Steve Jones: “Champions Day was a reflection of a rather confused Flat season”

THERE was a certain sparkle missing from British Champions Day.

Some suggested it was sunk in the Ascot mud with the persistent autumn rain of the preceding weeks forcing three of the big races to be switched to the jumps track.

Luckily, the runners in the Long Distance Cup, Fillies and Mares’ Stakes and the feature Champion Stakes weren’t asked to tackle any hurdles but it was hardly ideal for a card containing four Group 1 prizes.

It was a third straight year Britain’s richest raceday was run on testing ground and it gave oxygen to those traditionalists who would prefer the flat season to fizzle out without one final bang like in the good ol’ days.

The craved-for fireworks were certainly missing despite some thoroughly entertaining racing.

Once the mud was wiped from the eye it became clear this had little to do with the predictable October ground conditions that give those horses with a penchant for the softer side a golden Group 1 opportunity. This was merely a reflection of a rather confused Flat season.

Over the summer months Enable dazzled, Battaash was breathtaking and Pinatubo proved perfect. All three will be back next year to keep us all dreaming through the winter months and all had valid reasons for going missing but it left Champions Day lacking, er, champions.

Stradivarius flew the superstars’ flag but the burden, after a hard season, proved a nose too much. His first defeat in exactly two years might have been in the most thrilling fashion but it meant the the Queen’s track wasn’t rocking to ‘We Are The Champions’ at the post-race sing song.

Kew Gardens triumphs in the Long Distance Cup!

✅ Two-time Group 1 hero ✅ Classic victor ✅ #ChampionsDay winner

Stradivarius is finally beaten but what a finish in a thriller at @Ascot pic.twitter.com/wPe5Ofy0w7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 19, 2019

 

There couldn’t be a more inappropriate theme tune to this year’s Classics than that old favourite from Freddie and his pals.

Magna Grecia, Hermosa, Anthony Van Dyck and Anapurna must be one of the most forgettable collection of Classic winners since Lord Derby made sure his family name went down in sporting history with the toss of a coin.

Star Catcher, King Of Change and Magical will probably live longer in the memory but they are sure to fade over time as the list of Champions Day winners grows longer on the honours board.

One of those who is sure to be around to see – and almost certainly ride – some of those is Oisin Murphy.

The 24-year-old, who has been class in and out of the saddle this year, was crowned champion jockey for the first time on Saturday. Those wanting to see the trainers’ title reach a pulsating climax will have to wait until New Year’s Eve.

Gosden and O’Brien are hardly going to be plotting a battle on the sandy straights of Southwell, Wolverhampton and Lingfield over the Christmas turkey but one or the other will take the title in the depths of the jumps season.

That’s more than two months after Champions Day and a good seven weeks after the turf tracks are put to bed.

The muddled end to the flat season means what should be a celebration akin to a closing ceremony is lost in all the confusion.

If Champions Day is to have the identity it deserves the curtain must come down at Ascot. There should be no encores as the audience drifts out in the following weeks.

To stumble on well into November does no one any favours and there is a solution.

Racing’s great and good no longer look down their noses at all-weather racing so the November Handicap could easily be transferred to Newcastle’s sand.

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for 11 of the 12 entries for Saturday's Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. Kameko (Andrew Balding) is the other entry

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) October 21, 2019

 

This week’s Vertem Futurity Trophy could become the first all-weather Group 1 or, alternatively, would complete Champions Day by replacing the Balmoral Handicap.

Doncaster would be a sizeable loser in such moves but racing would surely be a much bigger winner.