Been absent for a while again but, in fairness, there ain't been a lot to enthuse about.
Made the effort to have a look at the Churchill Stakes a Listed event over ten furlongs. Hunter's Light for "The Boys in Blue" was well supported and duly collected under William Buick. However things didn't go without a few problems, the winner veered left inside the final furlong and Suits Me had to be near enough strangled by Micky Fenton or be brought down. There was an inquiry and the result was allowed to stand but again we had the classic conundrum, Circumvent finished second, meaning that if the winner had been disqualified he would have been the beneficiary rather than the horse the winner interfered with. I'm not really convinced that the stewards would have chucked the winner out, they seem very reluctant to do that these days.
I'm not sure if Buick had a ban but perhaps it would work better if he was given a fine equal to the amount Suits Me lost out on. That fine should then pass to the connections of the horse that was interfered with.
Just a thought!!
While, hopefully, everyone was watching the mayhem up front my eye was taken with SATWA PEARL given a quiet ride by Steve Drowne back in sixth. Having just won a Class 4 handicap in this country perhaps she was flying a little high. Her SP of 25/1 suggested that not a lot was expected from her on this occasion, her cause wasn't helped by a slow start after that she just coasted around at the back of the field with Drowne showing little urgency. She was still travelling quite well as they turned into the straight and ran on nicely without coming under a great deal of pressure.
It is to be expected that connections will be keen to get her some black type, she is nicely bred, but if she is put back into handicap class I think she will be picking up a race or two.
She has no near at hand entries.
