Neck and neck in Great Britain

Whilst Invincible Spirit has led the Irish, Italian and All European third season sire lists by big margins for some time he was running a close second to Kyllachy in the Great Britain list until a few days ago when he stuck his head in front. He currently leads by a mere $3,100 with a week to go in their year. See http://www.stallions.com.au/sire_lists.asp

Start Four at Gosford

KW will start at Gosford on Monday 29th Dec in an 1100m Maiden.
Gerald will try a new bit and reports that he has improved in the coat since Rosehill and that he is expecting a better showing from him. He is to be ridden by former top apprentice jockey Joshua Parr (pictured) who is riding in the best form of his career with 16 winners and 49 placings from his last 100 rides. KW will jump from barrier seven, pending scratchings.

Choice of three for start four

Just got this from Gerald

18/12/08
Done well since his race at Rosehill. Have entered him at Rosehill in an 1100m 3 year old no metro win race on the 27th and Newcastle a 1200m maiden on the 26th and also Gosford an 1100m maiden on Monday 29th. Will decide after entries.
Regards
Gerald Ryan

Start Three

He jumped well, took up a forward position and loomed on the outside like a likely winner at the turn but from that point failed to run on. He faded in the straight to finish fifth.
Gerald will give him one or two more starts this preparation over shorter distances hoping he will settle early and run home.
In this regard the pacifiers did seem to work so if he can save himself for a run home over a shorter trip he may greet the judge for the first time.

Gear Change

KW will start from barrier 5 in a field of 10 on Wednesday in the, hopefully, appropriately named "It's Our Time Handicap" over 1300m.
In order to curb his enthusiasm and get his mind on the job Gerald intends to try him in pacifiers, a mesh invention put over a horse’s eyes and used to try to help excitable horses relax or “pacify” them. The closely knit mesh ensures the horse has to concentrate just to be able to see. The stewards may direct them to be removed if muddy conditions apply, to negate the possibility of restricted vision.
On the weather front we are going to be looking skywards a lot in the next few days as showers are predicted. Exactly how many and where they will fall remains to be seen.
Latest forecast and Radar

Hey, who taught him to count?

KW is nominated to start next Wed, 10th December at Rosehill. Click here for the field and form.
So far KW has run fourth in his trial and at each of two starts. I hope it's not becoming a pattern. I've heard that some horses are very competitive and just have to win but insisting on running fourth would be a new one.
Let's hope that he can't count and that this time round he can go at least one, preferably three, better.
Maybe some lessons on subtraction would be in order.
OK KW, repeat after me, 4 - 3 =

4th Again

Jockey Rod Quinn and trainer Gerald Ryan talk to owner/breeder Eddie Cassar before KW's race.

KW placed fourth in Sunday's race in Canberra. The concensus is that although he jumped on terms with the leaders he over-raced and was a spent force at the business end of the trip.
The current thinking is that he should be tried over a longer distance where they don't go so fast early and if the jockey can get him to settle then he may be able to run-on and perform to his ability.