lengths covering the field it was a good race to end the day for the assessor. Clear Ice won the event making all and battling on very well under pressure showing a genuine nature. I know he has a lot of seconds but you can only base your assessment on what you see and I would not see him as a dodge-pot. Is very well suited by Southwell so watch out if he runs over the five in the autumn. The runner up Highland Harvest did look an awkward ride and may be the one not necessarily going through with his challenge today as was outbattled in the closing stages in my view. He has seven wins but none by more than a length and most buy a neck or shorter. I rest my case. Oppose whenever the odds make sense. Safari Mischief showed first signs of a return to form with this third place as his mark of 72 is much more competitive than it has been of late, Loiusa Tartrazzini has now had 20 runs but is still a maiden having been racing off about the same mark for all those races and is as far away from her first win as when she first set foot on a racecourse. Finally we had the standing dish here at Brighton which was top weight Magical Speedfit. He now looks better suited to six than five as age is beginning to take the edge off his pace which is not good news for a hold up horse.
Horses noted
Counterglow (P)
Night Lily (P)
Sea Odyssey (P)