| |
Well he went down to Saratoga, hoping that his horse would naturally win; but despite everyone's best efforts it was a case of close but no cigar, as Rosa Grace finished second to Backseat Rhythm in the Grade Two Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga Springs New York on Friday afternoon. Howver, make no mistake this was a fantastic run and a career best, coming off a far than ideal preparation. After the journey from Newmarket to New York she had to undergo two days of quarantine at a state facility before shipping up to Saratoga to Christophe Clement's barn where Rae caught up with her last Monday morning. By that time she was one day out of quarantine and looking a bit light. The weather did not help as unseasonal rain meant that there was the constant threat that the race would be taken off the turf and run on the dirt track (unlike anything she had ever set foot on before) and because of the rain she was not allowed to train on the turf track. Added to that the fact that everything (feed, bedding, rider, track, environment) was new and she had not had a chance to acclimatise, meant that she went into the race an relative 12-1 outsider. The race did not go to plan either as she got squeezed out and was last almost all the way round, but when she did get daylight she fairly motored to finish beaten 3 1/4 lengths. Rae is delighted for her new owners Three Chimneys Racing LLC, a syndicate of prominent US breeders headed by Robert Clay, who took a chance in bringing her over and were rewarded by a great run and have a really nice filly for the future. Many thanks to Robert and Blyth Clay who looked after Rae exremely well, Christophe Clement and everyone at his barn, including his assistants Christophe and April, and Rosa's rider Damien as well as Alastair Donald and Joe Miller of Kern Lillingston who brokered the deal. Everyone here wishes her well and looks forward to her going on to better things. |
|
