Racing

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday June 4, 1999

BY CRAIG YOUNG

Triple strike

* CHARISMATIC'S bid to become the 12th thoroughbred in US history to win the Triple Crown hasn't been without incident.

Should Charismatic win Sunday's Belmont Stakes in New York, the three-year-old will join an elite group of Triple Crown winners, including Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978).

Charismatic's flight from Louisville was delayed for 90 minutes due to an intense lightning storm, which concerned trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who travelled with the horse.

"We were fine as soon as we got above the storm," Lukas said. "He handled it well, which is his strong suit. He rolls with the punches."

Over the years, 13 horses have gone to the Belmont eligible to win the Triple Crown but have failed at the final hurdle.

Like the Triple Crown winners, the list includes some outstanding horses, with those defeated including Northern Dancer (1964), Spectacular Bid (1979), Alysheba (1987) and Silver Charm (1997).

$5m bonus

* IF Triple Crown glory isn't enough, connections of Charismatic are set to pick up a $US5 million ($7.74m) bonus should the horse win Sunday's 2,400m event.

Charismatic is owned by the Lewis family, who know a bit about Triple Crown heartbreak. They owned Silver Charm, which missed out in the Belmont in 1997 after winning the first two legs.

Just the shot

* JUST to prove that racing is merciless, leading trainer Bob Baffert may ruin the Lewis family's day out.

Baffert is starting Silverbulletday, the winner of 11 from 12 starts and the only filly in the Belmont.

Silverbulletday will be ridden by Jerry Bailey, with regular pilot Gary Stevens riding in this weekend's Epsom Derby.

The filly didn't contest the first two Triple Crown legs - the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes - won by Charismatic.

Mike Pegram, who owns Silverbulletday, has no regrets about trying to spoil the party now.

"This is about who has the best horse," he said. "And I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror if I thought that I may have had the best horse and rolled over and let somebody win the Triple Crown."

The Daily Racing Form reports Charismatic has been installed as 2-1 favourite, an unusual position for the colt.

Not since the three-year-old won his maiden 11 races back has he been installed as favourite. Charismatic won at 31-1 in the Kentucky Derby then took out the Preakness at 8-1.

Derby dilemma

* MERCURIAL rider Mick Kinane has English bookmakers and his legion of followers in a flap over his mount for the Derby at Epsom.

As heavy rain continues in England, the Melbourne Cup-winning Irishman is contemplating switching from one-time Derby favourite Saffron Walden to stablemate Tchaikovsky.

News of Kinane's dilemma prompted betting firm Ladbrokes to slash Tchaikovsky's price from 50-1, and if Kinane is aboard it could start at 12-1.

The Mirror reported that "Tchaikovsky is a proven soft-ground performer and Kinane is sure he will get a tune out of him with give in the ground".

"He should be unbeaten as his Derby trial was run at a false pace and the winning post came too soon," Kinane told the paper.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien is considering bypassing the Epsom classic with Saffron Walden and running in the French Derby.

The prospect of rain has prompted punters to take long odds about proven mudlarks Daliapour, Lucido, Salford Express and Zajeer.

Frankie's fave

* DUBAI Millennium is the new Derby favourite after the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Beat All pricked a hoof in a gallop late last week.

Dubai Millennium will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who is out to win the classic for the first time.

Dubai Millennium may be suspect at 2,400m and the wet track is certain to make it an even more exacting test of stamina.

Bet the House

* ON the fourth line of Derby betting is the Michael Bell-trained Housemaster, which was disqualified after winning the Chester Vase.

"Housemaster could not be in better shape; it's just a case of keeping him ticking over until the big day," was the comment from Bell after announcing Housemaster would complete his Derby preparation with a workout on an all-weather track at Newmarket on Wednesday.