SMART CALL

Lame so scratched.

Craig Eudey wrote: Lame so scratched.

that's a shame

SMART CALL, the South African-trained mare who had been aimed at the Sun Chariot Stakes en route to a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf, will not run at Newmarket on Saturday due to lameness.

The Alec Laird-trained mare won the J&B Met, one of South Africa's biggest races, in January and she has been based in Newmarket since July, but a cruel 11th-hour blow means that she will miss the Sun Chariot and head straight to Santa Anita instead.

Steve Jell, spokesman for Laird, said: "She was lame when we trotted her up this morning and we couldn't take a risk. If it was a maiden we might but as she's a valuable broodmare we couldn't. It's annoying but hopefully she'll come right for the Breeders Cup."

Smart Call had been scheduled to be just Laird's second runner in Britain, after London News finished third in the 1997 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, won by Bosra Sham.

Betting update

Smart Call's absence reduces the Sun Chariot field to eight, leaving each-way punters praying that another contender does not come out.

Alice Springs, an impressive winner of the Group 1 Matron Stakes last month, heads the betting at 6-4, while second favourite Ervedya has attracted a spot of support and is into 7-2 (from 4-1).

Smart Call had been a general 12-1 shot prior to her withdrawal.

Alice Springs wins good ride by Moore

Dave Scott wrote: Can't really see her beating Alice Springs

Neil Morrice: Newmarket – Alec Laird has revealed a muscular problem high up in a hind leg caused the frustrating decision to scratch Met winner Smart Call from the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket last Saturday.

According to Laird, who has been in Newmarket and flies back to Johannesburg on Wednesday, Smart Call needs to be able to resume proper work in two weeks’ time in order to make the final leg of her journey to contest the Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf at Santa Anita, California, on 5 November.

The trainer and all connected with the Jessica Slack-owned mare were devastated to discover just hours before the Group 1 Sun Chariot that she wouldn’t be able to take part.

Laird said: “She has a strain of some kind and we are still undergoing tests to find out whether it’s muscular or perhaps something else.

“It’s high up in a hind leg and it’s terribly disappointing because she was flying. Unbelievably, the problem was at its peak on Saturday, but has got better every day since.”

Laird is mindful that when making the decision after the Met to point Smart Call at the Breeders’ Cup it was in the knowledge that she would travel to Newmarket via Mauritius and would not necessarily have a run beforehand.

He added: “We have resorted to Plan B. Before we left South Africa we realised it was four months until the Breeders’ Cup and she might have to go there without a run. Now we have missed a week and it’s a matter of timing and I hope all is not lost.

“She needs to pass one more check, and if that happens she can still go on to California with the other UK runners a week before the Filly And Mare. If we can sort the problem I just hope it doesn’t recur.”

Whatever happens regarding the US mission Laird had good news for Smart Call’s legion of admirers and concluded: “It looks like she’ll remain in training next year, so there’s much to look forward to.”

Such a shame, was really looking forward to seeing her run against the big guns.

South african horses are subjected to compulsory quarantine procederes and then
become susceptible to injuries! another was Rumya for MDK stable.

Disappointing.

Dammit, read on twitter from Alec Laird Racing (@AlecLairdRacing),

Smart Call will not take part in the breeders cup, not enough time for muscle/ligaments
to heal.

Dont know if its possible, but there is a feature in Japan at the end of November and also the Hong Kong International Day in the second week of December. Fillies have won these races before, Snow Fairy in Japan while Ouija Board in Hong Kong. Irredescence the South African bred did beat Ouija Board in a feature that takes place in Hong Kong in April. Ouija Board is the dam of Australia, a former Epsom Derby winner.

Smart Call, carded to run in a Group One tomorrow Sunday 20 August 2017 at Deauville, France. So Mi Dar the mount of Detrorri will be the one to beat.

On another note So Mi Dar half brother, Erdogan by Frankel is making his debut today at Newbury in Race 6. Detorri to ride and is 3/1.

Left Hand will take the beating in the Prix Jean Romanet tomorrow (very weak race for a Group 1). Boylesports are going 10/1 (always assuming they'll let you have more than a few pennies on!) - she shouldn't be more than half that price.

Ajman Princess Extremely consistent filly in pattern races and twice not beaten far in Group 2s.
Furia Cruzada Not disgraced on either start for this handler but was behind Siyoushake in the Prix Rothschild.
Haggle Unexposed at this trip so can be vying for a place if ready to go after an 89-day absence.
Left Hand Looks the type to pop up again at some stage and has had a small break since last start.
Siyoushake Not run over this trip for quite some time but shaped as though worth another try.
Smart Call Has the talent to be competitive but much more needed than when beaten almost 9l in the Pretty Polly Stakes last time.
So Mi Dar Has two entries at York next week so probably significant she takes in this easier option.
Syrita Finished fifth in a Polytrack contest here latest (RPR 96), so impossible to fancy.
That Which Is Not Mainly consistent type but surely vulnerable in this company.
Wilamina Improving filly but needs another significant leap forward here to win this.

Some comments on above race
Try triecta So Mi Dar, Left Hand and Smart Call

Good punting