Smiling Eliza 2nd as Miro guests for club at Perth
Richard Johnson rode his 3,500th career winner this week and he was onboard Miro at Perth for the Gordon Elliott Racing Club in a 2m 4f hurdle race. Members of the club across the water don't get to see as many runners as we would in Ireland. Club star Smiling Eliza was declared for Thursday but they wanted another runner for Wednesday and with no option for the other club horses, Miro was recruited in a one race deal. Could this be something the club look at if there's no club horse good enough to go to the Cheltenham or Aintree festivals?
In the race, Miro, carrying top weight, was well backed with the Elliott/Johnson combo enjoying a great run of form at Perth this year. He was sitting about mid division but made a mistake at one of the first hurdles and never really recovered. He was flat out from a long way out and was soon going backwards until he was pulled up before the final fence. Miro was due to run again in Smiling Eliza's race the next day so maybe Dicky was trying to keep a little bit for that.
With the weather staying mostly dry, Smiling Eliza made her Scottish debut in a 2m something hurdle at Perth but the other Elliott horse Miro was made a non runner following his exertions the day before. Eliza was bottom weight with the Champion Jockey on board again so she had a great chance though early on he didn't have Eliza up near the front where she likes to be. She sat comfortably about mid division and then made her way up through the field as they started the 2nd lap but as they began to race she wasn't getting away from them and ended up a 6 length second to the top weight horse. Alex reported afterwards that Gordon couldn't be happier with Smiling Eliza as she was making her debut in handicap company. The handicap is still something I don't fully understand. The winner had a rating of about 114 but was carrying about a stone and a half more than Eliza who had a rating of 120 so with a higher rating and a lot less weight should she have done better? There are also other factors like she's only 3 year old, the winner was 5 and had a lot more experience plus the ground was good but Eliza likes it a bit firm.
I'm not complaining as she has been absolutely brilliant for us and I'm sure the club members in attendance were delighted to see her place. Maybe, if we can keep her and March/April are sunny, we could see her at Cheltenham or Aintree. Elliott and Johnson went on to have a 5 timer with one of the horses winning having just run at the course yesterday.
Forrardon Xmoor was declared for Sligo but was withdrawn as the going would still have been to quick for him.
In the race, Miro, carrying top weight, was well backed with the Elliott/Johnson combo enjoying a great run of form at Perth this year. He was sitting about mid division but made a mistake at one of the first hurdles and never really recovered. He was flat out from a long way out and was soon going backwards until he was pulled up before the final fence. Miro was due to run again in Smiling Eliza's race the next day so maybe Dicky was trying to keep a little bit for that.
With the weather staying mostly dry, Smiling Eliza made her Scottish debut in a 2m something hurdle at Perth but the other Elliott horse Miro was made a non runner following his exertions the day before. Eliza was bottom weight with the Champion Jockey on board again so she had a great chance though early on he didn't have Eliza up near the front where she likes to be. She sat comfortably about mid division and then made her way up through the field as they started the 2nd lap but as they began to race she wasn't getting away from them and ended up a 6 length second to the top weight horse. Alex reported afterwards that Gordon couldn't be happier with Smiling Eliza as she was making her debut in handicap company. The handicap is still something I don't fully understand. The winner had a rating of about 114 but was carrying about a stone and a half more than Eliza who had a rating of 120 so with a higher rating and a lot less weight should she have done better? There are also other factors like she's only 3 year old, the winner was 5 and had a lot more experience plus the ground was good but Eliza likes it a bit firm.
I'm not complaining as she has been absolutely brilliant for us and I'm sure the club members in attendance were delighted to see her place. Maybe, if we can keep her and March/April are sunny, we could see her at Cheltenham or Aintree. Elliott and Johnson went on to have a 5 timer with one of the horses winning having just run at the course yesterday.
Forrardon Xmoor was declared for Sligo but was withdrawn as the going would still have been to quick for him.
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