Author: GC

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4.10 Ascot, Friday, October 5th

In the Canaccord Genuity Gordon Carter Handicap (4.10) on Friday, What A Welcome has officially improved by 32lb since breaking his duck at Lingfield last November and has won seven of his last eight starts in doing so. The son of Nathaniel has his stamina to prove, having yet to win beyond 1 mile 5½ furlongs, but his latest effort, over 1 mile 4 furlongs on this course four weeks ago, was his best yet and he warrants maximum respect off a handicap mark just 4lb higher here. On the downside, the second, fourth and fifth on that occasion have all been soundly beaten since and the form of Patrick Chamings’ yard is a slight worry.

Nevertheless, What A Welcome has done very little wrong in his short, but prolific, career and, having won four times on the prevailing good going, should have underfoot conditions in his favour once again. Of course, an extra 2½ furlongs on a course on which races are against the collar for the last half mile or so will expose any stamina limitations but, in the absence of any conclusive evidence one way or the other, he remains a progressive, young horse whose best days are almost certainly ahead of him. It looks like a good opportunity to us and may well be worth a bet at  www.novibet.co.uk  .  At 5/1 it represents good price to chance and where that factor is present, it’s important not to end up regretting betting opportunities slipping through your fingers!

 

Selection: Ascot 4.10 What A Welcome to win 5/1

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Seattle Slew

Seattle Slew was voted American Horse of the Year in 1977, the year in which he became the tenth of thirteen horses to win the American Triple Crown. In fact, Until Justify, in 2018, Seattle Slew was the only undefeated American Triple Crown winner in history.

 

Seattle Slew was bred by Ben S. Castleman Sr., owned by Mickey and Karen Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill – who became known, collectively, as the “Slew Crew” – and trained, initially, by William H. “Billy” Turner Jr. He won all three starts as a juvenile, including the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, by 9¾ lengths, and was named American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse in 1976.

 

He also won the first three starts of his three-year-old campaign and, undefeated in six starts, was sent off 1/2 favourite for the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by Jean Cruguet, Seattle Slew pulled away at the top of the home straight, eventually beating Run Dusty Run by 1¾ lengths. He subsequently started 2/5 favourite for the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, beating Iron Constitution by 1½ lengths in the former and Run Dusty Run by 4 lengths in the latter, to take his career record to nine wins from nine starts.

 

Later that season, Seattle Slew was shipped, somewhat controversially, to California, with connections lured by the increased prize money, of over $300,000, offered for the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack. Having been unable to dominate and boxed in for most of the way, Seattle Slew couldn’t land a blow behind the winner, J.O. Tobin, and eventually finished fourth, beaten 16 lengths. Subsequent recriminations led to the sacking of Turner and his replacement with Douglas R. Peterson.

 

As a four-year-old, in 1978, Seattle Slew was beaten, at odds of 1/5, in the Paterson Handicap at Meadowlands Racetrack, after which Jean Cruguet lost the ride. However, under new jockey, Angel Cordero Jr., he beat Triple Crown winner Affirmed by 3 lengths in the Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park, in a time just 0.40 seconds outside the world record set by Secretariat in the same race five years earlier. At the end of his career, Seattle Slew had won 14 of his 17 races and over $1.2 million in prize money.

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The Royal Randwick Racecourse

Royal Randwick Racecourse is located on the eastern suburbs of Sidney. The racecourse is one of the most prestigious venues in Australia and the embodiment of Sydney racing. The racecourse is located minutes away from the city centre and is right by the airport.

The Royal Randwick is known to host all sorts of events from concerts to children events and cultural events, however; the venue comes to life during the Sydney and Spring Carnivals. The racecourse is full of entertainment and sporting enjoyment. Dining and entertainment options match the best across the world with 35 plus restaurants and bars. This combined by the avant-garde facilities makes for a venue perfect for race goers and family fun as well.

Royal Randwick has been part of the Australian racing culture for more than a century. The racecourse was first put into operation in 1833 when the main racing venue was moved from Hyde Park though the first event was private. At the time, the racecourse was known as the ‘any Course’ since this was the condition of the grounds. Racing ceased for a while during the 1840s and resumed again the year 1860.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the Randwick Racecourse in February 1992 and presided over the opening of the Paddock Stand. A request was made to the queen that the racecourse be named the Royal Randwick and she granted it thus changing the name. A letter from Kenneth Scott who was the Deputy Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II expressed how much the queen enjoyed her visit to the racecourse and how pleased she was to have opened the new Grandstand and legitimized the course’s name.

Randwick has been hosting some highly anticipated races over the years and also took over as host of The Championships from 2014. The Championships is a two day meeting in April to wrap up the season. The race meeting gives a whopping AUD$20 million in winnings and includes some notable races such as the Doncaster Handicap, Australian Derby and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In October 2017, the Royal Randwick hosted the most expensive turf race in the world; The Everest. The race comes with prize money of $10 million, making it the richest in Australian racing and across the world too.