Horsing Around 31/8 - 6/9

Spring Watch: International Raider Jumps from $51 to $18 for the Cup

We kick off with an update on the Melbourne Cup and the latest market movement with one international runner.

Andreas Wohler and the Australian Bloodstock team combined in 2014 to win the Melbourne Cup with international galloper Protectionist and back again looking for more glory with German raider Ashrun.

Australian Bloodstock recently secured ownership in the lightly-raced stayer following his impressive second behind Call The Win in the Group Two Prix Kergorlay (3000m) in France.

Off the back of the purchase a trip to Australia was quickly confirmed and a price of $51 marked for him to take out the $7m race.

That price was soon gone as one punter hearing the news placed $4000 on the horse with TAB. As a result TAB reacted moving the price from $51 into $18.

With Sir Dragonet set to head down under shortly as well the competition for Spring titles is certainly heating up.

Bringing the house down: UK Jockey Gets Shows What It Means To Win

It seemed like an ordinary day at Bath racecourse in England on Wednesday with all races being run and won under typically British rainy conditions.

Race two was a race of note however as young jockey Mollie Phillips won her first ever race aboard Under Curfew at 9/2.

Riding for the trainer Tony Carroll this was Phillips 21st start and having placed previously was getting a bit excited down the straight moving through the field.

On the standard vision it looked like a very ordinary race however on review of the jockey camera what was discovered was pure viral gold with Mollie cheering the horse on in fantastic fashion:

Guts & Determination: Jockey With One Eye Wins First Ever Race

Guy Mitchell created history and finally fulfilled a lifelong ambition this week as he became the first jockey to ride a winner with only one eye.

Mitchell had always had a long term dream to ride racehorses and first applied for his licence when he was 16 years old. Now at the age of 46 that dream has become a reality after riding 50/1 shot The Game Is On in the first division of the 1m1f amateur jockeys' handicap.

Mitchell, who has been blind in one eye since the age of three, was having just his fourth ride and stunned when speaking after his big moment. He said: "Disbelief, utter disbelief. I've waited a long time for that. I never thought it would happen.

"I first applied aged 16 and I'm now 46. At the time, those were the rules and I wasn't allowed. I applied again at university and wasn't allowed. I kind of gave up for a bit, I did ride out every now and then.

"For some reason a couple of years ago I just thought I thought I'd give it a crack. I spoke to Dr Jerry Hill [BHA chief medical adviser] to see whether there was a way we could see in a bit more detail that I can prove I could do it. I've worked much harder to get fit. Last year when I had my first ride, I couldn't walk after it, it was ridiculous. I've made strides."

What made the win even better for Mitchell is that after a poor start he admitted he nearly fell off the ride from the opening gate.

Congrats Guy!

Spring Watch: Prince Of Arran Confirmed To Return

Serial placegetter in the Melbourne Cup Prince Of Arran looks to be all but on a plane to tackle this years running of the race that stops a nation.

Trainer Charlie Fellowes along with a number of stable hands and travelling team have been granted travel exemptions to tackle the $7m race with last years runner up.

Fellowes will be aiming for Prince of Arran to be written into the same folk law as the likes of Red Cadeux and Americain.

Currently a $26 shot the Fellowes camp are aiming to get Prince of Arran to Australia a week or two in advance of the big race but admit they are unlikely to be able to tackle the Herbert Power which has been the usual starting point for the horse in his run to the cup.

After finishing second to Vow and Declare last year after protest the team will be hoping to go one better this year and cement the horses place in racing history:

Climbing Everest: Queensland Sprinter Booked To Tackle Everest

MiRunners have this week become the latest camp to announce their runner for the Everest selecting the flying Queenslander Rothfire as their pick to tackle the race.

Rothfire is currently rated a $15 chance with TAB to take out the world's richest race.

The rising star has been in solid form since the start of his career starting 7 races, winning 6 of those and placing second in the other. His most notable win was the Queensland Group 1 JJ Atkins over 1400m.

MiRunners’ spokesman Steve Brown said Rothfire had been the number one choice of his panel of experts, including ratings guru Daniel O’Sullivan, former champion jockey Tye Angland, racing enthusiast Mark Waugh and form expert Lizzie Jelfs.

"If Rothfire is the horse Rob thinks he is, then we are going to be deep in The Everest but he has to do it now in the lead-up races,’’ Brown said.

Heathcote and Brown will no doubt be looking for more of the same form that won the JJ Atkins convincingly:

Horse in a Hurry: Records Broken In Rocky Sprint Contest

North Queensland runner Master Jamie has laid down the gauntlet to other sprinters in the north of the state by breaking the track record over 1050m at Rockhampton this week.

With apprentice jockey Marnu Potgieter piloting the speedster it was a dominant display from start to finish jumping to the lead and never allowing the rest of the field a look.

Rockhampton is most renowned for its long straight which has previously been the undoing of many a quality horse but not on this occasion.

The record breaking time set by the horse clocked in a 59.13 - shaving 0.24 off the previous mark of 59.37.

The four-year-old gelding jumped as a $1.75 favourite in the Open Handicap, having previously disappointed when finishing midfield in the Rockhampton Newmarket at his start prior.

That miss was the only time Master Jamie has missed a quinella in 12 runs at the track, bouncing back today and moving his Rockhampton record to 12:9-2-0.

https://twitter.com/Chargey76/status/1301748880476839937?s=20

Spring Watch: Melbourne Cup Runner To Head Down Under In Winning Form

Lloyd Williams owned Master of Reality put Melbourne Cup contenders on notice on Friday after giving a dominant win at Down Royal in Ireland.

The son of Frankel will be heading down under for his second crack at the race that stops a nation. Master of Reality finished second last year before eventually being relegated to fourth after an eventful ride from Frankie Dettori.

The gelding was expected to make light work of his opposition over 2800m as the $1.50 favourite and that's how it panned out, with Master Of Reality quick to put his rivals away in the straight.

While he wasn't up against strong opposition at Down Royal, the performance was enough for TAB to wind his price in from $51 to $26.

Mudlarks: Trainer Claims Sixth Kentucky Derby Win

Trainer Bob Baffert secured a record-equalling sixth Kentucky Derby success as Authentic held off odds-on favourite Tiz The Law at Churchill Downs.

Trainer of Triple Crown heroes American Pharoah and Justify, Baffert saved the majority of the credit for jockey John Velazquez after a positive early-race move took Authentic to the head of the 15-runner field.

"I've been fortunate to have great jockeys win races for me before and this was won by John," Baffert said. "The way he handled the race was perfect.

"Authentic is a speed horse and John kept enough for the finish. John has had some rocking-chair wins in the past but he earned this one that's for sure.

"Winning this race never gets old. We're all very fortunate and blessed to be in this position."

It was a fine win by Authentic who battled all the way down the straight to prevail beating Tiz the Law by just over a length.

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