The Prix de l`Arc de Troimphe meeting at Longchamp on Sunday served as a showcase for the strength of Irish racing at present, with the victory of Hold That Tiger in the Group 1 Grand Criterium the highlight of the afternoon, writes Alan Magee.
It`s not that long ago that we could hardly boast a single challenger at this prestigious French fixture, but this year there were 17 Irish-trained runners from five different stables. Ballydoyle obviously formed the majority of the raiding party, and High Chaparral finished a highly creditable third to Godolphin`s Marienbard in the feature considering his lay-off due to coughing since taking the Irish Derby on June 30.
Aidan O`Brien saddled a team of four in the `Criterium`, and Hold That Tiger put up an amazing performance under Kieren Fallon when literally coming from last to first in the straight to land this seven furlong juvenile event. Irresistible Jewel, runner-up in the Prix de l`Opera, and Luminata, third in the Prix Marcel Boussac, were other notable Group 1 performances, while John Murtagh gave Irish fans further cause for celebration when successfully partnering the John Dunlop-trained Give Notice in the marathon Prix du Cadran.
Incidentally Murtagh struck the front for the first time this season in the Flat jockeys championship when completing a treble at the Curragh on Saturday, and now looks favourite to regain the title in an exciting three-way battle against Michael Kinane and reigning champ Pat Smullen.
There was good news during the week of Jimmy Mansell as he continues to recover from serious head injuries sustained in a fall at Ballinrobe in August. The champion National Hunt claiming rider was operated on at University College Hospital Galway to repair chest and lung damage related to the life support machine he was on. He is reported in good spirits, and hopes to be transferred soon to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire.
A bizarre case of sabotage took place over the weekend at the Goffs complex in Kill where seven yearlings to be offered at the upcoming Orby Sale had their tails and manes cut. The attack should only have a cosmetic affect on the horses involved but, with the fickle nature of the sales market, it is obviously a major worry both for Goffs and the vendors involved.
Across the water, the BBC`s Panorama investigation on the sport, titled `The Corruption Of Racing`, was the main talking point. The programme promised to uncover `one of the biggest scandals in the history of British sport` involving race-fixing and bribery, and claimed that `a whole generation of jockeys had close links with organised crime`. However these sweeping declarations had a hollow ring as Roger Buffham, the sacked former Jockey Club Head of Security, and disgraced ex-jockey Dermot Browne were Panorama`s main sources.
There were very serious issues raised for the integrity of racing in the hour long expose, notably unusual betting trends in a `dodgy` two-horse race at Warwick in 1996, and documentary evidence of a no-lose betting account policy adopted by Victor Chandler for certain trainers. The reality is that racing and betting are inextricably linked, and the sport feeds on rumour and intrigue. The Jockey Club, and the counterpart Turf Club in Ireland, need to command respect in their policing of the industry, and ensure racing is as straight as possible.
Alan Magee
