An up and down weekend for Ballydoyle as Rock Of Gibraltar carved his niche in racing history with a record seventh consecutive Group 1 victory in the Prix du Moulin, writes Alan Magee.
In truth it was nearly a great couple of days for the Aidan O`Brien camp as Hawk Wing was just denied another top level success in the final stride of the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes as Frankie Dettori did his version of the Late Late Show on Grandera.
The words beleaguered and crisis have been tagged onto team Ballydoyle as the dreaded cough has stalled the all-conquering stable for the past six weeks. However this was to be the weekend when the gloom was lifted, and Group 1 prizes were targeted in three different countries.
Taken in chronological order, things started off on a poor note with dismal performances by Sophisticat and Landseer. Hawk Wing certainly restored some belief when a noble second best at Leopardstown, but it was left to `The Rock` for drooping heads in the Cashel area to be lifted again.
Timing is everything in life and, certainly in 2002, Rock Of Gibraltar has been blessed by a much superior chronometer to poor old Hawk Wing. I use the words `poor old` rather tongue in cheek as a Group 1 winner both at 2 and 3 years is hardly a `nearly horse`. But you would have to think in other circumstances it could be alot different.
Defeats in the 2,000 Guineas (drawn badly) and the Derby (soft ground and perhaps stamina limitations) could have gone the other way. Add into the mix an opportunity missed in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, where `The Rock` had virtually a solo trial, and a dose of the cough after landing the Eclipse Stakes. You get the picture.
Rock Of Gibraltar meanwhile has enjoyed a perfect run, with two backend Group 1 wins last season followed up by five out of five this term culminating in the latest triumph over Banks Hill and Co. at Lonchamp. And of course he escaped the cough! Guess which colt is my favourite Aidan?
Some project ideas are visionary, and I should probably hold my hands up at this point to admit that foresight and I are akin to the proverbial chalk and cheese. However the proposed plans to spend up to 50 million euro on rebuilding the Curragh`s grandstand surely beggars belief.
Being a Curragh local, my opinion on the course is probably biased. I can understand complaints about poor viewing etc. due to the layout of the track, but this hallowed turf is where my love of racing was first kindled. The improvements made in recent years, such as the pre-parade ring and entrance area, are appreciated both in terms of appearance and customer friendliness. This is certainly no `kip`. Shelving out telephone number sums on rebuilding the grandstand is 11 on the zero to ten dream scale!
The Aga Khan severely criticised facilities in his Moyglare Dinner speech a few years ago, but financial reality must govern all decisions. How can this sort of money be justified? The Curragh hosted it`s Moyglare Stud Stakes meeting last Sunday, one of the bigger fixtures of the year, and the attendance was just over 6,000. In my experience it takes a five figure crowd to generate an atmosphere in the enclosures and, by relocating the grandstand further back towards the Stand House Hotel, will only serve to lessen the ambience.
Lets face it, the Budweiser Irish Derby day is the only time the course is anywhere near full. What attracts people through the turnstiles is probably tradition and a sense of occasion. Sure a bit more space would be appreciated, but it`s only one day in the year and the Derby day racegoer is prepared to rough it at 50 euro a go (certainly not your typical punter, who expects decent facilities at much lower prices).
If the Turf Club and HRI can afford to spend 50 million euro on developing the grandstand then good luck to them, but just spending huge sums of money doesn`t guarantee progress. A viable plan must be outlined before any such project is undertaken, and I can`t foresee the logic of it!
Alan Magee
