JAMIE SPENCER and Neil Callan banging in big race victories left, right and centre – few predicted that this Flat season but I’m enjoying it.
It’s certainly been refreshing to have a break from Frankie Dettori mania, which has already become a bit of a slog as a year long farewell was always going to be.
Frankie has been great for the game, but every big meeting being a tribute to him has its limitations.
There’s only so much you can say and it has now all been said.
Spencer has long been one of the great horsemen, although his way of doing things – often from off the pace – has left punters infuriated over the years.
Oddly those backers never consider one or two things.
Firstly, Spencer is brilliant from the front, suggesting there has to be more to his pigeon-holed reputation than meets the eye.
Indeed, it should get us all thinking that perhaps Spencer – without doubt a man with a racing clock in his brain – actually gets the best out of most of his charges.
That statement won’t be popular on social media where you are the devil incarnate if you ever defend Spencer.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Tote: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Bet UK: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets and Bonuses – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets (MOBILE ONLY)* – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets – CLAIM HERE
Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £5 and win or lose you will receive £20 Tote Credit. £20 Tote Credit rewarded as £10 redeemable against racing bets only and £10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org
Bet UK: New customers only. 7 days to deposit and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
William Hill – 18+. Pla18+. Play Safe. When you sign-up via Mobile using promo code N40 and place a bet of £10/€10 or more we will give you 4x £10/€10 free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. begambleaware.org
Betfair – New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Spencer has burst back on the scene in recent weeks, landing the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Khaadem and the Group 1 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh aboard Via Sistina.
Most read in Horse Racing
Punters devastated as 'hero' horse and Cheltenham Festival regular dies
Dettori's Sandown replacement named as superstar jockey sits out lengthy ban
My NAP can thrash rivals under William Buick for trainer Andrew Balding
This 10-1 shot looks dangerous after dropping down the weights
Prior to Khaadem, Spencer’s previous Group 1 victory was Danceteria in Germany back in 2019.
For a rider of Spencer's class that’s a long time between Group 1 drinks.
What it tells us is class is permanent, but opportunity is what it’s all about for those riders who are not always in fashion.
Callan has, of course, spent recent years in Hong Kong, but the outspoken character seems better than ever in the saddle and last year banged in Fonteyn in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes before his wins on Triple Time in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and then Calling the Wind in the Northumberland Plate.
Callan speaks out publicly – and privately to stewards so it appears from his Hong Kong exit – about issues in racing and is one of the few to do that. All credit to him.
I’m sure he annoys some of his colleagues intensely, but he’s mixing with a lot of people who never stand up for themselves and I’m pleased Callan has the ‘balls’ to do so.
It’s good to have a couple of riders away from the regulars doing well. Keep it up lads.
On Saturday I called for Auguste Rodin to do something special in yesterday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and he got the job done but I have to say he didn’t blow me away.
We are still waiting for a horse in Europe to do something truly special this Flat season, but hopefully that might come in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown.
That all said, Auguste Rodin has now won two Derbys after his flop in the 2000 Guineas and he’s clearly top class.
It will be interesting to see which route they go with him as he stays well and might easily land a St Leger.
However, from a stallion point of view that might be the last thing Coolmore want. Time will tell.
In general terms there seems little place for the Irish derby any more. With Coolmore more than likely to win it most years it has become a pointless race, and there seems little appetite for a French raider since their distance of the Prix du Jockey Club was reduced in distance.
In basic terms it’s a race that lacks any interest to most normal racegoers.
It’s not really anyone’s fault, just the way middle distance racing has gone.
Moving forward the rematch of Auguste Rodin with King of Steel will be eagerly awaited. The Epsom runner-up did well at Royal Ascot and might have much more to give.
One of the talking points in the Irish Derby came with the ride on runner-up Adelaide River.
There is no doubt if Adelaide River had been the odds on favourite ridden by Ryan Moore he would have got a harder ride between the 2f pole and 1f pole.
After the 1f pole the head on clearly shows Moore shut the door as best he could on Seamie Heffernan.
People on Twitter won't be happy unless you say it was a disgrace and Heffernan should be banned for life. Such is the world of social media.
Read More On The Sun
I made a joke about Ryanair’s cramped seats…I didn’t expect such a savage response
Expert shares five shoes that make you look tacky – Uggs need to go immediately
It won't placate those people that I think the best horse won and the second best horse finished second.
However Heffernan should have done more, for all he broke no rules, and if he had done so the race would have been much more exciting.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Source: Read Full Article
