Saturday's Previews
With cloudless June skies forecast, Saturday at Hastings promises to be a red-hot affair, with seven races headlined by some classy-looking Allowance contests and the first 2yo race of the season
MERRY BLUE, who overcame an outside gate position and a three-wide challenge on the home turn, had PETERSON LANDING behind when chasing home Duxonthepond last time. A repeat of that first Hastings effort for the California import would make her a tough nut to crack. Like all her rivals today, she’s never attempted the distance, but was staying on well enough to suggest it shouldn’t be an issue. KARDINAL ROSE appears for the first time since winning impressively on her career debut, albeit in a moderate affair. This will be tougher but she’s another who runs as though the mile-and-sixteenth should suit. The distance also remains an unknown for FEISTY ELLA and CATTY DOM, who both make their first Hastings appearances after arriving from Golden Gate and Turf Paradise respectively.
This promises to be quite the rematch between DAPHNE and SOLARITY after the Stewards intervened last time; disqualifying Daphne in favour of Solarity, with today’s rival NEIGHNEIGH behind in third. Today’s contest is over a mile-and-sixteenth, however, and all three will have to contend with last season’s BC Oaks winner, ABOVE AVERAGE, who gets to strut her stuff over the long course after two ‘preps’ over shorter. NEIGHNEIGH was the leading juvenile filly two seasons ago but had an interrupted campaign last season. There was much to like about her comeback, however, and she’s another who should relish the distance.
The first 2yo race of the year is always highly-anticipated and, while the betting market should be the best guide, this promises to be a cracker, with some well-related youngsters in the line-up. MOUNT DOOM must overcome the dreaded inside draw, but has been working well and is a half-brother to the former Champion BC 2yo, Mount Asgard. It’s also worth noting that barn-mate SWEET GYSPY ROSA’s full-sister, BB’S WILDFIRE, won at the first time of asking. BREEZIN BRIANNE is another who has been showing up well in the mornings and is a half-sister to one of last year’s best juveniles, Diocles, while REVEALING SUN topped last year’s CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale and is a half-sister to recent Oaklawn Allowance winner, Escapologist.
WHAT’S SHAKIN was given a lovely introduction to racing by Kerron Khelawan on his debut earlier this month. Settled in behind runners and allowed to find his groove, he stayed-on well to finish a never-nearer third behind two smart performers in Westminster and Run Rudolf. CROWN COUNCIL’s effort in the same race can safely be ignored as he was severely checked by the eventual winner, ending his chances before they’d gone a furlong. He’s better judged on his all-guns-blazing neck second to Diocles the time before and is a serious threat. RHUMBABA is an interesting debutante from the in-form Rob Maybin barn. He’s a half-brother to two Stakes winners in TOO SEXY and SLIPSTREAM and has been working solidly in the mornings. SHOCK THE HOUSE makes his season debut after just one run as a 2yo last season when second to recent Allowance winner, Bakburner. There will also be much interest in debutante EVANDERKEEN, who is a half-brother to last year’s leading 3yo, Sunbird.
CURLIN ROCKS has emerged as a leading 4yo this season following two thoroughly professional wins. This represents the toughest challenge faced so far by the son of Fast Anna, although he has yet to be fully extended by his rider Amadeo Perez who plumps for the striking-looking chestnut over the more-than-useful COUNTERACT. GUNFIGHTER lost any chance he held when stumbling out of the gate in Curlin Rocks’ race. That was his first appearance since ’22, but he was a top-class performer that season, hitting the board in three midsummer Stakes races and should be a different proposition today. NINE ONE ONE makes his first appearance of the season after spending much of last year on the sidelines. The year before, however, he landed two valuable Allowance contests at Emerald Downs and was second in a division of the CTHS Sales Stakes races. He’s no makeweight.
MISS ACCELERATE had PERFECT PENNY and NOTHINGBUTSUNSHINE well held when chasing home Texas Legacy last time and this moderate affair looks like her best opportunity to get off the mark at Hasting since arriving from Emerald Downs over the winter. FLYING MISS led gate-to-wire to break her maiden on her season debut back in May but appeared outclassed last time and drops onto the bottom rung here. PENALTY TO RANGERS has been knocking on the door all season and, while not one to trust with the mortgage payments, shouldn’t be too far away now that she returns to the bottom rung of the ladder.
CEREBRO has bumped into a couple of smart ones this season, finishing second to Lucky Force on opening day and then running into Finding Ways last time. A repeat of that will make him difficult to stop, although it’s a long way from an easy challenge. SHARPZAN was behind Cerebro last time but was steadied in traffic when making his move and there should be plenty of front-end speed for him to chase today. TIZ VICIOUS takes a small step up in class after nipping I’M CORFU on the line last time, while this also looks well within the capabilities of STAR ENTRY, who drops back in distance but had previously been mixing it in better company than he faces here.
Lisa & Mike’s Saturday Selections
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Family Ties Go Way Back For Hastings Leading Trainer
Steve Henson, 68, is having more fun these days than most kids half his age.
Currently the leading trainer at Hastings Racecourse, Henson has been part of the scene coming up 50 years. He loves what he does making a modest living and more importantly loves the people he works with seven days a week.
“I grew up five blocks from the track,” Henson says. “My mom and dad would take me to the races and I was in awe seeing the horses run. I still am. They’re like little children. They have quirks and bad habits and we are like parents. These animals are very competitive. They just want to be in front all the time.”
After 14 race days and 62 starts on the 2024 racing calendar, Henson has a comfortable lead in the Hastings trainer standings with 19 wins. One of those victories was by We B Three in the inaugural Stakes of the season, the $50,000 Emerald Downs on June 8.
“It’s pretty basic stuff,” Henson suggests. “We have a phenomenal crew starting with my son Robbie. He’s my backbone, a total breath of fresh air. Some of our team in the backstretch have been with us for 30 years. We were the first to be active for training on the track the last two weeks of January and haven’t let up.”
Henson has been training for Dairen Edwards, owner of Willow Creek Farms, the past five years and says each year “gets better and better” because of the great working relationship they share. “We talk every few days and it helps that Dairen lets me do things my way,” Henson grins.
The Henson name appears frequently throughout the Official Racing Program at Hastings. When 5-year-old Barney Google ran in a claiming race on June 8 under trainer Robbie Henson, the owners were listed as Michelle Roberts-Henson, Brad Henson, Randy Henson and Dan Henson, as well as non-family member Trevor Irwin.
Steve joyfully shared the Henson owners this way: “Michelle, Robbie’s wife; Brad, my nephew; Randy, my brother, Dan my nephew.” On occasion, the name Lori Henson appears as a co-owner along with Helen Klimes. Steve proudly points out: “That’s my wife, my best friend.”
It’s a happy clan. And none is happier than the leader of the pack.
Agent can be ruthless helping his jockeys,
but has kind heart for children
Randy Goulding: Jockey's ruthless streak only applies when in a race, off-track a heart of gold makes the winner's circle.
Randy Goulding • Special to Postmedia
Courtesy Vancouver Sun…
Deservedly or not, and probably deservedly, jockey agents at Hastings Racecourse have developed a reputation for being ruthless.
Trapper Barroby, who is the agent for leading rider Amadeo Perez, Kimal Santo and beginning this week Antonio Reyes, doesn’t disagree with the above statement.
“I can be ruthless, but I’m not completely untrustworthy” said Barroby with a glint in his eye. “But I will do anything it takes to get my jockey the best mount in a race.”
A good example of what Barroby will do to get a good mount happened a few years ago when I was an agent. I had to miss a day of entries and Barroby told me he would help me out. I gave him the list of mounts my riders had and he told me he would make sure they had the mounts. However, when the entries came out, a couple of horses my jockeys were supposed to ride had his riders named on them. I wasn’t shocked and just laughed when I saw what happened.
There is a big heart somewhere in Barroby’s makeup though. When he isn’t booking mounts at Hastings, he spends his time helping children in Thailand and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
“I feel a lot better in the winter when I am doing what I can to make things better for people,” said Barroby.
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