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Captain's Blog - 18th October 2011

The bike is coming out again today even if the weather is a little inclement. I will be cycling to work to spend an afternoon in the studio with Claude Charlet covering all the racing from Deauville. I am not really in any shape to cycle after getting up numerous times in the night with my coughing daughter but I need the exercise. Do join us for a little bit of French from 12.30pm.

I have put together some speed figures from British Champions Day. You are probably happier dealing with official ratings, but I work from speed figures and here they are. These figures are not my opinion, they are properly calculated using the Beyer method.

1. Fame and Glory 76
(A tactically superb ride from Jamie Spencer. Best of the day for me.)

2. Dancing Rain 109 (A career best effort from this filly)

3. Frankel 103
(a figure proving that he did not have to perform to his best to win this)

4. Deacon Blues 111
(A figure that is on a par with some of his previous efforts)

5. Cirrus des Aigles 129
(A blockbuster figure with the placed horses running big figures as well. So You Think running right up to his best)

6. Edinburgh Knight 88 (A race where horses with all weather form dominated the finish, a trend that is typical on the straight course at Ascot)

These are properly calculated figures. Just to appease those of you who think these figures offend Frankel please bear in mind that he ran a figure of 129 when he won the Guineas so is clearly capable of better than he produced at Ascot. In short he did what he had to under the particular pace scenario that he faced.

Qipco Champion Stakes - Cirrus Des Aigles (C Soumillon, grey) wins from So You Think (R Moore)

The best figure was posted by Cirrus des Aigles with So You Think running a huge figure in defeat. They are both clearly top class and So You think remains with a bit of potential maybe with blinkers applied as they were in Australia on occasions. Given how well he travelled I wonder how he would perform at a mile with the shades on?

No joy with our selection yesterday and in truth we could do with a winner. Today brings fresh hope I guess.

All the best.

Today's Selection

1:50 Yarmouth - Aniseed