Moselle Valley looks an obvious answer to the question, ‘what will win the £2322 Fillies’ Novice Median Auction Stakes over twelve furlongs of Lingfield polytrack today?’
One of two runners declared by John and Thady Gosden this twice-raced Guiliani three-year-old improved considerably on her debut effort when runner-up on a similar surface around Kempton seventeen days ago, partnered by Nicky Mackay; a pointer to the chance of Moselle Valley is booking of stable jockey Rav Havlin, shortly off for a three weeks holiday!
Havlin was ludicrously banned by stewards at this track last week when his Gosden-trained debut mount, Stowell, became embroiled in controversy;
after a messy stop-start pace had been set by Scampi they finished fast only to fail by a head to catch long odds-on Polling Day, a stable-companion, ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Stewards reasoned Havlin ‘failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure Stowell obtained his best possible placing’ in a Novice Stakes at the Surrey venue, in what officials termed “an apparently tender hands and heels ride”.
Gosden backed the veteran; apparently he instructs jockeys to avoid using the whip on his newcomers and stated categorically he “was happy with the ride!”
John Francome once famously referred to stewards as ‘cabbage patch dolls!’
Moselle Valley represents a gilt-edged opportunity and, most importantly, acts well on polytrack which has stood up to the rigours of so many meetings due to superb husbandry of ground-staff.
While perusing I came across twice-raced Aone Ally in a moderate Maiden Stakes over a mile of ‘good to firm’ Ayr; all-conquering jumping duo, Lucinda Russell and long-time partner, ex-champion NH jockey Peter Scudamore, train this Mayson gelding which will win a race and I’m going to chance him each-way at massive odds.
Never be afraid of a big ‘un and remember ‘faint heart never won fair lady!’
Selections, Lingfield, 3.05 Moselle Valley; Ayr, 3.15 Aone Ally (e.w); Southwell, 4.30 Regal Vega (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019