RACING CONFIDENTIAL: The Cheltenham contender everybody has written off too quickly – and how one can capitalise to win massive
- PLUS: Frankie Dettori’s experience of the devastating LA wildfires up close
- Join Mail+ to read Racing Confidential every Wednesday, plus more of Dominic King’s exclusive scoops, in-depth coverage and analysis from the paddock
What an awful situation it has been to watch the devastation unfold in Los Angeles and the wildfires have touched every corner of society.
Some blazes have been close to Santa Anita racetrack, one of the most picturesque venues in the world, and Frankie Dettori – who moved to California to start a new life last year – has seen the situation develop at close quarters.
Dettori has been inundated with messages on social media, with fans asking about his welfare and he took to social media late on Saturday night to post a video to allay worries. The Italian and his wife, Catherine, have been fortunate not to be affected but the impact on the area has been huge.
There was no racing in Santa Anita last weekend – ‘quite rightly so,’ said Dettori – and the course, which has staged the Breeders Cup 11 times, is being used as a charity drop-off point, while a power company is using one of the parking lots to work on reconnecting electricity in the area.
Though training continues at the track – there are many stables (barns) based there and each morning is a sight to behold when racing fans gather at the famous Clocker’s Corner to watch gallops – and the air quality is good at the moment, the appetite for any kind of entertainment is absent.
‘There is just devastation everywhere,’ said Dettori. ‘My heart goes out to everyone. Fingers crossed we will pass through this. Let’s hope these fires stop soon.’
Jockey Frankie Dettori – who moved to California to start a new life last year – has seen the impact of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, despite fortunately not being affected himself
The fires ravaged through the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood (pictured) of LA last week
The aftermath of the destructive wildfires, which have led to thousands losing their homes
Indiana Dream nears intriguing return
Regular readers of Mail Sport’s racing coverage may remember that before Christmas in 2023, we suggested the name of horse called Indiana Dream was worth keeping an eye on.
Owned by JP McManus, he won his first three races for Willie Mullins, the last of which was a novice chase in December.
Indiana Dream barely had to come out of second gear to win that contest by 13 lengths and there were whispers the gelding had comparable talent to Fact to File, another McManus horse trained by Mullins, who went on to runaway with the Browns Advisory Chase at Cheltenham last March.
Injuries have meant Indiana Dream has not run since that day at Navan, 14 months ago, but he has switched stables to join Jonjo and AJ O’Neil – with whom McManus has had a long-standing relationship – and he is set to make his stable debut at Windsor on Sunday.
This is not to say that Indiana Dream is expected to win but he will be the most intriguing runner in the Fleur de Lys Chase, one of the highlights of the Berkshire Million meeting, and an absence from the track shouldn’t compromise his chances.
After making his first start at Fontainebleau, Indiana Dream had 313 days off before winning a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse; another 342-day hiatus was no barrier to him obliging at Navan, so why should 407 days put the brakes on him at Windsor?
The big challenge for team O’Neil is keeping him fit. He is as delicate as crystal glass and that means no big plans are being formulated past Sunday.
All anyone wants to see from the McManus camp is Indiana to give them a reason to Dream.
Indiana Dram, owned by JP McManus (above), is set to make his stable debut at Windsor
The gelding won his first three races for Willie Mullins (above) before being hit with injuries
City of Troy settles in at Coolmore
January always sees the unveiling of the European two-year-old Classifications to determine which juvenile finished as the previous season’s best.
It is highly likely that Shadow of Light, who won the rare Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes double last autumn, will come out on top but going back 12 months, there was never any doubt the award would go to City of Troy.
What flat racing would do to have another horse of City of Troy’s quality ready to latch on to – for all that there were two high-profile defeats in 2024, it has been a long time since an animal sparked such debate and created such interest than when he was running. He was absolutely top drawer.
A new life is awaiting him at Coolmore Stud in Tipperary and Racing Confidential has learned that the first colt since Sea the Stars in 2009 to complete the treble of Epsom Derby, Coral Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International has settled into his new surrounds with ease.
Coolmore is an equine palace and City of Troy’s career as a stallion will begin next month and it is expected he will be busy in the covering sheds. Do not be surprised if his progeny are right to the fore when the classifications in years to come.
Don’t write off Salvator Mundi
Eight weeks until Cheltenham and debates are starting about the merits of which ante-post favourites should be taken on and which you should stick with. For reasons unknown, Constitution Hill has an army of people wanting to lay him but not far behind is Salvator Mundi.
Sporting the yellow-and-black silks of Joe and Marie Donnelly, he won the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle on Sunday and his price for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, the event which gets those four raucous days off to a bang, was immediately trimmed.
How? Many asked. Salvator Mundi did everything wrong in the race. He refused to settle for jockey Paul Townend and pulled his rider’s arms out, he clattered into hurdles and looked as green as grass, with plenty to learn. If he runs like that at Cheltenham, he’ll be beaten by Cleeve Hill.
Racing Confidential has learned that City of Troy has settled into his new surrounds with ease
Paul Townend and Salvator Mundi won the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle on Sunday
Join Mail+ to read Racing Confidential every Wednesday, plus more of Dominic King’s exclusive scoops, in-depth coverage and analysis from the paddock
But… as he is trained by Willie Mullins, there always must be a ‘but’. There were no long faces in Closutton on Sunday evening and it is worth watching back Salvator Mundi’s first win over hurdles for the yard, at Tipperary last May.
Salvator Mundi was expected to win – he was sent-off at prohibitive odds of 1-12 – and it is true that the form of those in behind isn’t worthwhile; only one of the 12 who finished behind him have managed to win another race.
What was staggering about that effort was the fact Salvator Mundi beat his field by upwards of 250 yards. He crossed the final hurdle that day before his pursuers had reached the second last flight and only a horse with serious ability could keep up that kind of gallop.
If the Mullins yard thinks he will be cherry ripe for March 11, take that as your guidance. They won the Moscow Flyer with Vautour and Douvan in the past. Both those stars followed up in the Supreme. Salvator Mundi might just do the same.
