September 7, 2007

There is no shortage of racing over the weekend, with quality as well as quantity. I will look at the meetings in alphabetical order, sartrtting at Haydock.

In the 2.05 Indian Trail carries top weight. He won at Sandown last week and Frankie Dettori again has the ride. He is certainly respected. Another with chances is Northern Empire. His 4^th at York on his most recent start has been franked with the 3^rd horse having won since. Our list to follow is represented by Dig Deep who has already won twice this season, and Blazing Heights. Dig Deep ran well in 3^rd at the end of July but has failed to sparkle in his 2 most recent runs. He has come down a few pounds and also has useful 3 lbs claimer Liam Jones on board. Blazing Heights has ability but doesn’t win very often. He is capable of going close off his current mark but he does tend to run into traffic problems.

Caldra won 4 times as a juvenile but then suffered a bad injury. His comeback run 23 days ago was encouraging and if he can impove on that in the 2.35 at Haydock he would be interesting. On the downside though the likely quick ground seems a negative. Smart Enough is another that made a belated reappearance recently. He also showed good form last season but was beaten a long way in his return to the track at York.

Sakhee’s Secret has a perfect record this season of 4 wins from 4 starts and could hardly have been more impressive. He is very much the one to beat in the 3.10. The other 3 runners from our list to follow are Al Qasi, Advanced and Amadeus Wolf. Al Qasi is unlikely to take part on ground that will be too quick for him. Amadeus Wolf has lost his way a little since starting the season in fine style in the Duke of York Stakes in May. He was 3^rd in this race last year though and his stable is in good form. Advanced, from the same stable as Amadeus Wolf was 2^nd in a listed race at York last time out but has a bit to find with the best of these. Red Clubs and Balthazar’s Gift look each way alternatives to Sakhee’s Secret.

In the Old Borough Cup at 3.40 Record Breaker looks interesting for the stable that won the race last season with Peppertree Lane. He has won 3 of his 6 races this season and may well benefit from tackling this longer trip. He has won on good to firm and has Liam Jones in the plate. Sagredo was 3^rd to Bauer at Chester last week and should be in the shake up as he is quite lightly raced and may have scope for further improvement. Misty Dancer is the other one I like in this.

Mark Johnston may have the answer to the 5.15. Five A Side was 2^nd at Ripon last month and the winner that day has gone in again.

Turning our attention to Kempton there is a tricky looking 12 furlong Group 3 race at 2.50. Al Tharib won at Kempton last time out and is a horse with plenty of ability. He is related to Coshocton who broke his leg in the 2002 Epsom Derby. Lion Sands has been a bit disappointing since winning a maiden at Haydock.

Magic Mountain has been on e of the least successful horses on my list to follow with 8 straight defeats. During the course of the season so far he has dropped 16 lbs in the weight but even so he would need to show more sparkle that he has done of late to figure in the 5.30.

There are 2 runners from our list to follow in the 2.10 at Leopardstown and both could be fancied on their best from. Regime won the Sandown Classic Trial earlier in the season and also ran well when just going down to Harland at Maison Laffitte. He was not disgraced when 5^th at Deauville last time and comes into the reckoning here. Hearthstead Maison has been a terrific horse to have on my list to follow this season as eh ahs won at 9/1 and 25/1. He is yet to win outside of handicap company though.

Red Evie is going for back to back wins in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at 2.40. She comes here in good nick having won the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last month. Arch Swing has not enjoyed the best of luck since finishing 2^nd in the 1,000 Guineas. She deserves to win a big race. The 3^rd runner from our list to follow is Evening Time who is stepping up from sprint distances. The main danger to our trio may be the admirable 8 times winner Echelon who comes here on the back of a win in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Red Evie has a telling finish and her jockey rides her to perfection. I think she will win this.

Dylan Thomas, with Kieren Fallon in the saddle looks the likely winner of the Champion Stakes at 3.50. His form stands up to the closest inspection and he ran well last time against Authorized where the Peter Chapple-Hyam horse got first run on him. Dual classic winning filly Finsceal Beo is an interesting contender.

Turning to Sunday’s racing Grey Boy runs from our list to follow in the 3.25. He is well handicapped on last season’s efforts but has shown very littlee this season apart from a decent 3^rd in the greys only race at Newmarket on the run before last.

Good luck.

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Oh Galuppi, Baldassaro, this is very sad to find!
I can hardly misconceive you; it would prove me deaf and blind;
But although I take your meaning, 'tis with such a heavy mind!

Here you come with your old music, and here's all the good it brings.
What, they lived once thus at Venice where the merchants were the kings,
Where Saint Mark's is, where the Doges used to wed the sea with rings?

Ay, because the sea's the street there; and 'tis arched by… what you call…
Shylock's bridge with houses on it, where they kept the carnival:
I was never out of England–it's as if I saw it all.

Did young people take their pleasure when the sea was warm in May?
Balls and masks begun at midnight, burning ever to mid-day,
When they made up fresh adventures for the morrow, do you say?

Was a lady such a lady, cheeks so round and lips so red,–
On her neck the small face buoyant, like a bell-flower on its bed,
O'er the breast's superb abundance where a man might base his head?

Well, and it was graceful of them–they'd break talk off and afford
–She, to bite her mask's black velvet–he, to finger on his sword,
While you sat and played Toccatas, stately at the clavichord?

What? Those lesser thirds so plaintive, sixths diminished, sigh on sigh,
Told them something? Those suspensions, those solutions–"Must we die?"
Those commiserating sevenths–"Life might last! we can but try!

"Were you happy?"–"Yes."–"And are you still as happy?"–"Yes. And you?"
–"Then, more kisses!"–"Did I stop them, when a million seemed so few?"
Hark, the dominant's persistence till it must be answered to!

So, an octave struck the answer. Oh, they praised you, I dare say!
"Brave Galuppi! that was music! good alike at grave and gay!
"I can always leave off talking when I hear a master play!"

Then they left you for their pleasure: till in due time, one by one,
Some with lives that came to nothing, some with deeds as well undone,
Death stepped tacitly and took them where they never see the sun.

But when I sit down to reason, think to take my stand nor swerve,
While I triumph o'er a secret wrung from nature's close reserve,
In you come with your cold music till I creep thro' every nerve.

Yes, you, like a ghostly cricket, creaking where a house was burned:
"Dust and ashes, dead and done with, Venice spent what Venice earned.
"The soul, doubtless, is immortal–where a soul can be discerned.

"Yours for instance: you know physics, something of geology,
"Mathematics are your pastime; souls shall rise in their degree;
"Butterflies may dread extinction,–you'll not die, it cannot be!

"As for Venice and her people, merely born to bloom and drop,
"Here on earth they bore their fruitage, mirth and folly were the crop:
"What of soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?

"Dust and ashes!" So you creak it, and I want the heart to scold.
Dear dead women, with such hair, too–what's become of all the gold
Used to hang and brush their bosoms? I feel chilly and grown old.

— Robert Browning

Continue reading “A Toccata of Galuppi’s” →