888sport ambassador Neil Callan (@neilcallan78) chats about last week's racing, plus looks ahead to four rides at Bath this weekend...
Epsom Review
Fireworks before a race like the Derby is just a no-no. It’s a publicity stunt to please someone, but the whole reason people are there is for the Derby, for the horses. Racehorses must be the priority.
When I was in Hong Kong and there were fireworks, they were always after the final race when there were no horses around. I don’t know who made the decision to have them, but it comes down to the racecourse and it simply shouldn’t have happened.
On the track, the fireworks were very good. Desert Crown was a very impressive winner of the Derby.
It was an amazing training performance considering the horse had only won a maiden at the end of last year and rocked up in the Dante, when all the hype was around Aidan O’Brien’s horses.
He put up a good performance at York, albeit it probably wasn’t the strongest renewal, but it was the subsequent gallop a week before the race that really got them excited.
We should pay tribute to the experience, patience and knowledge of Sir Michael Stoute. To be able to bring a horse to the boil on Derby day as he did. He’s produced that horse on only his third career run to win an Epsom Derby.
You’ve got to take your hat off to something like that. Desert Crown was a very worthy winner and if that’s anything to go by on his third start, then there’s a lot more to come from him.
It was very unfortunate for Emily Upjohn in the Oaks. Her race was compromised at the start when she stumbled. It’s tough for connections because even when I had seen her at Sandown, I thought she would be the Oaks winner.
It just goes to show how many things are out of the control of horse and jockey in any race. I think you’ve got to give a lot of respect to the filly, it’s very difficult at the start of the Oaks because you climb uphill for half-a-mile after coming from the stalls.
John Gosden summed it up when he said she’s got herself back into contention due to the ability she has.
Frankie [Dettori] showed his experience by going to plan B and giving her time to get back into the race, but she had to take the scenic route around the rest of the field, while Tuesday slipped down the inside and reserved that energy kick for the end.
That was probably the difference between them in the end. Take nothing away from Tuesday, though, she had to be gritty to win.
Going forward, I’m sure Emily Upjohn will leave it all behind and show us all how good she is.
Earlier This Week
Marco’s [Botti] Out Of Shadows won on debut at Brighton on Tuesday and he could be an all right type. I think he’ll progress.
RACE 2 RESULT – At The Races App Market Movers Restricted Maiden Stakes
— Brighton Racecourse (@BrightonRace) June 7, 2022
🥇 Out Of Shadows
🥈 Jackie Diamond
🥉 Elongate
Jockey: @neilcallan78
Trainer: @MarcoBotti
Owner: Manfredini & Milan Racing Club
📸: @dcoolimages pic.twitter.com/G1t2lT9kPz
He’s a home-bred – Marco’s wife bred him – which is a little bit more special, and he’s owned by a longstanding owner of the yard.
He’s going to be better when he goes seven furlongs maybe later in the season. He’s not a world-beater but he’ll pay his way for sure.
Looking Ahead To Bath
I was actually planning to go to Sandown on Saturday, but I’m at Bath for four rides. James Tate runs Royal Aclaim (2.25pm), and she’s the reason I’m going.
James rang me four or five days ago to make sure I was available to ride. She was entered in the Listed race at Sandown, but after a long time off he didn’t really want to throw her in the deep end so quickly.
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The form of her maiden win at Newcastle last year has turned out to be seriously strong. She beat Perfect Power, and he’s now one of the highest rated three-year-olds in the country. If that maiden form is anything to go by then she could be quite exciting.
She’s obviously had a set-back, as she’s been off for 12-months, but it’s positive that she’s back and James seems happy with her.
It’ll be interesting to see how she does when she gets her feet on the turf. I’m sure her entries in the Commonwealth Cup next week and July Cup after that were from earlier, but that’s the type of regard the stable hold her in.
As she’s had such a long time off, those races now obviously have come round too quickly for her. I think it’s a sensible option to start her off in a novice race.
Hopefully she can go there and win and show something like she did on her debut and then we can make a plan for her.
I also wanted to stick with Marco’s filly Shalfa (3.36pm). She’s not a world-beater but she ran okay first time out for Marco on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and I think going back on turf is going to improve her.
She ran a good third in Abu Dhabi in February when trained by Fawzi Nass and I think she’s well-handicapped.
Early Glance At Royal Ascot
Silver Samurai has an entry in the Wokingham on Saturday. I suggested that he came back to sprinting after I rode him at Haydock and I think that’s really turned him around. Obviously, this is a step up but he goes there in peak form.
Otherwise, I’m still hunting for rides next week.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th June 2022
