Knicks Go won the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at storied Saratoga racetrack on Saturday with a dominant front-running tour-de force. Challengers moved up to him and he looked briefly under siege only to rebreak and draw clear. World class dirt horses with such a running style are very difficult to beat – they make their own luck out front sustaining a good gallop then find an extra gear when challenged.
Knicks Go had previously won the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile and the lucrative G1 Pegasus so is formidable in two turn dirt route races. A sporting tribute followed from rival trainer Ken McPeek, “Amazing how much speed he shows and carries it, – fantastic horse. Great job by Brad (Cox).”
At the opposite of racing class hierarchy comes Celerity – an unlikely “star” character in a weird story from Britain. This seven year- old finally shed her Maiden at the 106th attempt which stretches the notion of “if at first you don’t succeed – try again” to the outer limits!
Celerity begun her career in April 2016 and has spent the subsequent five years compiling the longest losing sequence in the history of British racing.
Her owner, Rick Heath was having a stag do at Haydock racecourse so persuaded the trainer, Lisa Williamson to enter all three of his horses on the day, including 33/1 Celerity, for some fun banter with his mates. By going all the way under claiming jockette, Erika Parkinson it gave the lads another reason to celebrate! Williamson summed up their spirit of irrational optimism, “You can never, ever give up hope. She’s an absolute legend and she has been running really well recently.”
Looking at local action, there are three horses to remark on from Saturdays Turffontein meeting:
Silver Tycoon got a neat speed score of 92 and this well- bred son of Silvano ex Soft Landing who was having only his third career start has scope to beat better fields under Sean Tarry’s care.
The cleverly named Captain Hindsight (s/s 94) secured his fifth career win. He mixes his form but has run higher numbers in the past so was deserving of this victory stretching out to 1400m for the first time.
Finally, iron mare Rouge Allure (s/s 99) continues to run fine races despite turning 8 years of age. In romping home in a handicap over a mile this daughter of Kahal took her number of wins to ten for trainer Stephen Moffat and staunch racing men, Goss and Rapp.