Winston in trouble again

Frankie Lee

Pulled-up Southwell drifter subject of review

Racing Post staff

SHIWAWA was the subject of a review by the stewards and raceday veterinary surgeon at Southwell on Tuesday after being pulled up after his odds drifted markedly just before the off.

Trained by Alan Swinbank and ridden by Robert Winston, the triple bumper winner was making his Flat debut in the 1m4f maiden.

The son of Halling and a half-sister to Rainbow Quest opened at 9-4 at the track before being backed into 5-4.

Just before the off, his odds went out to 2-1 and Winston was pushing his mount along as soon as the stalls opened.

Winston was riding with urgency going into the first turn and then pulled up his mount as West With The Wind, who was backed into 6-4 favourite, ran out an easy winner.

He'd hardly be thick enough to get caught again.

RichieLawlor

Frankie Lee wrote: »

He'd hardly be thick enough to get caught again.

Lol

rynners

backed SHIWAWA at 11/8 and again at 7/4, it was in the last minute before the off that he drifted. To be fair I don't have any complaints. I think he might have hated the surface and kickback. These things can happen.

If I was proven wrong though I'd be furious.. had loads on him.

Morgans

Not sure Winston could have done anything about the horse failing to win in the race itself. However it was clear that someone at worst suspected that the horse wouldn't act on the surface. Maybe Winston was part of this information, maybe not.

gscully

"The son of Halling and a half-sister to Rainbow Quest "

Christ...no wonder the vets want to have a look

Frazzled

Morgans wrote: »

Not sure Winston could have done anything about the horse failing to win in the race itself. However it was clear that someone at worst suspected that the horse wouldn't act on the surface. Maybe Winston was part of this information, maybe not.

The horse was a scandalous price on its first run on an all weather surface against a reasonably reliable 75 rated performer. Anyone taking odds on or 1/1 were really on at a bad price. It had never raced on the flat and never been on an a/w surface (self explanatory since Lingfield did away with their hurdles) and it eventually drifted out to a price which at least could be justified. The drift itself raised alarms, but then the horse did not perform at all. I doubt whether they would have been blatant enough to stop him in that manner. I believe that the place market held up so I would hope that in this case, it was simply the layers recognising a value lay.

Morgans

I'd be willing to accept your version of events if Shiwawa had run any sort of a race. He was pulled up after 6f, but it could have been after 2fs.

It also would be something if his bumper form hadn't received a huge boost today at Chepstow. He gave Bensalem a stone at Sandown and was beaten 3l. Bensalem was punted confidently today and won. His bumper form is rock solid.

Add this to the trainers record at southwell, and his ability to turn bumper horses into flat winners (collier hill, turbo linn, alfie flits) meant that evens would be about right in a race. If Shiwawa acted on the surface it was odds on that his bumper form would translate into better than a mid 70s rated frustrating handicapper.

He either bounced, or didnt act on the surface, but the dramatic betting patterns suggests that someone suspected that he wouldnt be winning. Had he run his race and wasnt good enough, that would be fair enough, but he was beaten after 1/2f.

Frankie Lee

It seems nothing has ever come of this, apparently the horse had an irregular heartbeat after the race, but that does not explain betting patterns.

I think it was a storm in a tea cup and only was investigated because of Winston.