Posted by Tania Kindersley.
It’s a very good thing that Sarah is out of the country, so she cannot see what I am doing to our blog.
Some very clever person has put up a video of Frankel’s race on the YouTube already. It appears to have come off RTE, so one gets the added bonus of the glorious Ruby Walsh commentating after the race. I’m very fond of John Francome, on Channel Four, but there is no one quite like Ruby.
Here it is:
Note the excellent calling of the race by Simon Holt. He is not nearly as famous as the great Peter O’Sullivan, but he gets better and better at rising to the big occasion. He has given me goosebumps in the past when calling Kauto Star home. And he did it again today.
If you want to see the thing in a slightly larger format, follow the link here.
I'm not a huge racing fan (forgive me), but when Frankel pulled away, I got a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye...the way I felt years ago when I watched Secretariat win each race of the Triple Crown. Though Secretariat was rather a homely horse, not at all as handsome as Frankel. Running is what they do, and when they do it so well, it can fill a heart with joy.
ReplyDeleteDear Jean - no forgive ME, for banging on about my own sporting obsessions. Funnily enough, I thought of Secretariat today, and that incredible leg of the Triple Crown when he just blasted off in front and won by thirty lengths or something mad. Not quite as beautiful, in terms of confirmation, I agree, but just as extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Tania. I listened to it on the radio at work which was exciting enough in its own way but I'm so pleased I've been able to actually watch it this evening. My heart belongs to jump racing rather than flat but I'm always happy to watch a superstar horse.
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