Dick Turpin hangs up his hooves

Not a massive surprise this one, but four-year-old miler Dick Turpin was retired to stud last week following a fairly disappointing third racing year that included 'only' two Group 2 triumphs and one Group 1 success. The reason I use the word disappointing is more down to the colt being outclassed in his four big race outings (won by Canford Cliffs, Goldikova, Immortal Verse and Frankel).
Although not the best horse of his generation, Dick Turpin was incredibly successful, winning nine of his 20 outings across four countries and accumulating almost £1,000,000 in prize money. His best spell came during the first four months of last season when he beat Candford Cliffs in the Greenham Stakes, finished second in the English and French 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, before winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.
I first came across the Richard Hannon-trained runner at Newbury last April. Having failed in an attempt to get to Jersey for a wedding (ash cloud from hell) four of us hit the road for Greenham Stakes day.
It was only the second race meeting I'd ever been to, and my knowledge of the sport back then was limited to understanding that the first horse past the winning post was usually declared the winner.
With limited funds at my disposal, I sat out a number of races, including the Greenham, but I picked Dick Turpin out before hand (as a sort of pin-drops-here type choice). An 8/1 victor that day, my allegiance to the colt had begun. But it wasn't until Newmarket two weeks later that I began following in earnest.
It was my stag do, and there was Dick Turpin lining up as a 25/1 shot in the 2000 Guineas. Ludicrous, I thought.
Advising all around me to back him each-way at the price, I was delighted when he put in another strong performance to finish just behind Makfi in second, and once again ahead of stablemate Canford Cliffs (a horse, despite his performances since, I've never taken to).
That was the last time I saw Dick Turpin in the flesh, but after two more good performances, myself and two mates backed him to great success in the Prix Jean Prat, a run that cemented his place as my favourite horse to date.
Following that French success, a move up to 10 furlongs at York for the Juddmonte didn't work out, neither did a crack at Goldikova in the Prix De La Foret, which finished off his three-year-old campaign.
Thrown back into the fray this April for the Sandown Mile, he made short work of his Group 2 opponents, setting up another clash with Canford Cliffs in the Lockinge at Newbury. Bumped when he was about to make a challenge, Dick Turpin finished an unlucky fourth (although he wouldn't haven't beaten Canford Cliffs anyway). A heavy defeat over a longer trip in France soon after led to my second best bet of the year, at Ascot in July. Entered in another Group 2 contest (the Summer Mile), the four-year-old was second favourite behind Side Glance. Not for the first time, I used the word ludicrous to anybody that would listen. Dick Turpin was 9/4, and once again he duly obliged, beating an out-of-his-depth Side Glance by three lengths.
Another crack at competing in France ended in failure, before the final victory of his career was chalked up in the Group 1 Premio Vittorio Di Capua in Italy. His season finished with British Champions Day, which unfortunately, was one too far again, thus signalling an end to a racing career that brought with it a number of memorable displays. None more so than me and my friends celebrating, either at the track, in the pub, or via text message.

British Champions' Day on the penultimate weekend of the flat season

A star-studded climax to the British Champions Series brings together some of the best horses of the season for the richest day in British racing. Frankel is probably the biggest name taking to the track, with Sir Henry Cecil's three-year-old looking to continue his unbeaten career record in the QEII Stakes. Fame And Glory takes on Opinion Poll in the Long Distance Cup, So You Think is favourite for the Champions Stakes and Society Rock bids for a second Group 1 victory of the year in the Sprint Stakes.

British Champions Day
Ascot (Good)

1.50 Long Distance Cup (Group 3) 16f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Opinion Poll (Mahmood Al Zarooni/Frankie Dettori) 9/4fav or Colour Vision (Mark Johnston/Silvestre De Sousa) 20/1ew
Following Fame And Glory's (AP O'Brien/Jamie Spencer, 11/4) win in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot it looked like Aiden O'Brien's charge would sweep all before him. Two unconvincing runs later and this contest doesn't look quite so straight forward. Opinion Poll, second in the Gold Cup, has been as consistent as ever this season, winning the Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup since, and is my pick to take his third big race of the year. Colour Vision was third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last week, has two wins over 16 furlongs already this year, and receives 11 pounds in weight because of his age. Up in grade, but each way claims.

2.25 Sprint Stakes (Group 2) 6f, 3-year-olds+ (16 runners)
Society Rock (James Fanshawe/Pat Cosgrave) 6/1ew or Libranno (Richard Hannon/Kieren Fallon) 33/1ew
Indications are the ground will suit Ascot specialist Society Rock on Saturday, with the four-year-old reserving his best runs for the track. Winner of this year's Golden Jubilee Stakes, the colt has an excellent chance of heading off the challenge of stablemate Deacon Blues (James Fanshawe/Johnny Murtagh, 9/4fav). Libranno is possibly suited by further, but the three-year-old did finish fourth in the Group 1 July Cup over this distance at Newmarket. The price is excellent if managing to get four places each way.

3.00 Fillies' & Mares' Stakes (Group 2) 12f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Banimpire (J Bolger/ ) 10/1ew or Gertrude Bell (John Gosden/William Buick) 14/1ew
Irish raider Banimpire has performed admirably in Ireland, France and Britain this season, with her best run coming in the Irish Oaks where she was just touched off by Blue Bunting. The weight advantage given to three-year-olds could give her the edge over lightly-raced favourite Ferdoos (Roger Varian/Neil Callan, 7/2). Gertrude Bell is my pick of the older runners. John Gosden's four-year-old is undefeated in two races this season.

3.35 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) 8f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Frankel (Sir Henry Cecil/Tom Queally) 4/11fav or Dick Turpin (Richard Hannon/Christophe Soumillon) 25/1ew
Possibly the easiest race of the card to call. The undefeated Frankel takes to the track for a ninth career outing, looking to add a fourth Group 1 victory of the year to his record. Fellow three-year-olds Excelebration (Marco Botti/Jamie Spencer, 6/1) and Immortal Verse (Robert Collet/Gerald Mosse, 6/1) are strong challengers, but Frankel should have more than enough ability to prevail. Four-year-old Dick Turpin, off the back of a Group 1 triumph in Italy last month, is an excellent each way price, and the pick of the older horses.

4.10 Champions Stakes (Group 1) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (12 runners)
Twice Over (Sir Henry Cecil/Ian Mongan) 9/1ew or Wigmore Hall (Michael Bell/Jamie Spencer) 33/1ew
The best race in terms of quality depth appears to be at the mercy of New Zealand star So You Think (AP O'Brien/Ryan Moore, 9/4fav), but the five-year-old's defeat to the late Rewilding at Royal Ascot shows he is far from unbeatable. This is why my pick is Twice Over, who has put poor early performances this season behind him and looks primed for another big run. French runner Cirrus Des Aigles (Mme C Barande Barbe/Christophe Soumillon, 8/1) is also a contender, along with female stars Midday (Sir Henry Cecil/Tom Queally, 7/1) and Snow Fairy (Ed Dunlop/Olivier Peslier, 8/1). Best each way value could be the globetrotting Wigmore Hall, however, who won the Group 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes in Canada last month.


4.45 Future Stars Apprentice Handicap (Class 2) 7f, 3-year-olds+ (29 runners)
The Confessor (Henry Candy/Martin Harley) 11/1ew fav or Valencha (Hughie Morrison/Harry Bentley) 14/1ew
Rounding the card off is a large handicap for apprentice jockeys. Martin Harley and Harry Bentley are two of the more accomplished young pilots in Britain at the moment, and both appear to have been given a good chance of victory. The Confessor hasn't won since last August but is a consistently good performer over seven furlongs. Valencha is another consistent type who has finished fourth or better in all 16 career outings.

Newmarket's two-year-old finale

Saturday marks the final time for many two-year-olds to shine in their juvenile year, with Newmarket hosting four excellent contests that include young stars Caspar Netscher, Power and Family One. There is also plenty of action for the older horses too, with Strong Suit looking for a third season victory over seven furlongs, and 34 runners lining up for the Cesarewitch Heritage Handicap.

Newmarket (Good To Firm)

2.05 Challenge Stakes (Group 2) 7f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Strong Suit (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 11/8fav
Strong Suit bids for a third win of the season over this distance and is rightly favourite in an exposed field. Chachamaidee (Sir Henry Cecil/Tom Queally) is the form filly in this equally split lineup, and should push Richard Hannon's runner all the way. I'm struggling to make a case for the rest.

2.35 Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) 6f, 2-year-old colts (16 runners)
Lilbourne Lad (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 12/1ew or Tough As Nails (Michael Mulvany/GF Carroll) 20/1ew
On the face of it, Lilbourne Lad has struggled to match his early season form recently. But in his last three starts Richard Hannon's runner has given weight away each time. This will not be the case on Saturday. He has so far taken to all ground types and looks a real danger to the more fancied pair of Caspar Netscher (Alan McCabe/Robert Winston) and Family One (Y Barberot/Olivier Peslier). Tough As Nails makes his first journey across the Irish Sea, and could enjoy the drop back in trip.

3.10 Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) 7f, 2-year-olds (9 runners)
Power (AP O'Brien/Ryan Moore) 7/2fav or Red Duke (John Quinn/Tom Eaves) 16/1ew
Already a Group One winner in Ireland (National Stakes), Aidan O'Brien's Power looks an exciting prospect. With Ryan Moore back on board following the pair's triumph at Royal Ascot in June, they could take some catching. Unbeaten duo Bronterre (Hannon/Hughes) and Ektihaam (Roger Varian/Richard Hills) should progress, as could long-shot Factory Time, back up in trip. Red Duke is level in weights for the first time in three runs, making him attractive at each-way prices.

3.50 Cesarewitch (Heritage Handicap) 18f, 3-year-olds+ (34 runners)
Cosimo De Medici (Hughie Morrison/Robert Havlin) 16/1ew or Ermyn Lodge (Pat Phelan/Ian Mongan) 25/1ew
The biggest race of the day in terms of size, and the only handicap on the card, also makes the Cesarewitch the toughest call of the afternoon. A number of the runners have a chance, with favourite Tuscan Gold currently trading at 11/1. My preference is for Cosimo De Medici following his victory over course and distance last time up. I also expect the lightly-raced Ermyn Lodge to run well now reunited with Ian Mongan.

4.25 Rockfel Stakes (Group 2) 7f, 2-year-old fillies (9 runners)
Sunday Times (Peter Chapple-Hyam/William Buick) 4/1fav
Sunday Times moves up to seven furlongs for the first time, but with ground conditions in her favour, and an excellent performance in the Cheveley Park Stakes last time out, she should be capable of better still.

5.00 Autumn Stakes (Group 3) 8f, 2-year-olds (8 runners)
Astrology (AP O'Brien/Joseph O'Brien) 7/4fav
This race marks Astrology's third career start, and first in the UK. Having won a maiden over the distance at  Leopardstown, a drop to seven furlongs brought a third-placed finish in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at Curragh. Probably the best bit of form on offer. Perennial will no doubt be open to plenty of improvement following his maiden win at Doncaster last month.

5.35 Darley Stakes (Group 3) 9f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Dux Scholar (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) 4/1
The only issue with Dux Scholar will be the ground. Having not finished outside the top four in any of his nine career starts, Sir Michael Stoute's three-year-old should continue his consistent form. The weight allowance is also a help. Retrieve is an interesting newcomer for Godolphin, after moving over from Australia following a fourth placed effort in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April.

York (Good To Firm)

3.25 Rockingham Stakes (Listed) 6f, 2-year-olds (7 runners)
Bannock (Mark Johnston/Silvester De Sousa) 10/3
Although Bannock's run in the Two-year-old Trophy at Redcar last week is a slight concern (the draw could be an excuse), he's been decent enough through his debut campaign and should be thereabouts again here. Firth Of Clyde Stakes winner Roger Sez is an obvious danger, as is Miss Lahar.

Cape Blanco retires

I've been trying to think of reasons why the retirement of Cape Blanco on Monday made me a bit sad. I haven't been interested racing for that long (about 18 months) so it's not as if I've followed the four-year-old's career in entirety. I saw him race in the flesh once, in the 2010 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, but at that stage of my racing education, I wasn't really aware of what was going on. It's not a nationalistic thing, as the colt is Irish and only raced in Britain three times. He isn't even my favourite horse. That honour goes to another four-year-old in Dick Turpin.

The first time I paid proper attention to the AP O'Brien-trained runner was while watching his victory in the Irish Champion Stakes last September, when he destroyed a field that included Rip Van Winkle. But again, I bypassed him through the early part of this year, until to my surprise, he turned up on the card for the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park, NY.
After spending a lot of this year trying, and mainly failing, to get acquainted with US racing, the presence of Cape Blanco on Long Island suddenly got my attention. As did the booking of Jamie Spencer as pilot. The fact that horse and jockey won comfortably only sought to heighten my interest.
When the pair teamed up again for the Arlington Million in August I decided to back the horse for the first and only time, at a ridiculously large price of 7/2. Suffice to say, victory came without too much difficulty.
The final act of what amounted to a nine-win, 14-race career saw the son of Galileo pushed all the way by Dean's Kitten back at Belmont Park. The American hat-trick was complete.

Maybe it's because he won me some money. That, I have found, always plays a part in following a horse's career. But more than that, I feel it's down to his sustained success in America, and the thoughts of what might have been at the Breeders' Cup in November. Unlike a couple of last year's European successes in the US, Debussy and Dangerous Midge, Cape Blanco wasn't a flash-in-the-pan. Lets hope his new career is as successful as his old one.