Crowley calls it: “I’m sure Algometer is going to run a big race”
Champion jockey discusses weekend rides and Glorious Goodwood
Crowley on Battaash
It was brilliant to see Battaash bounce back from his defeat at Royal Ascot. There were a few factors that contributed to his defeat that day but I think the main one was that he just wasn’t in the same form that day as he was at Goodwood.
The stable wasn’t in great form at Ascot and when I pressed the button nothing happened. At Goodwood when I pressed the button he just took off and it was fantastic.
It was a terrific performance at Goodwood and Timeform rated it very highly. Although the second and third were eleven years old and nine years old, they were still two very solid sprinters and the time was really fast.
It was a huge thrill to be on board at Goodwood. It’s a huge buzz to ride a top sprinter like him.
It’s not often you see sprinters win by that distance, it’s usually much closer than that. If the same Battaash turns up at York in the Nunthorpe next Saturday he will be very hard to beat.
Twelve months ago he went to the Nunthorpe well fancied but blew the race before the start. I pretty much knew when I was getting on him that we were snookered.
He had a bit of a head on him last year, and even cantering down to post I knew our fate was sealed. He’s grown up a lot this year and seems to be calmer.
He behaved himself beautifully at Goodwood. He’s got a wild-side to him and I think that’s why he’s so good. I think that’s why people like the horse so much too.
I’ve had so many people come up to me since Goodwood to ask what Battaash is like to ride. It’s really nice and it feels like the public have latched on to him a little bit.
On Racing without the Whip
I keep reading about ideas and arguments for whip-less races. I really don’t support that idea. I’ve ridden in Scandinavian countries where they don’t use the whip and it was crazy.
Everyone was going flat out from the start, you couldn’t hold horses up, and it was very difficult to ride a race. There was also skulduggery going on off the track too, which is always a concern.
It would seem far better to educate people of the role the whip plays when riding horses, and to demonstrate the structure of the racing whip and how foam padded it is.
There should be people at every racecourse showing people the whip and explaining its use. I think that’s a better way to address the issue rather than introducing more races without whips.
The people behind this City-Racing initiative where they’ve said the races will be whip-less aren’t horse people they are business people.
I like the idea of City-Racing. It could work and you should always welcome innovation. We’ve seen Formula One bring Grand Prix to city centres so it can work, and is worth trying.
Saturday – Newbury
He’s going to struggle based on what he’s done so far. He’s shown okay promise in his two runs but will have to step up a good deal here.
I think his stable mate Bointron will be hard to beat in this race.
I love this horse. He won the Cocked Hat at Goodwood and then I rode him in the Derby. He’s a good horse. He won the Arc Trial at Newbury so we know he likes the track.
He ran very well last time out in France. I know David has been trying to step Algometer up in trip for a long time. He wanted to run him in the St Leger last year but the owner was keen to keep him at a mile and a half.
But he has the chance now over a longer trip. I think he can run a big race and he could then be a horse for the Irish St Leger.
I rode Raymond Tusk in the Coral-Eclipse and he is an interesting runner. He’s a three year old and he’s getting lots of weight from the older horses.
He could go well. However I do like Algometer and I’m sure he’s going to run a big race.
He’s come over from Ireland and this is his first run for Owen. He’s been gelded.
He has only won the one race in Ireland and he’s been running okay. It’s a bit of a fact-finding mission.
Yafta is a great horse. He won the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last time out. He’s stepping up to seven furlongs and I don’t think that will be a problem.
We’ve been discussing stepping him up in trip for a while. I’m not a big fan of Gustav Klimt, I think he’s very beatable.
I think Sir Dancealot and Librisa Breeze are the main two to beat. I was very impressed with Sir Dancealot last time.
I think Yafta will go really well. He’s a tough horse and he hasn’t been out of the first two all season.
He was an unlucky second over seven furlongs at Newmarket. I’m sure if it’s nice ground that he’s going to be there or thereabouts at the finish.
He just hasn’t disappointed us in any race. I thought he’d win at Newcastle but he still ran well in second that day and then put up a great performance in the Hackwood last time. I think seven furlongs will help him.
He was third on his debut at Ffos Las. He’s by Clodovil and they usually like decent ground.
He is going to have to step up on the form he showed first time out but Brian Meehan’s often do improve a lot for a run. That said it looks a decent race. I’m sure my horse can run well but it may be tough to win.
He’s slowly coming down the weights. He has blinkers on for the first time which will help. I’ve won on the horse before. This mile and a quarter should be fine. He’ll have an each way chance.
Jim
