Abby Rugg

ABOUT ME
Name: Abby Rugg
Journalism
Qualification: Gold Standard NCTJ Multi-Media Journalism Diploma. (Including 100 words-per-minute shorthand)
Employment: Worked at BBC Sport and Deltatre for London 2012.
Future Aim: To work in broadcast/production television.
Blog: Started in November 2011. Published on The Sports Investor and Value Horse Tips. Please comment on a post or follow me on Twitter.

Tuesday 3 July 2012

WORLD CLASS WINS IN FLAT CREATES POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE IN RACING AFTER TRAUMA OF GRAND NATIONAL

A fresh breeze of encouraging news has swept through racing this week with Camelot winning the Irish double.


The unbeaten colt claimed victory in Saturday's Irish Derby resulting in good of publicity for the sport alongside Frankel and Australia's Black Caviar. 


Having these three champion horses grab headlines is ideal for racing after the bad media coverage the Grand National clocked up. 


The deaths of Synchronised and According To Pete caused controversial debates, one in particular asking whether the event should be banned. 


But despite all that, it seems that this season of flat racing is giving the sport a boost: more people are reading about the wonders of Frankel and Black Caviar, and not only that, more people are actually gaining an interest due to these racing legends.


Camelot joined in as a short-priced favourite on Saturday (1-5) with previous odds being 1-10 for Frankel and 1-6 for Black Caviar.


Unlike Black Caviar, Camelot didn't have to scramble to victory. He had to work for the win as rival Born To Sea finished two-lengths behind. 


But Aidan O'Brien's colt is now priced at 1-2 to win the Triple Crown at Doncaster in September and I believe he has shown us that he can claim it. 


Ever the optimist, I want Camelot to win the rare treble like so many others I know - Imagine more positive media coverage if he did. 


For now, the terrible incidents of the Grand National have been swept under the rug and it just proves how negative headlines can cause a stir amongst non-racing fans. Rather than a mouthful of bad publicity, watching incredible wins from world class flat racing horses is exactly what the sport needs right now.


1 comment:

  1. I hope your predictions on Camelot are correct Abby. I would love to see him emulate Nijinsky who was unlucky in the end with his bout of ringworm.

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