We've all heard those positive cliches about the fastest racehorses in training. ''It's been catching pigeons on the gallops''.
Sadly the converse can also be true where a horse makes a name for itself because it is decidedly sluggish. That's being polite to one or two who can only be described as horrendously slow. One horse to take this unflattering accolade is A Definite Diamond.
Trained by Milton Bradley, pictured with The Tatling, who raced 176 times, won 18 races and achieved prize winnings of £687,000, retiring at the age of 14 when winning his final race at Wolverhampton is a stark contrast to this two-year-old filly. A Definite Diamond is a homebred daughter of Assertive, racing in the black and yellow silks of beleaguered owners Paul & Ann de Weck.
The chestnut filly must have been struggling to catch snails at Sedbury, Gloucester. And definitely not a girl's best friend.
Racing over a variety of distances - from 5f to 1 mile - she has finished last in each of her six starts to date. She's been trounced by 54 horses, more than 200+ lengths.
In her most recent effort at Bath, over the minimum trip, she showed healthy pace only to tire at the two-furlong pole some 23 lengths behind her nearest rival.
Sadly this March foal hasn't escaped her harshest critic on the racecourse - the official handicapper.
The higher a horse's rating the better its ability. A horse rated 60 has to be considered poor.
So what is the rating of A Definite Diamond?
It doesn't look good. In fact, it is terribly low. Amazingly she has been given a rating of just 1.
Is she the slowest horse in racing?
Luckily her owners have tasted victory with 7 winners since 2003. The best of their horses named April Ciel, although he is trained by Ron Harris.
Sometimes Diamonds aren't a girl's best friend.
The Knighton Maiden Stakes over 5f on soft going. Six debutantes from a variety of trainers: four colts and two fillies. Richard Hannon won this race last year with Flyball, who was having his second start.
Gin In The Inn is trained by Richard Fahey who has been quiet this early season but a handler who should always be taken seriously. This Irish bred son of Alfred Noble is out of a winning mare who didn't race until three. This bay was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for 35,000eur. One for the short list.
Indian Gold cost £3,500 at the yearling sales and half-brother to One Kool Dude. This colt hails from Milton Bradley's stable who usually have limited juveniles.
Mark Johnston can be rather hit and miss with his debutantes but with about 130 juveniles in his string he is a powerhouse. Twisting Hay is a January foal [oldest in the field] sired by Cape Cross out of a winning mare. He cost a whopping 140,000gns. Interesting recruit.
Whether Willytheconqueror is named after his trainer [William Muir] only time will tell. This son of Zodiac was purchased by Muir at Tattersalls' October Sales 2014 for 48,000GNS. I always take note of this stable's early juveniles because they can have ability although they feature a poor strike rate and better on their second start.
Richard Hannon & Hughes team up for Jet Setting who races in the familiar silks of Mrs J Wood. One of two fillies in this field, this Irish daughter of Fast Company was purchased for 7,000euro from Goffs November Foals 2013. A cheap buy for these connections. Hannon can win on debut. The betting may tell the story here.
Wicked Woo is a relatively cheap yearling purchase at 8,000GNS. Jo Hughes' filly is a big price on the exchanges and best watched unless seriously backed.
Conclusion: Early season is a time to watch and learn - reason why I don't say bet on this or that. Gin In The Inn, Jet Setting and Twisting Hay are the most likely winner based on trainer statistics. Richard Fahey does well with his debutantes. Hannon's filly is a cheap purchase while Mark Jonhston's [Twisting Hay] is pretty expensive for this time of season. Wicked Woo and Indian Gold are best watched. Willytheconqueror will most likely benefit from the run. The three major stables look to have the call. Watching brief.
