Turf Travels III

Newmarket Guineas Festival 2008

The first two Classics of the British Flat-Season are always the first highlight of our (Flat)racing-year, and 2008 provided us -yet again- with great horses and great races. Little french filly Natagora was as gutsy and honest as they come and did win the 1000 Guineas the hard way, making all and denying our pick Spacious. Defeat was not in question for Champion 2-year-old New Approach, but Aidan o´Brien had other ideas and his tough Henrythenavigator was produced under a masterful ride to hold on by a nose. The classy Getaway underlined his highroller status for the 2008 season with a smooth win in the Jockey Club Stakes, and Sakhee´s Secret showed his wellbeing with a smooth run in the 5f Palace House Stakes, albeit being narrowly beaten over this inadequat trip. Jimmy was particually pleased with Proponents win, as he picked him two years ago at this venue as his classic contender - so the win as a 4-year-old gelding (!) was welcome news for his pocket!
We hope you enjoy our pictorial review.

Ouija Boards statue greets visitors at Stanley House Stud:

Notnowcato poses proudly for us:

The 2008 Guineas Meeting gets of to a flyer as I picked this handsome fellow in the Pre-Paradering: Duntulm:

Having lost the best part of 10 length at the start the picture changed dramaticly as the horses were nearing the post, and Henry Candy´s inmate (light blue colours at the rails) wins all out . "He is a playboy" says Candy "but one with ability":

Another classy older filly from Cheveley Park Stud as Heaven Sent is too good for her rivals in the Dahlia Stakes: .

2000 Guineas contenders - and Sir Michael on hand to lead his Perfect Stride, who actually behaved less than perfect:

Jeff Smith´ Dream Eater on his way out :

Ravens Pass, who got a less than perfect ride from Jimmy Fortune:

Saturdays racing crowd: :

About a furlong out New Approach is leading on the standside, with eventual third Stubbs Art (white and green on the left of the photo) and the grey Dream Eater, who ran a huge race to finish 5th, fighting it out behind:

A Battle Royale all the way to the line:

Crossing the line the angle is deceptive - note Johnny Murtagh sitting pretty and Kevin Manning still not accepting defeat:

One to follow from day 1 could be Dr. Faustus:

1000 Guineas day comes next and Proponent comes good in the opener, much to Jimmys delight!:

After taking loads of photos of Proponent in the winners enclosure, we missed Getaway in the paradering, but one could not miss his classy performance in the Jockey Club Stakes, when he sprinted away from a useful field incl. Sixties Icon in 2nd and Galatic Star in 3rd.:

"Whos this with a camera?" Getaway gives Jimmy an inquisitve look:

Its 1000 Guineas next and "our" hope Spacious looks magnificent in the paradering:

But the race is all about Natagora, who leads the field a merry dance with the Cheveley-pair Spacious (blue cap) and Infallible behind, and the other grey Nahood looking for the gap that would not appear:

Nearing the post Natagora grimly holds on to her advantage, with Spacious and Infallible trying to rally:

Crossing the line Natagora holds on, a bit tighter than the angle does show, with Spacious in 2nd and third horse Saoirse Abu (yellow and purple with blinkers on the left on the photos above) not in this picture:

Christophe Lemaire knows whom to thank in the winners enclosure:

The remarkable Sakhee´s Secret failed to give a stone to an improving 3-year-old rival over the stiff 5f, but ran a hugely encouraging race in the Palace House Stakes to finish a close 2nd:

We leave you with this: posing with Persian Punch, gone but never forgotten:

Webshots Album "Guineas 2008"