January 10, 2007

Soviet Song 18 February 2000
By Marju out of Kalinka ((Soviet Star)

Soviet Song won 5 Group 1 races at 2, 4 and 5 yaers of age. She recorded back to back impressive wins in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes in 2004 and 2005. She won the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at 4 and was an unlucky runner up in the same race in 2005.

She was kept in training as a 6 year old and repaid that faith by assserting her authority over rivals in the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal AScot.

She will perhaps best be remembered for twice beating Attraction in 2004, the year that filly won the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas. I had Soviet Song on my list to follow in 2003 when she was a three year old and she actually failed to win that season when perhaps the James Fanshawe horses were not 100%. She did finish 4th to Royal Rhythm in the 1,000 Guineas that year though and second to the same horse in the Coronation Stakes.

She was the world's highest rated female horse in 2004 and was eventually retired at the end of the 2006 season.

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With 3 runners from our list to follow involved the novice chase at Wincanton was always going to be an interesting one for me.

Aztec Warrior and Miaster Quasimodo matched strides all the way until Mister Quasimodo got in close 3 from home and down he went, leaving Azetc Warrior to come home easily. It was possibly hard luck on Mister Quasimodo, who until his error had been jumping well and was possibly going slightly the better of the front two. Take nothing away from Aztec Warrior though who travelled well and jumped economically. Opera de Coeur made mistakes and does not look a natural over fences.

In the last race on the Wincanton card Closed Shop was a hot favourite but could only finish 5^th.

Leslingtaylor, trained by John Quinn goes for a hat trick over hurdles in the 12.50 at Catterick tomorrow. He won at Market Rasen last time beating some decent types in the process. He has won on heavy ground on the flat and although he is giving weight all round he has a useful claimer taking 7 lbs off.

Troll was a winner for our list to follow at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. He has gone up 5 lbs for that success but with Catterick being quite a similar tarck and suiting front runners he could well follow up in the 2.50.

Classic Fiddle comes from a good national hunt family and won both her bumper races. She makes her hurdles debut tomorrow in the 1.00 at Hereford for in form trainer Nicky Henderson. Should go well.

Ring Back represents our list to follow in the 2.30. She won a bumper at Warwick last March in heavy ground. This is her 3^rd run over hurdles and she has shown enough to be given an each way chance.

Be lucky

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