This season, he doesn't have Fallon to beat, but there's
still plenty of competition. What's worrying is that, of the
20 or so jockeys ahead of him in the table right now, every
one has had more rides than Frankie. He makes it to fewer
all-weather and night-racing meeting than his rivals and
this trend will surely as Goldolphin dispatch him around the
world more often. This wouldn't be a problem is his strike
rate was huge, but, in fact, it's currently 3% lower than
Callan's, who's ridden my horses than anyone. I'd also
question whether Frankie's heart is really in winning
another Chamionship. When they change the rules and base it
on prizemoney rather than winners, he'll be a real contender
again, but until then he's a curious favourite, imo.
In the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, and in the QEII Stakes Rakti was in inspirational form and won with ease, but we must also take into account his diapppointing runs in the Eclipse, in Japan and Hong Kong.
What he has going for him this time round is that his yard (Michael Jarvis) is firing on all cylinders right now, and he has shown that he goes well fresh.
With the drop back in trip to 1m, this should be no problem either.
There is a lot of ifs and buts about the race but i always back a few ante post. fonthill road- i liked the run behind gift horse and i have thought this has been the horses target appalachian trail- when he won last time t eaves got off and said he was a possible ayr gold cup horse-got big odds from my local independent bookie-
mind you my ante- post bets have been cursed (once took 33-1 about joveworth in the ayr gold cup and it won up the wrong side at 50-1)
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