Limestone Lad once again gave his army of supporters plenty to shout about when recording the 32nd win of his career at Navan on Sunday, writes Alan Magee.
The Morgiana Hurdle was switched to the County Meath track after Punchestown was washed out on Saturday, and James Bowe`s charge was certainly tested over this unsuitably short two miles distance. The `Gathabawn Grinder` assumed his normal front-running role, but looked in big trouble when Ballyhampshire Boy looming alongside at the second last.
However `Limestone` doesn`t know the meaning of the word defeat, and was starting to get his rival off the bridle when Ballyhampshire Boy fell at the last. Arguments still rage over the outcome, but previous experience tells us that the gutsy ten-year-old usually comes out on top in any street-fight.
Every generation of Irish National Hunt horses seem to throw up a `peoples champion`, and Limestone Lad has caught the imagination of the public just like Dawn Run and Danoli have in recent decades. The Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in a fortnight is next on the agenda, and who would bet against win number 33. Meanwhile spare a thought for the luckless Ballyhampshire Boy, who has tumbled for various reasons in all three outings this season. Surely compensation is around the corner.
Irish racegoers are regularly treated to top notch riding performances here, not least from Paul Carberry, Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty. However the three are increasingly making their mark across the water, and all were successful at the three day Cheltenham meeting. Geraghty hit the headlines with a double for Martin Pipe including the Thomas Pink Gold Cup Chase victory of Cyfor Malta, while Walsh has struck up a very successful association with the Paul Nicholls yard in recent weeks.
The jumping game takes no prisoners with riders really earning their fees, and this point was highlighted when Tony McCoy `starved` himself on a diet of a piece of chicken, jaffa cakes and tea in order to do the weight on `Thomas Pink` favourite Chicuelo. The reward was to see stable-companion Cyfor Malta land the spoils, while he pulled up after a string of mistakes. Dean Gallagher was another reminder of the strains put on jockeys when losing his riding licence for the next 18 months this week after testing positive for cocaine.
Rock Of Gibraltar was in the news on a number of fronts. As expected, he has been retired to stud at Coolmore with his fee expected to be around 100,000 euro. The `Rock` was also named `Horse of the Year` at racing`s version of the Oscars, the Cartier Awards. Stable-companion Hold That Tiger was given the top juvenile colt award, while Vinnie Roe was also honoured in the stayer division at the London ceremony.
Happily for racing fans, Ballydoyle will have a lot more `older horses` in training next year. High Chaparral and Hawk Wing will head the attack on Europe`s big prizes in 2003, while other significant horses in Aidan O`Brien`s care will be Milan, Sholokhov, Black Sam Bellamy and Sorcerous. Look out Godolphin!
Tax exemption on stallion fees came under the microscope during the week when new Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte hit out at the scheme in a Dail debate. The Irish breeding industry is riding the crest of a wave at present, and why wouldn`t it be! The argument that the `current system creates jobs` just doesn`t wash. Of course it creates jobs because stud owners in this country have a huge advantage on their counterparts abroad.
If you carry this reasoning forward then why shouldn`t every industry have tax abolished? (I believe we pay tax to help provide for essential services such as health, education and justice.) The impression of the general public is that stallion owners are getting richer and richer, while the country is facing into a recession with all the consequent pressures on Government spending. You can`t blame Pat Rabbitte for pointing the finger at racing`s `fat-cats` while everyone elseis being fitted for `hair-shirts`.
The 2002 Return Of Mares shows the extent that overproduction has reached in the breeding industry. Foal crops of over 100 per year have become commonplace for stallions, while some have even broken through the 200 foal barrier. The cream will always come to the top, but the current tax system is also encouraging so much poor stock to continue in the production line. Then again paying 90,000 euro for a National Hunt bred foal at Fairyhouse this week - the individual is unlikely to see a racecourse for at least another four years - shows there is madness at both ends of the market!
Alan Magee
