Zaskar & Hollywood Park

Just a quick update before writing up a full story.

Yesterday afternoon (about 1am UK) Zaskar ran her last race for Tom in the American Oaks, before going on to be trained in New York.

Tom's second Grade 1 runner looked magnificent in the paddock, having behaved brilliantly on a very long and difficult trip to the US. Not only did she look great but she was in a fantastic 'mood'. We all commented that she looked like she had a smile on her face!

The sun was out and it was very hot but she took everything in her stride. David Flores was given his instructions and legged up into the plate. Zaskar was led onto the track and we all made our way to our viewing positions. Tom went to the rail just in case there were any problems.

As the horses made their way, with the outriders to the back straight, we were all thinking how well it was going.....Zaskar spooked at something, the jockey fell off!

She stood there frozen for a second but then ripped the reins from the grasp of the outrider and sprinted off down the back straight. Luckily one of the other outriders down the back straight rode her onto the outside rail and she was caught within 2 furlongs.

Most of the time in the US they will scratch the horse if they do this but luckily, as a grade 1 they gave her a chance. The jockey was located and put back in the plate. They were loaded into the stalls. She behaved brilliantly again.

We were worried about her breaking slowly but she sprinted from the gate with them and Flores was able to get a great position. Down the back straight he was able to make his way through the field and get closer to the pace. Making his way out of the back straight into the home turn she was in 5th right between the eventual winner and second....SHE WAS GOING EASILY!

I said to myself "she's going to win this", Tom said "she's going to win this".....I just wish David Flores had said "she's going to win this"!

As these thoughts entered our heads, the French horse on her outside pushed into her and cut her off. David Flores panicked and ripped at her head and nearly fell off...again. Zaskar didn't know what was going on.

For some unknown reason the jockey just dropped his hands and rode to the line without pushing her out. We thought for a split second that something was wrong. But as she took a full three furlongs after the winning post to pull up and then 'cantered' back to the unsaddling area like a steam train taking a mile to pull up again it was obvious that she was still full of running. She wasn't even blowing!

The stats will read that she was 10th of 12 but we all feel that she would have been in the first three and dare say it "first" if she had been given a more positive ride round the home bend. We are all hugely disappointed.

Today I'm off to Vegas. Let's hope 'our' luck gets better!