SHAPESHIFTER

I enjoyed watching Frankel run.  I had no bet on the race and simply walked away from the desk shortly after the 3:05 to take in the lead-up and the race.  It was fantastic to see the horse flip smoothly through the gears and channel all its power along the rail and carry on well past the line.   

Races like the 3:40 re-ignites the passion that can fuel me through the time spent staring at the stats, filtering through the past to trying to evaluate a likely future.  And the sights and sounds of the race quickly dampen all the 'noise' that gambling generates and can muffle our enthusiasm we have for sports.

Between Frankel and Black Caviar's runs over the past year, I feel like I have seen some incredible horses in action.

I equally enjoyed the 3:05.  Yes, Main Sequence was held in second.  But, for me, it was the ride by William Buick on Thought Worthy that was the hilite. 

I watched the final stages several times last night.  As Thought Worthy lead into the tight, final corner, Buick timed the moment perfectly knowing that the distance between himself and the pack wouldn't allow them to see him giving the initial, subtle kick to accelerate earlier than expected.  Thought Worthy rose to the task and accelerated through the corner holding the line perfectly with the same enthusiasm as a horse entering the straight.  It was an incredible, incredible tactical move by Buick as well as genuine team work between rider and horse.

That 'hidden' move to kick a moment earlier than expected was the difference between winning by a length and losing by four. 

- - -

I found York challenging for the form read.  All the horses are there for a reason.  Again, like all top meetings, the trainers and jockeys are out in force.  The list of early fave's was, to say the least, impressive.  It is where the discipline of sticking to your strategies is really tested.

In the end, I felt good about the one selection of Main Sequence.   If you put a line through Frankel's race, Main Sequence turned out to be the shortest odds fave of the day. 

And given an opportunity, I'll buy William Buick a pint for making the read look better than it was.


WEAK FAVES FOR 23-AUGUST
Selections based on the quality of the fields in their previous races

Strike rates:
Bath: 5 meetings: 7 for 13 (54%)
Ffos Las: 2 meetings: 4 for 4 (100%)
York: 2 meetings: 2 for 2 (100%)


BATH
2:50 Whistling Buddy (result: 6th of 8)
3:25 Arch Walker (3rd)
5:05 Laser Blazer (4th of 8)

FFOS LAS
3:15 Castletownsend (4th of 6)
4:55 West With The Wind (7th of 7)

YORK
2:00 Rocky Ground (18th of 19)

RESULT: a second day in a row with a clean sheet.  Ffos Las and York continue to have a 100% strike-rate.  Five of the six unplaced.


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