Monumental Gamble

A truly monumental gamble landed at Lingfield today in the shape of Brabazon.
Unraced since June 2008 and having never won a race in eighteen previous starts the beast was available at 50’s early, was gambled down to 11-4 favourite and duly obliged.
To add to the fairytale feel of our story the horse was ridden by a young chap called Freddie Mitchell landing his debut win on his very first run under rules. The youngster picked up the ride as planned pilot Graham Watters was reportedly held up by the bad weather conditions and arrived five minutes too late to get the leg up.
Christmas has come early for some people!

A Tingle Of Excitement

No great surprise to hear this morning that Market Rasen and Leicester have abandoned their Thursday jump fixtures after failing inspections on Tuesday morning. Plumpton are to inspect later today in regard to their meeting scheduled for Wednesday. Lingfield and Southwell on the All Weather go ahead today (Tuesday).
Some good news as the entries for the Tingle Creek have been announced and Paul Nicholls is represented with the expected strong hand with both Master Minded and Twist Magic among the ten. Nicky Henderson is also double handed with his French Opera and Petit Robin entered; Somersby, Gauvain, I'm So Lucky, Kinkeel, Mahogany Blaze and Oiseau De Nuit make up the full list.
Fingers crossed for the meeting getting the go ahead. The BBC weather report shows no more snow this week for Esher but with temperatures not getting above freezing until Saturday and then only just.
It is one of my favourite meetings of the year and as ever I have tickets – but at the moment it is not looking good.

Weekend Preview

Here we go round the Mulberry bush, the Mulberry bush, the Mulberry bush. Here we go round the Mulberry bush, On a cold frosty morning. Not quite Arctic conditions at Girdy Towers just yet, but blooming cold!
It is not looking good for the weekend having already lost Newcastle and Towcester to the weather; Newbury are though still very hopeful that their meet will go ahead. Big Bucks of course looks a good thing in the Long Distance Hurdle and I will be having a couple of bob each way on Dirty Dozen listed horse Diamond Harry in the Hennessy Gold Cup. All the best to Denman in his quest for an unprecedented third win in the race.
Down at Kempton in the Williamhill.com Hyde Stakes the lightly raced The Cheka has a big chance if taking to the all weather track. Campaigned at the highest level through the summer, including a run in the Lockinge Stakes, the colt ran a nice race at Newmarket last time out and is fancied to take this Listed event.
Be lucky

Newcastle Lost To The Snow

The weekends fixture at Newcastle has been lost to the snow and officials are currently working on options concerning the running of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle which was of course was the planned seasonal reappearance of Binocular. Nicky Henderson apparantley prefers Newbury for the replacement running, personally, on a purely selfish note as I am there, Sandowns Tingle Creek meeting would be my choice - what a cracking card that would be.

Meeznah Disqualified

Bad news today for David Lanigan as his Meeznah has been thrown out of the Oaks having been found guilty of failing a drug test. Following the disqualification, the result of the Oaks will be amended with Remember When being promoted to second and Marcus Tregoning trained Rumoush being declared third.
Lanigan was fined £750 following Meeznah's disqualification at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary inquiry, the source of the drug was never confirmed.
Owners Saif Ali and Saeed Altayer have pledged to stand by the fledgling Newmarket based handler. Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Ali and Altayer, is quoted as saying ‘Obviously we knew about this for some time and it was inevitable. It had to go through the correct procedures and we're obviously disappointed she has lost second place. The inquiry was very thorough and every avenue was exhausted as to how it (ACP) has got in there. They (the BHA disciplinary panel) couldn't find any fault with David's stable management but somehow it has ended up in her blood stream. The good thing is they can't attach any blame to anyone and we will be giving David our full support, and will continue to support him. Meeznah stays in training as a four-year-old and we're hopeful she can redeem herself.’
The result is a real blow for a young trainer who has made a great start to his training career.
One thing is for sure the fact it has taken five months for this sorry story to come to fruition is unacceptable and to have a revised result of a classic run in June announced in November is ridiculous.

The Thursday Titter X

A jockey is in the unsaddling area of Huntingdon. His horse has trailed in at the back of the field and he is trying to explain the problem to the trainer.
‘That's not his trip, guv'nor,’ says the jock ‘I think he'd get three miles.’
The trainer looks at the jockey and says ‘Three miles? He wouldn't get three miles in a ****ing horse box.’

Who’s A Naughty Boy Then?

Trainer David Lanigan is set for a visit to the BHA disciplinary panel on Thursday (25th) it has been announced after it emerged that his charge Meeznah tested positive for ACP after the Oaks in which the filly finished second.
Elsewhere Sam Twiston-Davies will be appealing against the three day suspension dished out to him at Kempton for careless riding on board Mad Moose on Monday. Twiston-Davies had of course received a five day ban on the Sunday for his ride on Hello Bud (a winner tipped here on Girdys Gee Gees) for excessive use of the whip.

Looking Ahead

Champion Hurdle winner Binocular and the unbeaten Peddlers Cross are due to do battle at Newcastle on Saturday in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle - weather permitting. Binocular is one of my horses to follow this year and I would expect the six-year-old to prevail.
Big Bucks looks to have a straight forward assignment at Newbury in the Long Distance Hurdle on Saturday in what on paper should be no more than a racecourse gallop for the dual World Hurdle winner.
Denman will of course be going for a third win in the Hennessy Gold Cup and it would be marvellous to see the horse manage it. He has got to shoulder 11st 12lb and it will take an almighty effort off that weight and one of my other horses to follow Diamond Harry will be there or there about I hope and is worth a little investment at 7-1. The Nick Williams trained seven-year-old will be carrying 27lb less than the favourite.
Another of my horses to follow for the Jumps season Medermit will be out to redeem himself at the Tingle Creek meeting according to reports. The Alan King trained grey, one time Arkle favourite until blotting his copy book by refusing at Huntingdon on his seasonal reappearance, looks likely to run in the Henry VII Novices' Chase. I haven’t given up on him yet and look forward to seeing him run.

Imperial Debate - Horses Welfare First

The reported cut to the back of his near-fore suffered by Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander at the weekend has got the posters on the RP website hot under the collar. Opinion appears to be split between those who feel Nigel Twiston-Davies is doing the right thing taking no risks with a stable star and those who think connections are using it as an excuse not to show up at Kempton on Boxing Day to take on Kauto Star. A lot of the talk it must be said appears to be coming from the pockets of punters and disturbingly a number show little concern for Imperial Commander.
My point of view is if the horse is injured he must be rested and it would be wrong to race him under prepared be he a Gold Cup winner or a low grade handicapper. As much as we all want to see the best horses racing each other, better that when a horse races it is fully fit and able to give its best than when rushed back from a small injury at the risk of suffering a more complicated one.
The welfare of the horse must at all times be the top priority and if a trainer of the stature of Twiston-Davies says his charge needs a week at least in his box then I see no reason to disbelieve him.
Also, and something that appears to have been overlooked by many, credit should be given to Nigel Twiston-Davies for informing the public as he did.
I personally hope Imperial Commander returns to full fitness soon and look forward to the clash with Kauto Star be it at Kempton on Boxing Day or at Cheltenham come March with Denman and co hopefully also all taking their place in the starting line-up.

Becher Briefing

Not a bad Saturday though at the prices the cruise in the Med will have to wait for another week. Master Minded won like a good horse and Imperial Commander, though looking to tire a little, got the job done nicely enough with everything but the fast finishing Tidal Bay well beat. I was a little disappointed with Zaynar but hopefully he will come on for the run and be back to his best soon - the winner looked a handy horse and is in the notebook.
Its the Becher Chase up at Aintree today and I like the look of Hello Bud. The Twiston-Davies gelding has won three 'Nationals' including the Scottish version in 2009 and ran a big race in the real thing here last year. Distance and conditions under foot won't be a problem and at 8-1 the bay must be worth a couple of quid each-way.
Be lucky

Weekend Preview

A cracking weekend of racing ahead with a number of the big guns from the jumping game in action.
At Ascot two time Champion Chase winner Mater Minded will be taking on five rivals in the Amlin Chase. The seven-year-old faces a test of his stamina in the two mile three furling race having never before won beyond two mile one but I expect him to make a winning start to his campaign.
Zaynar is looking for a repeat performance in the Coral Hurdle having won the race last year. Two for two at the track the grey looks a good bet to take this on his way to bigger engagements later in the season. Victor Chandler is on record as stating he thinks ‘Zaynar is bigger and stronger this season’ and that ‘Zaynar's main aim this season will be the World Hurdle where we believe the step up to three miles will suit him very well.’
Up at Haydock Imperial Commander will be making his seasonal reappearance and is fancied to take the Betfair Chase. Nigel Twiston-Davies is expecting a ‘huge run’ according to his interview on the Racing Post website and that is good enough for Girdy to invest a bob or two.
Be lucky

Ballydoyle Vacancy Update

Christophe Soumillon has signed up with the Wildenstein stable in France it has been announced meaning he is now out of the running to take over the vacancy at Ballydoyle. Colm O'Donoghue has taken over as 2-1 favourite in a new market with some interesting names available at bigger prices such as Olivier Peslier at 8-1. There is of course the possibility that the Ballydoyle team could simply take the approach of using the best jockey available which would be interesting next season but I would assume that approach is unlikely.
As I said last week I was considering putting the CV forward and the way it is going it might be worth a trip to the sauna to shed that last six stone or so!

The Thursday Titter IX

Paddy is walking down the road leading a horse when he bumps into his mate Sean from the pub.
His drinking buddy says to him ‘What are you going to do with that Paddy?’
Paddy replies 'Race it.'
Sean smiles and says ‘Well by the looks of it you will win!’

Cartier Racing Awards

The Cartier Racing Awards were handed out on Tuesday evening at a prestigious ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel (my invite must have been lost in the post). The Awards are determined by a points system with points awarded during the season in Pattern races combined with the opinions of a panel of racing luminaries and journalists headed by Brough Scott (surely just an oversight that my opinion wasn't requested this year and it can’t be long till I am asked to participate) as well as votes from readers of the Racing Post and the Daily Telegraph.
Goldikova was the star of the evening being named Horse of the Year following a wonderful season topped off with her win at Churchill Downs taking the Breeders Cup Mile for the third consecutive time. The mare beat off the likes of star miler Canford Cliffs, Champion Stakes winner Twice over, Derby and Arc hero Workforce and King George winner Harbinger to take the top prize. The mare was also named top Older Horse, a category she had won last year also. A full list of the winners can be found below.

2010 Cartier Racing Awards roll of honour:

Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Frankel

Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Misty For Me

Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Workforce

Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Snow Fairy

Cartier Sprinter: Starspangledbanner

Cartier Stayer: Rite Of Passage

Cartier Older Horse: Goldikova

Cartier Horse of the Year: Goldikova

Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Richard Hannon

No Big Guns For Commander

Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander returns to action at Haydock this weekend for the Betfair Chase. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained nine-year-old has been installed as odds-on favourite for the contest and connections are confident. Ian Robinson, a member of the Our Friends In The North syndicate that own the bay gelding is quoted in the racing press as stating ‘We've got the Betfair Chase, the King George and the Gold Cup, and we intend to compete in all three.’ He is also quoted as having said of the horse that he has ‘improved since last season.’
None of the 'big guns' will be taking him on but the Paul Nicholls trained What A Friend, who is no bad second string, will be lining up and it looks an intriguing contest.
It is a great opportunity for Imperial Commander to take up the gauntlet thrown down by Kauto Star at Down Royal earlier this month with Denman of course waiting back in the Nicholls stables entered for the Hennessy at Newbury on the 27th.
It will be an informative week or two.

Read In The Papers

The unbeaten Paul Nicholls trained Silviniaco Conti will be taking on some established stars in his next outing at Ascot for the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle including last year's six length winner Zaynar and former Champion Hurdle winner Katchit. The Alan King trained stable mate to Katchit, Karabak and Restless Harry also figure amongst the entries.
Master Minded will be returning to action on the same card. The two time Queen Mother Champion Chase winner will be testing his stamina in the two mile three furlong Amlin 1965 Chase, the horse has never won over further than two mile two furlongs.
The new boss of Johnny Murtagh has been announced, he will be retained by the Aga Khan in Ireland for next season. The Aga Khan has one hundred and twenty horses in training in the Emerald Isle with John Oxx and Michael Halford and Murtagh will of course be renewing his association with Oxx having been stable jockey for the trainer in the nineties up to 2003.

Ogee, Ogee, Ogee, Oi, Oi, Oi

Racing over the sticks is back in the spotlight and we have a cracking meeting at Cheltenham today.
I marked Ogee down as a staying chaser to keep an eye out for last year and he re-appears in the wide open 1.55 handicap chase over in the west country. At seven the chestnut gelding is still open to improvement and is worth a couple of bob at the 9-1 on offer early this morning.
Elsewhere Jazz Age has the chance to reverse the form with Moonbalej on terms much better than when they met at Plumpton last time and I doubt David Pipe has sent his charge all the way to Wetherby for a look at the scenery.
Be lucky

The Thursday Titter VIII

The trainer was giving last minute instructions to the jockey and appeared to slip something into the horse's mouth just as a steward walked by.
'What was that?' inquired the steward.
'Oh nothing' said the trainer, 'just a polo.'
He offered one to the steward and had one himself.
After the suspicious steward had left the scene and the trainer continued with his instructions
'Just keep on the rail. You are on a certainty. The only thing that could possibly pass you down the home straight is either the steward or me.'

Ballydoyle Vacancy

A lot of talk at the moment regards the job vacancy at Ballydoyle with Christophe Soumillon looking the most likely to be taking over the reigns so too speak. He has been cut on the betting lists to as short as 13-8 but as yet has only commented 'no comment'.
I was considering putting the CV forward but I just can't lose that last six stone to get back to my riding weight!

Plonker Of The Day

Plonker Of The Day Award goes to Chris Timmons over at Bangor in the 3.40 getting beat on Jeanry in the shadow of the post having been clear over the last. Easing his mount on the run-in almost to a walk the pursuing Monsieur under the encouragement of Matt Griffiths was gaining all the time and when Timmons reacted – all too late – to try and get Jeanry up and running again the inevitable happened with Monsieur prevailing by ¾ of a length.
According to reports Timmons was booed in the winners' enclosure and he certainly won’t be on many peoples Christmas Card list with apparently over £55,000 being matched on Betfair at 1.01.

RFC Wins An Award

I see the guys at Racing For Change are in the Awards already this year. Their ‘Free Week’ campaign was judged to be the best Media Relations Campaign of the year at the recent PRCA Awards; good luck to them and I am sure they all had a jolly good night out.
The organisation certainly knows a thing or two about self promotion, a quick glance at their own ‘news’ page on their website testifies to that, and they know how to garner column inches in the press as well. but I am guessing not many of the Trainers quoted in the racing press over the last few months were involved with the judging panel; can’t help but laugh every time Mark Johnston refers to them as Racing For No Change.
No doubt we can look forward to the lovetheraces website winning awards soon. Take a look if you have five minutes spare.
First off you have the ‘Voices of the races’ in which the very attractive Tabitha introduces herself as ‘A presenter and a commercial model from sunny Hull!’ and adds ‘What I know about horse-racing you could write on the back of a postage stamp’ and the intriguing Eliza who tells us she is ‘a Geographer by profession ‘ and that ‘during a year out, I fell into working as an in-house model for Agent Provocateur’ one way of getting teenage boys interested in the horses I suppose - the ‘Scene at the races’ section includes pictures of various people you don’t know and one great photo of the back of some blokes head – the ‘Fashion’ page is there so you are up to date with all the latest news in regard to whether heels or flats are the must have this year – the ‘Star Spotting’ page is the one in which you can find photos of people you may recognise such as ex-footballers and the cast members of a daytime soap opera– then there is the ‘What’s On’ page all about what courses are holding what concerts after racing, and then finally you come to the ‘Course Guide’ and ‘New to Racing’ sections just in case you actually wanted to know something about horseracing!
I am all for bringing new people to the sport but surely we should be using the brilliance of the sport itself and the enjoyment to be had from it as the main selling point not just as another jolly day out in which horses happen to be in the background.
Just this weekend we had the seasonal reappearance of Kauto Star and the wonderful battle for the Flat Jockeys Championship between Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes going down to the very last day just as in 2007 when Seb Sanders and Jamie Spencer shared the spoils – neither of which were even mentioned on the site.
It is good to see blogs from Amy Weaver and David Crosse on the lovetheraces site to give an insight into the life of a trainer and a jockey and the blog of Hilary Pavitt as a keen racegoer and owner but surely they should take a much higher profile position on a horseracing site? It is also nice to see the not so imaginatively named ‘Girls on Top’ section with short biographies of some of the top lady jockeys in the game today.
In truth though none of this tells us much that we didn’t already know or for that matter holds information that hasn’t been printed elsewhere before and often done better - see sites such as eclipsemagazine.co.uk which has the fashion pages and photos but also a complete racing news and features sections, blogs from jockeys, trainers and others, competitions, guides, reviews and an on-line shop.
Ultimately the questions that need answering are is the RFC actually doing anything that we haven’t seen before? If they are is anybody outside of the game taking any notice?

Weekend Review

The luck didn’t change much for me in the States following up on the three seconds and a non-runner on Friday night with three seconds a third and a non-runner on Saturday – Close but no cigar as they say!!!!! Even allowing for the Girdy coffers being somewhat depleted it was a great meeting yet again and stays firmly amongst my favourites of the flat season.
Back home congratulations to Paul Hanagan on his first British Flat Champions Jockey Title. Having started the final day of the season at Doncaster with 191 winners on the board, two clear of his rival Richard Hughes, the pair failed to get among the winners on Town Moor and Hanagan lifted the trophy. It has been a thrilling battle over the last eight months and credit to both men who have conducted themselves admirably throughout the season and showed true sportsmanship, a lesson many other sports would do well to learn from.

Breeders Cup

Its the day of the big meeting, hoping to be a little more successful than last night having picked three seconds and a non-runner from my six selections.
In the Juvenile Turf I will be siding with Mantoba who could be anything and is worth a punt.
For the Sprint I like the look of Smiling Tiger who looks a good animal and hopefully will go on the surface.
In the Turf Sprint my preference is for Silver Timber who won well last tine and has course and distance form.
For the Juvenile Boys At Tosconova will be hard to beat if getting the trip.
In the  Mile I have decided to go with Gio Ponti who must have a chance of lowering the colours of the great Goldikova having won on his last four starts at the trip.
The Dirt Mile can go the way of Tizway who won his prep race like a good horse.
For the Breeders Cup Turf the Girdy pennies will be going on Workforce; if the horse that won at Epsom and Longchamp shows up it is all over.
In the classic the romantic in me makes me plump for the magnificent Zenyatta to win for the twentieth time and enter the realm of legends.
Be lucky

Breeders Cup Friday

All eyes across the pond for the Breeders Cup.
In the Marathon I am going to stick with a European trained horse. Most of the Yankee horses have no experience over a mile and three quarters and I think Bright Horizon can take advantage. The colt showed improvement in winning the Irish Cesarewitch and if he goes on the dirt he can teach the home team a thing or two about staying.
In the Juvenile Fillies Turf there has been a bit of money for O'Briens Together but she was a little disappointing last time and the home team might have a good thing in the grey Winter Memories. I have watched the Miss Grillo Stakes and the filly won very nicely, a similar performance would be good enough to take the prize.
The Filly and Mare Sprint is a real puzzler. I have decided to go with the front running Rightly So. The filly has never finished out of the first three and I have watched the Ballerina Stakes several times and it is an impressive front running performance. A repeat of that and hopefully she can run the opposition off their feet again today.
In the Juvenile Fillies there is an argument to be made that the Brian Meehan trained Theyskens Theory should improve for the use of Lasix and that she is bred for the dirt being by Bernardini. If she was American trained she would be shorter than 7-1 and she is worth a few bob to nick this.
The Filly & Mare Turf sees Midday defending her crown. The filly has been better this year than last and on all known form she is a worthy favourite. It is hard to see any of her opponents improving enough the beat her.
I like the look of late and fast performer Blind Luck in the Ladies Classic. The filly won the Kentucky Oaks over course and distance and appears to be a fighter going down by a neck to Havre De Grace giving that filly 10lb last time out; off levels expect a different result.
Be lucky 

The Thursday Titter VII

Riding the odds-on favourite at Cheltenham a young conditional jockey is well ahead of the field two out.
Suddenly he’s hit on the head by a turkey and a string of sausages.
He manages to keep control of his mount and the beast pulls back into the lead, only for the jockey to be struck by a box of Christmas crackers and a dozen mince pies as he goes over the last fence.
With great skill the youngster manages to steer the horse to the front of the field once more when, at the start of the run in, he’s struck on the head by a bottle of sherry and a Christmas pudding.
He heaves himself back into the saddle and rouses his mount for one final effort up the hill but he succeeds only in coming second.
Upon dismounting he immediately goes to the stewards to complain that he had been seriously hampered.

Breeders Cup Update VI

Zanyatta is as low as 2-1 with some firms for the Breeders Cup Classic following sustained support for the unbeaten mare. If she can make it twenty wins from twenty runs by taking the big one for the second year running it would truly be one of the great racing stories of all time.
Michael Stoute has arrived in the States and having watched Workforce take a gentle piece of exercise at the track is quoted as saying ‘The track is in wonderful shape and it's got a nice covering of grass. There's been no rain and the ground is a bit faster than we would like.We just have to hope they put a bit more water on.’
American jockeys have been quoted as describing the going at Churchill Downs as ‘soft’ in direct contrast to the descriptions of ‘hard’ and ‘rattling’ used by European trainers and connections earlier in the week.

Breeders Cup Update V

Home is where the heart is; Richard Hughes will not be traveling to the Breeders Cup and will instead stay in Britain and attempt to claw back Paul Hanagans lead in the jockeys' championship. Hughes will of course be giving up the ride on Paco Boy in the Breeders Cup Mile with Ryan Moore taking over on the Richard Hannon trained colt.
Workforce had his first look at the Churchill Downs track and connections expressed concern about the conditions. Ryan Moore described the going as ‘Quicker than ideal’. Traveling head groom for the Stoute stable, Stuart Messenger, described the turf course as ‘Having a lush grass cover, but extremely firm underneath’. The Arc and Derby winner has drifted slightly in the betting.
Henry Cecil is another expressing worry in regard to the going at Churchill and is quoted as saying ‘They have to take the jar out of the ground. You can't expect them to be running on a road.’ but it looks likely that Midday will still take her chance in the Filly & Mare Turf having been drawn in stall seven for the race.
Following the draw on Tuesday afternoon Goldikova has eased in the betting having been allocated stall ten in the Breeders Cup Mile which does leave her on the outside with a short run to the first bend, Paco Boy has got box six. Zenyatta got stall eight in the Breeders Cup Classic and has been cut slightly on most books.
It has also been reported that the majority of the European raiding party including all of the Godolphin runners as well as Aidan O’Briens four runners will be using the anti-bleeding medication Lasix.

Breeders Cup Update IV

Goldikova will have to face Gio Ponti as she attempts an historic hat-trick in the Breeders Cup Mile. Connections of last years Breeders Cup Classic runner-up revealed in the early hours of Tuesday morning UK time that The Christophe Clement trained five-year-old will line up for the mile this year.
Workforce has experienced delays in traveling to the States it is reported. The favourite for the Breeders Cup Turf had to endure 18 hours of traveling before being safely housed in his barn at Churchill Downs. The Arc and Derby winner is said to have coped well with the delays caused by a bomb scare at Louisville International Airport and further delays with the vet checks and paperwork at the track, but it can hardly be considered ideal preparation.
The going at Churchill Downs turf track looks certain to be firm with track superintendent Butch Lehr reportedly saying that there had been no significant rain at the track since June. They have been watering the turf course but he has confirmed that the going will be firm.

Breeders Cup Update III

Richard Hannon has been talking up the chances of Paco Boy for the Breeders Cup Mile. Generally available at 6-1, behind 11-10 favourite Goldikova, Paco Boy is reported to have worked well recently under Richard Hughes and Hannon is quoted as being hopeful that the five-year-old can 'bring home a fistful of dollars.'
Richard Hughes though may not be in the States to get the leg up as it is reported on Monday (1st November) that the jockey said when talking about the big meeting ‘We'll wait and see for a day or two and see how things are then before making a decision about whether to stay here for the weekend.’ Richard Hannon Jnr had also earlier claimed in an interview on BBC Radio 4 that winning the jockeys title was more important to Hughes than riding at the Breeders' Cup.