Keeping her cool
Robin Oakley
C he is not,' says the man who has most to do with her, 'a difficult woman.' She will before long be a millionairess many times over. She is about as near physical perfection as you can expect a female to be. As I headed for my latest chance to catch a glimpse of her, I found myself humming soft-rocker Pat Boone's `Bernardine', the bit that goes 'Your separate parts are not unknown, but the way you assemble them's all your own ... ' No wonder that Mrs Oakley is beginning to get a little sniffy when I raise the subject of Russian Rhythm, this column's idol since I first saw her run at Ascot at the end of July 2002.
I enthused then about her cool in the paddock, her imposing physique and her racing temperament as she quickened up superbly under a hands-and-heels ride from Kieren Fallon to win the Princess Margaret Stakes. I urged readers to get on immediately at the 10-1 then available for the 2003 1,000 Guineas (slightly mixed advice, since she won it but started on the day at 12-1 after being slow to come to hand last year). In the Ten to Follow last year she did us proud, landing three Group Ones, and on Saturday she rewarded the courage of her owners, Patricia and David Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud, by battling to win the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, a race no filly had won for 20 years. The 3-1 price has not done any harm to this year's Ten either.
Cool as ever in the paddock, she lobbed around with her head lowered, her mane rippling silkily like a shampoo model and her high, well-muscled rump indicative of the power to be unleashed. Once Kieren Fallon swung into the plate, she perked up, ready for the business in hand, happy to take on the boys, who included Refuse to Bend and Indian Haven, the winners of last year's English and Irish 2,000 Guineas. In the race, as soon as Kieren found a gap for her she quickened, rather too swiftly in fact, taking the lead two furlongs out, sooner than intended. Luca Cumani's Salselon and David Elsworth's Norse Dancer ranged up on either side and seemed briefly to head her. But while the longer-term message may be Come Up And See Me Sometime that is not the game plan just yet. The daughter of Kingmambo was ready for a scrap. She stuck her neck out, went on again and won by a gutsy half a length.
Back in the paddock, when her lass Jane Saunders told her what a good girl she was and sloshed a water bucket over her, Russian Rhythm didn't need telling. She stuck out her tongue and preened as her trainer declared, 'She's got the right mind, she's got this wonderful physique and she likes racing. She's a competitor. She doesn't lack courage. She's a great pleasure to train.' Rightly, he praised the brave decision by the Thompsons to keep her on the track rather than rushing her off to stud, saying it was a decision taken without the trainer. 'Perhaps they thought I'd be too windy.' Praise, too, to the British Horseracing Board planners who have ensured there are enticing prizes to help persuade owners to keep top-class fillies in training.
Russian Rhythm won last year over a mile and a quarter too, but basically her trainer sees her as a brilliant miler who can run occasionally over the longer distance. At whatever distance she competes, I don't intend to miss any of her outings. But let us not forget the others involved in what may turn out to have been one of the best contests of the season. Luca Cumani's Salselon, who finished second, is a strong but wayward colt who started at 66-1 after misbehaving last time out at Sandown. 'If mine had won I don't think there would have been even a smattering of applause,' conceded Luca. Even with his first-time blinkers, the horse was still jinking about, but there is plenty of raw ability in this Italian import. The Cumani yard had a wonderful time last year with the swaggering Falbrav. Things have been a little slow so far this year and Pukka, earlier on the Newbury card, was their first winner, but the yard is clearly starting to click.
For Norse Dancer's sporting owner Jeff Smith it was time once again for a wry smile, another big shrug and yet another recommitment to his belief in the horse. In the paddock, Norse Dancer had looked magnificent, his copper coat gleaming like a lovingly polished samovar. Trainer David Elsworth had never been more satisfied with the horse, whom Jeff supplemented for last year's Derby only to see him finish fourth. Add to that a place in the 2,000 Guineas and in Goodwood's Sussex Stakes, and he has missed three Group Ones by the narrowest of margins. In fact, Norse Dancer has not actually got his nose in front since his two-year-old days. Some
question whether he really sees out his races. Personally, after his Newbury display I will give him another chance. Too far away from the other principals in the draw, he had to run and win his own race.
One other indelible impression remains on my mind from a Newbury card on which champion jockey Kieren Fallon and Frankie Dettori split six victories between them. Dettori was dead serious about everything he did. He is for the first time in nearly a decade heading the jockeys' table and he is taking rides here, there and everywhere. The drive and the ambition are back, and despite his understandable unwillingness to fly to extra meetings after the crash that nearly killed him he should not be written off for this year's championship.
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