Something

Something is the latest racehorse to make me lose all reason and get involved in a syndicate. If you read the notes below you will perhaps understand why.

Now a seven year old, he is a gelded half brother of Champion Sprinter Lake Coniston. High class as a 6f and 7f horse during 2006 and 2007, he was officially rated 104 and Timeform rated 115, at the start of 2008. Lightly raced for his age, he has had only 23 races in five seasons, which is nothing for a sprinter.

2008 was a disappointment, with his official handicap rating plummeting to 88. He went to Dubai in January racing once then suffering lameness from foot problems, followed by colic. After a promising run at Beverley over an inadequate 5f his form tailed off. However his final 2008 race at Haydock on going that was far too soft for him showed signs of a revival.

There is no reason why he should not bounce back in 2009 and make his mark in good class handicaps, as he did in 2007. His win at Kempton gives reason for optimism.


	Click picture for Something’s Racing Record


			Something (left) leads the Bunbury Cup field into the final furlong but is worn down by Giganticus (green) and King Of Argos.



	Until the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale at the end of October 2007 Something was owned by bookmaker John Humphrey’s and trained in Surrey by Terry Mills. The same combination was responsible for Group One winner, and now stallion, Where Or When. At the sales Something was led out unsold at 20,000 Guineas, and immediately bought by trainer David “Dandy” Nicholls. He is now with Middleham Park Racing, who put together a syndicate, and Sprint King “Dandy” is training him. Something fetched 100,000 Euros as a yearling. He is a half brother of Lake Coniston, who was Champion Sprinter in 1995, and an above average champion at that. His sire Trans Island was a 7f/8f horse who was just below top class (Timeform rated 119). Trans Island is big and lengthy and Something takes after his sire in those respects. In running style Something is a free running horse who often races front rank. He has the speed for 6f, the stamina for 7f and goes best on fast ground.

I first remember seeing Something on 2,000 Guineas day in 2006. Before that he had been highly tried in Group races, at seven and eight furlongs, and from marks in the 90s had won two All Weather handicaps over 7f at Lingfield.

As usual, whilst the 2,000 Guineas is going on, I was watching the 6f Class 2 Handicap field circle the pre-parade ring. This sprint, which traditionally follows the Classic, is used as a prep for the Wokingham and the other big mid-season handicaps and is always worth watching closely. Anyway for me Something stood out in that field, amongst big strong impressive sprint handicappers. Later the paddock watching was rudely interrupted by 2,000 Guineas winner George Washington, who wouldn’t go in the winners enclosure and attracted dozens of photographers and elated Irishmen into the pre-parade ring. As well as George Washington, Something left an impression on me that day.

Something did not appear on the track again for 13 months by which time he had been gelded. As it happens I was at Windsor for this race the 6f Listed Leisure Stakes. Even in this higher grade he impressed me. Big and lengthy, I rated him just best in the paddock ahead of Baltic King, Fayr Jag and Bygone Days. The race was run at a modest pace which suited the front runner Assertive, and neither Borderlescott nor Something could quite catch him. Something was beaten 1/2 length in third, just unable to summon enough pace inside the final furlong.

Then it was on to the Wokingham. Again I was in attendance and again I thought he was pick of the paddock, marginally ahead of Balthazaar’s Gift and clearly better than the best of the rest Hogmaneigh, Bonus and Mutamared. Knot In Wood was my bet for that race, but for which I would have been on Something. However Something’s chance had been ruined by the torrential downpour which hit Ascot just before the Golden Jubilee, and which incidentally allowed Soldier’s Tale to make up what appeared an insurmountable lead to nail Takeover Target on the line. How I enjoyed seeing the Aussie caught. Anyway Something ran a good race in the Wokingham, prominent throughout on the favoured far side, no extra inside the last furlong, finishing fourth.

An even better effort followed in the 7f Bunbury Cup on more suitable fast ground. Racing off a mark of 104 he was always prominent, led into the final furlong, and was only beaten two necks. Again in the Steward’s Cup I thought he had a chance, and he ran creditably, not quite able to find the pace required from halfway, not knocked about in the final furlong, and although finishing in mid div, beaten only four lengths.

His last race in 2007 was at Yarmouth. As usual there they overwatered, which suited the winner Greek Renaissance. The pace was modest again, and although he travelled well he could not find a change of gear on the loose ground approaching the final furlong. So he was beaten just over a length. The form looks better now because Greek Renaissance went on to win the Group 3 Bentinck Stakes at Newmarket in impressive fashion. However I think he ran better, in the conditions, than some have given him credit for.

I have no doubt that Something was Listed class in 2007. With the right combination of a stiff 6f (or easy 7f) on fast ground he would have justified his place in all but the highest company. His Bunbury Cup run was off 104, and it was only the July Course steep uphill finish that stopped him winning that day.

His photograph at the top of the page is not very flattering, and does not convey a good impression of his size or quality. It does however show the powerful sprinter’s quarters. There were more impressive looking sprinters around in Britain in 2007, but not that many.