The Hurricane returns

Hawk Wing

from the Racing Post

Fabre issues positive bulletin on Hurricane Run


by Tony O'Hehir (May 24)
ANDRE FABRE on Tuesday said that Hurricane Run was equipped to handle both the trip and ground at The Curragh on Sunday as he gave a positive bulletin on the world champion racehorse, set to make his first appearance of 2006 in what could be a small but select field for the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

France’s champion trainer completed the entry process to supplement the colt into the line-up for the Group 1 contest, for which there were only five other acceptors including the Champion Stakes and Dubai Duty Free winner David Junior.

Sunday’s race will be Hurricane Run’s first start since the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October and also his first race over an extended mile and a quarter since he suffered the only defeat of his career in last year’s Prix du Jockey-Club.

Fabre said: “Hurricane Run needs a race after being off for nearly six months. Hehas worked well in the build-up. He acts on any ground and an extended mile and a quarter should be fine for his first race of the year.

“For his first race of the year we don’t need a crazy gallop and at The Curragh there is a long straight. He is able to race close to the pace and has nearly made the running before.”

Fabre confirmed that Kieren Fallon, who rode the colt to victory at Longchamp, will be in the saddle again for the contest which could yield one of its smallest line-ups, with Alexander Goldrun, Ace and Lord Admiral uncertain runners.

Brian Meehan is keen to take on Hurricane Run with David Junior but, reluctant to run him on soft ground, is hoping conditions on the track improve.

“I spoke to the course this morning and they say it is getting better but there is an unsettled forecast,” he said. “The best we are hoping for is yielding by the end of the week. Yielding would probably be soft enough for him. He ran on slow ground in the Sussex Stakes last year and it didn’t suit him at all - he’s a good, fast-ground horse really.

“If everything isn’t right the horse will not run. We don’t have to make a decision yet and he won’t have to travel until Saturday. There are races like the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes, but the prize-money is fantastic so we’ll play it pretty cool. The Prince of Wales’s has always been a major target for him.

“I haven’t got a problem with him taking on Hurricane Run. I think David Junior is top class and we have no worries who we race against.”

Jamie Spencer, who collected a two-day ban at York that had ruled him out of action on Sunday, on Tuesday received permission from the HRA to change the dates of the sentence so that he could partner David Junior. He will now sit out May 29 and 30.

Maraahel had been left in on Sir Michael Stoute’s advice in anticipation of the field cutting up because of the wet weather and a decision on his participation will be taken later in the week.

Angus Gold, Hamdan Al Maktoum’s racing manager, said: “I don’t think soft ground would prevent him running. He handles most going, having quite a round action. We will see what looks like running and then decide.”

Alexander Goldrun could yet be rerouted from Saturday's Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes. Jim Bolger, trainer of the four-time Group 1 winner, on Tuesday said his plans for the mare were "fluid" and that he would talk to owner Noel O'Callaghan before deciding which race Alexander Goldrun will run in.

"We don't have to decide for a few days and we will talk about it," Bolger said.

Lord Admiral was on Tuesday looking an unlikely runner with trainer Charles O'Brien saying: "I left him in as I thought the race would cut up. However, he is a fast ground horse and I would find it hard to run him unless we get Sahara weather before the weekend which is highly unlikely."

Hurricane Run is 4-9 favourite with Cashmans and has also been installed at 11-4 to repeat his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe win by Ladbrokes.

fr wishy washy

With the current weather and the forecast for the next 3 or 4 days I'd say there's very little chance of seeing David Junior running.Still it would be interesting seeing Hurricane Run out again.

fade2black

That's "The Machine" to you...

masterK

It's looking like he could be racing by himself with the rest of the field all doubtful.

fade2black

Best to just cut the whole race completely. Minimum fields required.

fr wishy washy

Desperate race to look at considering prize money etc,not sure how impressive the fav was(awaits F2b rant:D ) but I'd say the trip was plenty short for him.

fade2black

He bit his tongue during the race....lost a shoe....had to make the running...still hacked up....

You're right though, the whole thing was ruined after the field became debleted.

fr wishy washy

fade2black wrote:

He bit his tongue during the race....lost a shoe......

/QUOTE]

Joking aside I didn't know the above and considering he got a bit upset in the preliminaries it makes his performance seem a bit better that at first glance.

Robin1982

I'm surprised that he was returned at 1/4 - I had priced him conservatively at 1/10. Alexander Goldrun prefers much faster ground and is no-where near as good as HR. Lord Admiral is simply a fast ground horse.

I don't envisage HR ever being beaten again, including a second Arc.

fade2black

Robin1982 wrote:

I'm surprised that he was returned at 1/4 - I had priced him conservatively at 1/10. Alexander Goldrun prefers much faster ground and is no-where near as good as HR. Lord Admiral is simply a fast ground horse.

I don't envisage HR ever being beaten again, including a second Arc.

I like the cut of your jib young man. I had a nice bet on him on the one occasion that he was defeated(and of course all the times he's won) and I can safely say that the best jockey won on the day and not the horse.

fr wishy washy

fade2black wrote:

on the one occasion that he was defeated(and of course all the times he's won) and I can safely say that the best jockey won on the day and not the horse.

Not a member of the Soumillion appreciation society then?.:p