On betting, breaches & ambuscadoes: European Pattern 2013: Group 1 Sprints

Here they all are (see below). Today I learnt a little bit about HTML code FFS.

Some thoughts:

(1) We may now, as the cliche goes, breed for speed, but still the European Pattern fails to provide a Group 1 sprint for 3 year olds. The fastest of the Classic generation must try their luck over a trip too far in one of the Guineas, or else wait till June when they must take on their elders.

(2) This would have been an indifferent season had it not been for the 5 year old mare MOONLIGHT CLOUD, who was simply far too good for an indifferent bunch of sprinters. The pivotal race of the season was the Maurice de Gheest, in which the emerging Lethal Force was put firmly in his place. Moonlight Cloud really blossomed this year, unbeaten in four runs (so far - she may go to Hong Kong in December) and versatile enough to beat some good Group 1 horses in the Jacques Le Marois - her first win at the highest level over a straight mile.

(3) Over 5f Shea Shea looked the part in Dubai, and to my surprise failed to land one of the Group 1s over here. Mugged in the King's Stand, the Nunthorpe looked tailor made - but some late rain (perhaps) sealed his fate. With hindsight they shouldn't have run him in the July Cup (perhaps). In any case, this wasn't the first time a star in the making had failed to kick-on from the desert.

King's Stand (5f): SOLE POWER