Galligan must accept BHA got it right

Sep 13 2008 The Journal

YOU can not please everybody all the time. In fact, even when a decision is looked upon favourably by the majority, there will always be a complaint to be heard.

The re-routed Ladbrokes Sprint Cup at Doncaster today, salvaged from the ruins of the torrents at Haydock last weekend, is welcomed and once again shows the flexibility of the BHA who also managed to save the major prizes lost by the wash-out of York’s Ebor festival.

The race has a new sponsor, Ladbrokes taking over from bookmaking rivals Betfred after they had declined the offer of supporting the Group One event at a different venue. Although the race is at a new location under a different sponsorship banner and carrying less prize money, the BHA point out it is not a new race and are saving it for those that were engaged in it.

That has caused a stir in James Fanshawe’s Newmarket stable, especially owner Gerry Galligan who paid £1,800 in entry fees for his top sprinter Sir Gerry at Haydock, but the horse was pulled out at the five-day conformation stage because of the testing conditions and the forecast of more rain and the fact that he was returning from a break.

However, when the race was rescheduled for the Leger meeting, connections had a rethink and decided to add Sir Gerry to the list of entries only to discover that the race was re-opened only to the five-day acceptors and not the original entries.

While I can understand Galligan’s anger and frustration, I believe the BHA has got it right. Just image the reaction if Sir Gerry had been able to compete and lifted today’s prestigious prize which would not have been possible a week ago.

Compared to last Saturday’s final line-up, Asset, Al Qasi and Lipocco are the only absentees while Godolphin have reinstated Diabolical from the original five-day stage as has Michael Jarvis with Ancient Regime, presumably on the assumption that conditions on the Town Moor will be nothing like as demanding as it would have been at Haydock had they been able to race. I am sticking with the confirmed mudlark Utmost Respect in the hope that further rain will hit Doncaster to help his cause and inconvenience others. African Rose will also relish the slog and has even better form claims than the selection. She was ahead of him and four others when runner-up to champion sprinter elect Marchand D’Or at Deauville last month.

However, Utmost Respect was checked at a vital stage and would have finished closer and if ever he is going to win a Group One prize then this is surely it.