An epic pace meltdown produced the biggest upset of Breeders' Cup weekend Nov. 6, as Japan-based Marche Lorraine held off Dunbar Road by the slightest nose to win the $2 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Month: November 2021
Breeders’ Cup: Bookmakers count cost after Modern Games was counted as non-runner for betting
Modern Games was initially withdrawn at the start by vets after being taken out of the stalls at Del Mar racecourse when Frankie Dettori-ridden stablemate Albahr panicked in the next berth.
Space Blues Rockets To Lead In Late Stretch To Take Breeders’ Cup Mile
In the last race of his career, Space Blues (IRE) goes out a winner in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. After a delayed start, the Godolphin bred and owned horse overtook frontrunner Smooth Like Strait in the final furlong to win by a half-length.
Space Blues was one of two Godolphin runners sent postward in a full field of 14 for the Mile, but Master of the Seas, in post one, reared up in the gate twice, hitting his head on an overhead bar. With that, much like Friday's incident with Albahr in the Juvenile Turf, Master of the Seas was a late scratch, leaving only Space Blues to contest in the blue silks.
“Yeah, well, we, Yogi said it best. It's deja vu all over again. About the time you don't think something can happen just come around the next day. Certainly didn't see this coming,” Godolphin racing manager Jimmy Bell said in the post-race press conference. “But as William and Charlie both say, we got to appreciate these horses. This is a live situation and these things happen. It's a part of the race. We all hate to see these things but it just goes to show you that there's just so many uncontrollable events.
After the field reloaded, the break was a clean one, with Smooth Like Strait going to the lead in the race's opening strides, with Blowout and Space Blues running second and third. After a first quarter in :23.51 and the half mile in :47.38, Smooth Like Strait maintained a one-length lead down the backstretch, with Space Blues and William Buick on the rail in third.
On the far turn, Buick moved Space Blues to the outside, as Smooth Like Strait looked poised to go wire to wire. The Godolphin horse turned on the jets midstretch and wore down Smooth Like Strait to win by a half-length. Ivar came on to finish third, with Raging Bull fourth.
The final time was 1:34.12. Find this race's chart here.
Space Blues paid $6.20, $4.60. and $3.40. Smooth Like Strait paid $9.00 and $6.20. Ivar paid $11.40.
“I'm absolutely delighted. He's been a fantastic horse and will now be retired to stud. William gave him a great ride in the perfect position throughout. Space Blues has been a great servant and it's another well-deserved win. I'm thrilled for team Godolphin both here and back home at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket and obviously His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. It was an interesting race beforehand with Master of The Seas being scratched but we're getting used to that now! Rules are rules and we have to abide by them,” said trainer Charles Appleby after the Mile.
“Coming here I knew I had some very good rides. Space Blues traveled to America very well and Charlie has been delighted with all of our horses coming into the races. We know how tough it is to come here and everything needs to pan out for you to win. He's a great little horse and I don't think he's had the recognition he deserves. A mile round here suits him down to the ground. I was a bit nervous going into the race as I wanted to give the horse what he deserved,” winning jockey William Buick told the Del Mar Press Office after the race.
As for Master of the Seas, Appleby gave an update on the colt's condition: “Master Of The Seas is fine and James is fine. And I say deja vu, so I'm getting used to this sort of speech now, but the most important thing is he came back safe.
Space Blues is by Dubawi (IRE) out of the Noverre mare Miss Lucifer (FR). The 5-year-old horse has four wins in six starts in 2021, including the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in France and the Group 2 City of York Stakes at York in England, for a lifetime record of 11 wins in 19 starts and career earnings of $2,585,725.
The post Space Blues Rockets To Lead In Late Stretch To Take Breeders’ Cup Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Norway vs South Korea at Oslo Norway
The Norwegian team failed to qualify for this year edition of the World Cup, but that doesn’t mean Norway doesn’t have a great soccer team.
Norway can point to a decent record in recent times. The Scandinavians qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA but fell in the first round by the slimmest of margins. All four teams in their group finished on the same number of points and goal difference; but Norway had scored fewer goals and packed their bags for home.
Four years later they had a great part in France 1998 defeating the powerful Brazil in what’s considered the best game they’ve ever play in the final stage of this competitions. That victory allowed them to go to the round of sixteen, but lost against a very good Italy squad.
Norway missed the Korea/Japan World Cup and this year won’t be present either in Germany. But they have lots of young players that given the continuity needed the can put together a very good team for the future.
South Korea is by far the most successful Asian team. They’ve been to more FIFA World Cup finals than any other Asia team. This will be their seventh appearance and sixth consecutive.
Asia’s most frequent visitors to FIFA World Cup finals and first appeared at the global showpiece in 1954. Prior to 2002, however, they had not managed a single win in 14 finals matches. That all changed under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink who led them to the last four victories over four European teams, were they manage to get to the semifinals leaving in the way Italy and Spain a first for any Asian team in a World Cup.
Park Ji-Sung, now at Manchester United, provides a genuine attacking threat from midfield while left-back Lee Young-Pyo is a key figure in a defense. That operates in front of experienced goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae. There are plenty of options up front while, Ahn Jung-Hwan whose golden goal defeated Italy, Cha Du-Ri and Lee Dong-Gook the top scorer at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.
With an impressive and experienced squad Korea will have the opportunity to repeat their performance from last year edition. In order to do that they need to prepare very good and one step of that preparation will be the friendly matches. Such as the one they will have in Oslo against Norway that will help them to correct those last minute details before the big tournament.
Sports betting for these games, is available in most books, so don’t miss your chance to bet on an exciting game such as this one and start preparing your picks for the world cup.
