Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: Best bets for Tuesday, July 25
Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Tuesday's meetings at Musselburgh, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Chelmsford City.
Month: July 2023
Sniff Test: Horses Can Discriminate Between Scents Of Joy And Fear
A horse's sense of smell is incredibly keen, often alerting them to any sign of danger before it can be seen. Researchers in France, led by Plotine Jardat, sought to determine whether horses could differentiate human emotion by smell, as well.
To test the theory, the scientists created a habituation-discrimination test, which presents an odor in two successive trials, then presents that odor and a new, novel odor simultaneously. Researchers expect the duration of sniffing to decrease in the first phase, called the habituation phase, then increase when introduced to the new odor in the discrimination phase.
During the test, the scientists observed whether a horse preferred to use an ear, eye, or nostril to evaluate the sample. Auditory and vision are contralateral, meaning they might look or hear out of the left eye or ear, but the input is processed on the right side of the brain. Smell is ipsilateral, meaning it occurs on the same side of the body.
Previous studies have shown that domestic mammals use the right brain hemisphere for negative or intense stimuli and the left hemisphere for familiar or positive stimuli.
The team used 30 Welsh mares to see whether they could discriminate between human scents related to joy or fear. They collected sweat via cotton pads placed in the armpits of 18 women and 6 men who had been shown a 20-minute video that encouraged fear or joy. One day later, the video viewing was repeated. Participant pads and shirts were then frozen in air-tight bags for up to six weeks; they were thawed at room temperature before the study began.
Once the samples were unfrozen, they were presented to the horses on a 5-foot pole so there was no co-mingling of scents. Three pads of one scent (joy or fear) and one of the opposite scent were used in total. The first odor was offered twice (habituation), then the same odor and a novel odor were offered simultaneously (discrimination), 20 inches apart.
The results show that horses used their left nostril more than their right during the habituation phase, which indicated that the scent was familiar or positive. During the discrimination phase, horses used their right nostril more, indicating a negative or intense stimuli.
The researchers concluded that horses can discriminate between human odors related to fear or joy, and that they can emotionally respond to the scents. They feel this information may affect how horses interact with their owners, riders or caretakers.
Read more at EquiManagement.
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Dark Hollow Farm’s Honor A. P. Colt Wins 89th Annual Maryland Yearling Show
David and JoAnn Hayden sent another strong contingent to the 89th Annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show on Sunday, July 23, at the Timonium Fairgrounds horse show ring in Timonium, Md.
They came away winning two of the four classes and the top prize with their Honor A. P. colt, who was awarded the grand champion trophy by this year's judge, trainer Ned Allard.
Said Allard of his picks for champion and reserve champion, Ann Jackson's chestnut colt by Holy Boss: “When you ask a trainer to look at horses, he's looking for a good racehorse. They have to be good movers and have a good walk. You can accept some flaws but these two seemed to be pretty clean with good walks. They stood out.”
The grand champion looks very much like his sire, and to Allard “has that race horse look.” Out of the Not For Love mare Flit, the dark bay blaze-faced February foal is a fourth-generation homebred for the Haydens' Dark Hollow Farm, going back to foundation mare Safely Home, the dam of Hall of Famer and Eclipse Award winner Safely Kept. Flit is a half-sister to stakes winners O Dionysus and Joy, also show participants.
In the name of Dark Hollow Farm, the Haydens have won 16 classes (solely or in partnership), since 1989, and sent out grand champions in 2009 and 2014. Their second winner this year came out of Class III, a Golden Lad filly out of Bread and Butter (by Pure Prize), who was herself a class winner in 2012.
It was the second year in a row that Dark Hollow Farm has produced the Yearling Show champion – Ellen Charles' Hillwood Stable mares reside at the Upperco, Md., farm, their offspring are born and raised there and, as yearlings, are prepped for the show. Charles' Bandbox colt took top honors in 2022.
“Everyone at the farm really work their butts off,” said David Hayden. “They get all the credit. They do everything that needs to be done to get them there in good order.”
A total of 60 yearlings were judged and are now eligible for the $40,000 premium award which is split annually, with $20,000 going to the exhibitors of the four show contestants who earn the most money as 2-year-olds during 2024, and another $20,000 divided among the exhibitors of the four highest-earning 3-year-old runners the next year.
Holy Boss, who stands at Anchor and Hope Farm in Port Deposit, Md., was the recipient of the Northview Get-of-Sire trophy as the top Maryland sire of the show. In two classes he had a total of three ribbon winners, including the reserve champion.
Complete results follow:
Class I: For colts and geldings foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in Maryland (12 exhibited):
1. ch.c., 6/1/22, Holy Boss—Barouchka, by Not For Love. Owned and bred by Ann B. Jackson, White Hall, Md. 2. BISHOP, dk.b./br.c., 3/7/22, Mosler—Belle Vlada (Ire), by Kheleyf. Owned and bred by Robert Atkinson and Mary Atkinson, Bel Air, Md. 3. ch.c., 3/25/22, Golden Lad—Corinnaise, by Corinthian. Owned and bred by BTR Racing Inc., Clarksville, Md. 4. JOHNJACKJIMJAYE, ch.g., 4/20/22, Divining Rod—Parade of Colors, by Leading the Parade. Owned and bred by John E. Williamson III, Reisterstown, Md. 5. b.c., 4/15/22, Great Notion—Last Love, by Not For Love. Owned and bred by Wendy Komlo and Drew Komlo, Derwood, Md.
Class II: For colts and geldings foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in states other than Maryland (12 exhibited):
1. dk.b./br.c., 2/25/22, Honor A. P.—Flit, by Not For Love. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md. 2. b.c., 1/29/22, Bolt d'Oro—Lunar Rille, by English Channel. Owned and bred by Country Life Farm and Lunar Rille LLC, Bel Air, Md. 3. FAROOQ, ch.c., 4/13/22, Maclean's Music—Congaree Princess, by Congaree. Owned and bred by Daniel E. Marconi, Mount Airy, Md. 4. b.c., 4/24/22, Catalina Cruiser—Cat Charmer, by Storm Cat. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md. 5. dk.b./br.c., 2/23/22, Practical Joke—Fancy Love, by Not For Love. Owned and bred by John C. Davison, Baltimore, Md.
Class III: For fillies foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in Maryland (20 exhibited):
1. b.f., 3/27/22, Golden Lad—Bread and Butter, by Pure Prize. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md. 2. GOGO BOOTS, b.f., 3/9/22, Eclipticalspraline—Another Cougar, by With Distinction. Owned by Mellissa Perrin Keithly, Buxton, Maine. Bred by Maria M. Haire. 3. TWOS THE BOSS, ch.f., 2/22/22, Holy Boss—Fingerpaint, by Union Rags. Owned and bred by Designated Hitters Racing, Ellicott City, Md. 4. RAVEN DANCE, ch.f., 2/20/22, Holy Boss—Bekki's Dance, by Dance With Ravens. Owned and bred by Dr. Ronald Harris Parker, Long Beach, Calif. 5. dk.b./br.f., 5/6/22, Mosler—Rotate, by Orb. Owned and bred by Abele B. Dilschneider, St. Louis, Mo.
Class IV: For fillies foaled in Maryland, the produce of mares covered in states other than Maryland (16 exhibited):
1. dk.b./br.f., 4/3/22, Exaggerator—High Tolerance, by Louis Quatorze. Owned by Alison P. Delgado, Upperco, Md. Bred by Alison P. Delgado and Sabrina L. Moore. 2. dk.b./br.f., 2/27/22, Honor A. P.—Madison Avenue, by Quality Road. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md. 3. gr./ro.f., 4/11/22, Liam's Map—Missy Rules, by Peace Rules. Owned and bred by Country Life Farm and Missy Rules LLC, Bel Air, Md. 4. b.f., 2/12/22, Twirling Candy—Safe Journey, by Flatter. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md. 5. dk.b./br.f., 3/29/22, Maclean's Music—Bridled Assurance, by Unbridled's Song. Owned and bred by Hillwood Stable LLC, Washington, D.C.
Champion: dk.b./br.c., 2/25/22, Honor A. P.—Flit, by Not For Love. Owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Upperco, Md.
Reserve Champion: ch.c., 6/1/22, Holy Boss—Barouchka, by Not For Love. Owned and bred by Ann B. Jackson, White Hall, Md.
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Breeders’ Cup Among Possibilities For ‘Brilliant And Resilient’ French-Trained Filly Blue Rose Cen
Based in Chantilly, 36-year-old Christopher Head is a fifth-generation French trainer from a family steeped in horse racing history. The son of legendary trainer Freddy Head and nephew of Criquette, Head is no stranger to equine superstars with the yard he now trains from the former home of Goldikova, Moonlight Cloud and Solow.
With father Freddy retiring last year, the Head dynasty has showed no sign of slowing down courtesy of Christopher Head's star filly Blue Rose Cen completing a rare Group 1 treble comprising France's premier prize for 2-year-old fillies, the Prix Marcel Boussac, as well as the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) and the Prix de Diane (French Oaks).
Christopher Head now has set his sights on an ambitious raid over the channel in the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes on Thursday, Aug. 3 at Goodwood Racecourse, setting up a tantalizing clash with last year's Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes winner Nashwa.
Head is relishing the challenge and he said: “It's always been in my mind to go to another country at some point. With Blue Rose Cen, I really feel this is possible and I can't wait to go up against the best of the Irish and English in the Qatar Nassau Stakes.”
Trained by his father Freddy, Solow was the last French horse to win a Group 1 at the Qatar Goodwood Festival when he won the Qatar Sussex Stakes in 2015 and eight years on, Christopher is hoping to create history on what will be his ever trip to the track.
He added: “I've never been to Goodwood but I've taken a lot of experience from various people who have been there. My father is part of it, of course, and we will be fully prepared for it.”
Now rated as the highest-rated 3-year-old middle distance filly in Europe, Head has paid tribute to her ability and temperament.
He said: “She is a filly that has done everything we've asked of her. She had a brilliant 2-year-old career. Since then she has been brilliant and resilient in her work and in her races. It is a challenge to make a 2-year-old become a nice 3-year-old but she has improved from each run this year and has really come on physically after the Prix de Diane.”
Blue Rose Cen's jockey Aurelien Lemaitre has never ridden at Goodwood, but Head is very confident in his ability and the ability of his filly to handle the track and the occasion of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Head said: “Aurelien is a brilliant jockey. It's been a pleasure to work with him since the beginning. What I like most about him is he is a great judge of pace in races. Since we work a lot with that in our training, he is the perfect jockey for us. I'm sure Blue Rose Cen can deal with the track at Goodwood. We know that she goes on any ground. If it happens to be soft ground that is even better, but we are relaxed.”
Blue Rose Cen's 76-year-old owner-breeder Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals (Yeguada Centurion) is a Cuban born Vietnam War veteran, who made his fortune in Spain in pizzas and telecommunications. He was a well-known breeder of Spanish horses but was convinced to take a chance on Head as a young trainer. Out of his five horses with Head, Blue Rose Cen is one and Big Rock is another who finished second in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby).
Head has praised his owner for not shying away from any race or challenge and opened up the possibility of her running in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.
He said: “I think Leopoldo from Yeguada Centurion is a sportsman so he wants to get into challenges. There is still the possibility we could try her over further to see what she is capable of and test her limits. She is so relaxed during her races that you could expect her to stay further and still use her turn of foot. She will probably go to the Vermeille after the Nassau Stakes and then we will see if she stays. The Breeders' Cup is a possibility too but it's a bit further away in the program book so we still need to discuss it with the owner.”
Blue Rose Cen is the only recorded foal out of Queen Blossom (Jeremy), who went through the sales ring three times in Ireland, the USA, and England, where she was sold for £110,000 in December 2018 after winning three races, including two Group 3 races in Ireland and the USA. One of her siblings, Valcarlos (Duke of Marmalade), is a winner in Madrid, Spain. Blue Rose Cen's fourth dam, Grey Angel (Kenmare), was a Group 3 winner in South Africa, and her third dam, Dream Time (Rainbow Quest), raced three times without success for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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