It was the perfect race for him ... until the draw came out and he was 8 on the gate. Over 2150 at Argentan that inevitably meant losing 20 meters by the end of the first turn to the leader from 4. DMH brought PORTO up to sit outside the leader for the last 1100 metres and he ran on very well for third, not helped by the 5 horse having his wheel inside David's for the last 100 meters, preventing him getting second. David copped an avertissement (warning) for saying he didn't agree with the comissaires' decision that this hadn't affected the result. (You have to
agree with not merely
accept apparently... must be unique in sport!) Anyway it was a very pleasing run and he probably heads for La Capelle on 11 November (2700 autostart). Methinks I will have already been racing that day in Christchurch because it is Cup Day.
A new website should be showing Porto's race by the 28th
http://www.lescourseshippiquesbassenormandie.com/Default.aspxenter Argentan and scroll down to 26/10/2008. His is course 8
(Kurt's win with Rosy is race 2 at Domfront on their one raceday.)
Earlier I had climbed Le Mont de Baux de Breteuil to see PORTO being given some starting gate practice.
and Snowball getting some walking exercise. You haven't heard much about him but apparently there is some hope that he will get there by the spring.
David came en famille on Sunday and Clara was able to help in various ways through the day. PORTO is an exceptionally nice horse as well as a good one.
