For the first time in two months a full quota of meetings went ahead this week, culminating in a memorable renewal of The Budweiser Irish Derby.
Persistent rain throughout Sunday put somewhat of a damper on the preliminaries, and the attendance was understandably down 10% to 27,134, but the Derby itself was a marvellous race.
Aidan O'Brien saddled four of the nine runners including red-hot favourite High Chaparral. Stablemates, Sholokhov and Ballingarry set a decent pace on the rain-soaked ground, with the favourite well placed in fourth. Turning for home English challenger Nysaean moved onto the heals of the leading pair, but Michael Kinane had all moves covered aboard High Chaparral. Having hit the front at the furlong pole High Chaparral quickly put daylight between itself and the remainder, crossing the line three and a half lengths to the good.
Aidan O'Brien's two pacemakers kept to their tasks admirably to fill the minor placings, while Nysaean finished fourth to complete a clean sweep for Sadler's Wells. This was a truly remarkable achievement for the Ballydoyle/Coolmore alliance, and is a feat unlikely to be repeated, particularly in light of O'Brien's alarmist threat of moving stateside if a waste incineration plant is built close to his stables.
The ride of the week must go to Justin Curran. The little known apprentice was aboard hot favourite Sights On Gold in the apprentice Derby at the Curragh on Friday. Turning for home he was in a seemingly impossible position, last of the ten runners. With a furlong to run he had steered his mount into fourth place, but still had a six-length deficit to make up. Amazingly the pair went on to win by one and a half-lengths and in the process notch up Curran's first success.
If Sights On Gold had failed to win Curran would have taken the rap and his career could have gone on permanent hold. The line between success and failure is particularly fine in this sport where winning is all-important. If Kinane of Murtagh had ridden a winner in similar fashion they would have lapped up the plaudits and so should Curran.
Next Saturday evening's controversial fixture at Leopardstown is set to go ahead following a high-powered meeting between trainers' representatives and HRI officials at the Curragh on Friday.
The bulk of workers within the industry dread the introduction of Saturday evening meetings as their social and personal lives are already under the immense strain of a calendar bulging with both Friday evening and Sunday fixtures.
The trainers had threatened to abstain from entering horses for the Leopardstown fixture, but following a number of last minute concessions from HRI they are now appeased. Trainers will receive a cash supplement for each horse they run in order to pay overtime to stable staff. Furthermore only four Saturday evening fixtures will take place next year with a promise that the following day will remain blank on each occasion.
It is understandable that in striving to maximise the exposure of racing to the public HRI should explore the potential of Saturday evening fixtures, but the whole process should have taken place out in the open and involved all affected sections of the industry. Unfortunately HRI has used bulldozer tactics to get its way and with little goodwill remaining for future plans, such as all-weather, it will be interesting to see how HRI handles its next crisis.
