Do you remember the summer of 2007? Certainly some of our racecourses will.
In case you spent the summer in lands afar, where the sun always shines, this British summer was rather damp. Well we British are so good at understatement!! It was so damp that three of our courses, Worcester, Stratford and Southwell, were awash with water – indeed in the case of the latter the course was literally washed away.
Stratford eventually resumed racing in August, whilst Worcester gave 2007 up as a bad job completely and they next race in 2008. Southwell finally resumed racing today, almost six months after their last fixture.
I remember attending Stratford’s re-opening and was surprised by how much work was still outstanding. Power was even being provided by portable generators. By a particularly strange quirk of fate, the first meeting at Stratford happened to be a replacement for one of Southwell’s washed out fixtures.
I approached Southwell with some trepidation. I have to be honest and say when visiting Southwell, even on the best of days you can be forgiven for thinking you have arrived at an industrial site, indeed one of the approaches takes you through an industrial estate.
Today, especially when approaching from the premier car park, it looked more like a building site than a racecourse. When I arrived 1½ hours before racing there were certainly more builders than racegoers present.
However it has to be said most of the outstanding building work is situated near the Premier entrance and it impacts the owners and trainers facilities more than anything else.
The executive have taken the opportunity to fully refit the ground floor of the main grandstand and it certainly has an airy, open, feel to it. Job well done so far – and they had mains power.
It’s a shame they haven’t done anything about the viewing of the straight course, it never has been good and it is still no better, although viewing of the round course is good, that will be harder to sort out.
I am also delighted to report a good turnout from the crowds and yes there actually was a crowd. Despite there being more builders than punters early on, the punters soon came out and I think it was the largest crowd I have seen at a Southwell all weather meeting.
Of course it wasn’t only the buildings that suffered, the track itself was virtually destroyed and has almost been virtually rebuilt from scratch. Southwell resisted the temptation to switch to a different surface and they have decided to stick with Fibresand.
The track looked the same as ever – I’m still not convinced that Fibresand will ever have any aesthetic appeal.
The standard of racing at the track hasn’t improved though, with seven of the eight races being lowly Class 6 affairs.
The first glory, in a 5 furlong sprint, went to 5/2 favourite Weet A Surprise ridden by the ever popular local girl, Hayley Turner. A typical Southwell sprint with Turner holding up her mount and passing A Wish For You in the final 50 yards, to win by a neck.
Different tactics were applied by the winner of the second race, when Trinculo, under Chris Catlin took the lead two furlongs out in the six furlong sprint. Grand Palace, ridden by veteran Dean McKeown tried to close the gap in the final furlong but the line came too soon. Well backed favourite Saville’s Delight flattered to deceive and was soon beaten once the winner passed him 2f out.
Race three was another 6f event, this time a seller. Quite Times was sent off the 8/13 favourite but made a complete Horlicks of the start, even ignoring the shoddy start he never looked a winner, failing to run on in the final furlong. The spoils went to Mister Elegant under Adam Kirby. He tracked the leaders, taking the lead a furlong out, beating Phinerine by 3½ lengths.
On to one mile three furlongs for the next race and the most convincing winner of the day. Friends Hope overcame a 476 day absence beating 11/4 fav Kings Ransom by an increasing five lengths. Friends Hope had been to the paddocks but was unsuccessful.
The long distance race of the day was probably the closest on paper with the betting very close. It wasn’t so close come the finish, with Three Boars romping home by 5 lengths. This was the winners third success from four visits, clearly a great fan of Southwell. Victory Quest lacked nothing in defeat, he was simply beaten by a better horse. Veteran 11 year old, Flame Creek, winner of the race last year, finished a one paced third.
Back to six furlongs and one of the best backed horses of the day, Winthorpe, romped home by four lengths, backed from 11/4 to 7/4. Settled mid-division he chased long time leader Blakeshall Quest a furlong out to pull well away inside the final furlong.
A long afternoon continued with the penultimate race being back over the minimum distance. This race was low in quality but it produced the closest finish of the day, with well backed 100/30 fav Northern Empire just beating perpetual Southwell loser Pawan by a head, with Yungaburra a further ¾ length back in third. The fact the runner up and third were both 25/1 tells you all you need to know about the form.
The finale finally arrived at 3:30 with another six furlong dash. The only thing missing were the miners lamps to help the jocks through the poor light. This race produced the biggest mystery of the day for me. I cannot understand why Carlitos Spirit was backed down from 7/2 to 15/8. He looked an absolute dog in the pre-parade ring, walking round grinding his teeth. He unshipped James Millman as he came out onto the course and ended up being led to the start sans rider. Needless to say he did nothing in the race, which went to 17/2 shot Dasheena. The winner was outpaced early on but was taken wide to run on in the final furlong.
Coming into the home straight it looked as though Hayley Turner was heading for a first / last race double on Desert Lover, but the gelding seemed to run out of steam in the final furlong and actually ended up being passed by the original favourite Alto Vertigo.
A full afternoons racing, mostly run of the mill fare though, however the punters seemed happy. Let us hope they return.