The first bet of the month on Fifty Nifty was a complete failure. Well fancied to confirm form with Miss Information over course and distance on ground more suitable the 4yo had no chance after racing fully out of control for the first 2 Lengths. After which he was given an easy time and was tailed off.
A complete mystery – but there horses not machines and it happens. Miss Information Won at 3/1 !! I wonder if he had worked with Invictus Gold who bolted up on Saturday over 6F and had been buzzed up by his work?
3pt win Fifty Nifty Lost 2/1 Bet placed 7/4
When that sought of inexplicable run happens rarely in punting do i find you immediately bounce back with a winner and sure enough Kingmaker backed from 9/2 into 2/1 duly failed to land the money.
Drawn wide in 11 over the 10f track at Goodwood. The bet was placed on the basis that there looked certain to be a strong pace. There wasn’t – and after stumbling coming out of the stalls Jason Watson was caught wide with no pace and chance to tuck in for a late run. Instead he had no option but to eventually contest the lead and had run out of gas when the pace quickened in what turned into a dash for the line.
2pt win Kingmaker Lost 2/1 Bet placed 9/2
With several William Haggas horses having their seasonal debuts some at very short prices and surprisingly well backed, it proved well worth the wait to back More Thunder who had won on stable debut over course and distance.
Well handicapped and with every indication on pedigree that fast ground would suit him. Despite a far from clear run – he did very well to get up under a strong Marquand drive to land what turned out to be our only Haggas bet at the festival – backed at 4/1 he was well supported throughout the day and won at 11/4.
3pt win More Thunder Won Bet placed 4/1.
And finally with No Bet Sunday
Field of Gold and the 2,000 Guineas.
Sometimes in racing things are not meant to be and I suspect the Gosdens will never win the Guineas.
Many will blame Shoemark but what really cost him was the slow early pace – once that happened he probably should have switched to the centre and the quicker ground on the far side . I suspect that seeing Ruling Court outside him he decided to stay where he was and not risk unbalancing the horse who was not completely settled.
Ruling Court then got first run and because of the slow early fractionals he couldn’t get back up.
I doubt they will meet again – personally if he is any sort of price for the Irish Guineas or the Palace I am very confident of getting a good profit out of the Field of Gold .
As always pace is key – had they gone an even Group 1 pace Field Of Gold would have won I am sure he will the top 3yo miler this season. Ruling Court won because he outstayed Shadow of Light who wouldn’t stay a truly ran race at this trip. Ruling Court is around 5/1 for the Derby which i expect will be his next race that seems decent value.
4pt win Field of Gold 2nd 3/1
Russ Diary of a Season
Ante Post Update
I have watched the 2000 Guineas several times and the 2,000 Guineas Gosden curse was certainly in full force.
I doubt there has ever been a 2000 Guineas ran slower than the first 4F yesterday and with the disadvantage of being drawn stands side on drying ground combined to deny Gosden his first success in the race.
The criticism of Shoemark from the ‘Hindsight Henrys’ is way over the top. Although his assertion that Field of Gold needs 10f is a poor explanation. Gosden immediately announced the St James Palace House Stakes at Ascot over a 1m as his next race, i suspect with a pace maker in toe!
The performance of Ruling Court to win off that pace and on that side of the track was outstanding, although had Shadow of Light stayed the 1m he would have won.
I like to deal with Group Horses as investments over a season and I am very happy to invest in both Field Of Gold being the Champion 3yo miler this season and Ruling Court winning the Derby given his pedigree and racing style suggest he has a better than 50-50 chance of staying 12 furlongs. I am of the opinion that if he stays he wins.
I have made two investments :
3pt win Field of Gold 5/2 St James Palace Royal Ascot 17th June
2pt win Ruling Court 5/1 Epsom Derby
Connections of both were very clear this would be their next targets.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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