Wilde Extravagance is definitely up to making a successful seasonal debut in the ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over five furlongs of Wolverhampton Tapeta today and giving the career of 21-year-old Connor Beasley a massive boost of confidence; the racing world wants it!
If you recall Connor was smashed up in a dreadful accident last season; injuries were so severe and extensive I’ve no wish to catalogue them suffice to say Beasley always wanted to be a jockey; he’s looked the part during a very short career and is desperate to get back on track.
Quite honestly my heart has been thumping with ‘Wilde’ trepidation this week watching Connor resume riding, filled with trepidation, but admiring his undoubted courage given he lost all teeth and was fitted with a steel gadget to keep his head completely still for several months.
Thankfully the lovely girl friend became his wife!
How she has coped mentally this week is difficult to fathom but all reports suggest CB is a ‘grand lad’ and extremely popular in the jockey’s weighing room; Robert Winston once told me to ‘watch out for this lad, he can certainly ride...!’
Ironic coming from Robert, a certainty to land the jockeys’ championship all those years ago until being pitched head first into firm ground on the bend leading into the straight at Ayr; that rearranged his face, he was out for a very long time but Winston is now, arguably, one of the very best currently in action, a proper, dedicated, jockey.
Sentiment plays no part in racing but Wilde Extravagance has the beating of this ordinary clutch of rivals and with trainer Julie Camacho determined to supply Connor with his ‘first’ I’ve just got to withstand the nerves on what could/should be an emotional occasion.
Karl Burke is a non-nonsense’ successful Northern-based trainer, a man to monitor closely; he’s found an excellent opportunity tonight for Timeless Art to make it third time lucky in the Maiden Stakes over a mile of Chelmsford polytrack. Don’t oppose.
Selections:
Wolverhampton,
12.35 Wilde Extravagance; 1.40 Clary;
Chelmsford,
3.10 Timeless Art (nap)