George Simon: Going the early crow catches me out again
George Simon • June 30th, 2025 3:08 PM
What's going on with these maiden steeplechase races?
Two weeks ago, we saw a calamitous race at Te Rapa where just two of the original seven starters completed the race.
After jumping the second to last fence, race leader Smug, ridden by Michael Roustoby, appeared to have the measure of his chasing rivals.
Forgetting all about "going the early crow" I confidently told Wood Smug was going to win.
"You're home Woodsy" I asserted.
Shouldn't have bothered....and should've known better.
Just as I was starting to congratulate Wood, (with all of 600m to go and one last fence to jump), the inevitable happened.
After clearing the second to last fence, Smug suddenly appeared to veer out and looked as if it had run off.
A couple of others followed suit, veering out sharply as well through a narrow gap in the outside rail.
However, three other rivals stayed on the "right" course and made their way towards the last fence.
It was a "believe it or not" scenario as two groups of three horses split apart leaving everyone as confused as the other.
I looked at Wood and I think we both simultaneously realised what had happened.
"My horse has taken the wrong course and he'll have to be disqualified," said Wood.
Normally, in circumstances like this, I fully expected Wood to vent his frustration.
Not only for himself as trainer, but also for his owners and the betting public.
Everyone had missed out, through no fault of their own.
Kudos to Chris Wood here.
As a former successful jumps jockey himself, he obviously had a greater appreciation of the nuances of riding in a jumps race, and what could go wrong.
I was impressed with the levelheaded reaction, which masked his obvious disappointment.
No histrionics, just a resigned awareness of what would happen.
And he was right of course.
Smug continued to "race", jumped the last fence safely and was in front at the finish post.
If you get the chance to watch the replay, have a look at Roustoby's reaction after crossing the line.
He knew he had erred, and the disappointment was obvious.
The siren immediately sounded and after the judicial enquiry there was the inevitable change of placings.
Eventually, Hey Hey Hey was declared the winner with Smug, Fabulous Nancy and Catch and Release all being disqualified for not taking the right course.
The three riders of the disqualified horses each copped a three-week suspension for their misdemeanours.
I'm not going to get into a blame game here.
You could question why there was a gap in the rail which gave the three horses the opportunity to pass through the gap in the first instance.
Nevertheless, it was pilot error, and those three riders made a momentary lapse of judgement and have paid the consequences.
If there's any justice in the racing game, I hope Smug wins its next start.
Chris Wood and his owners deserve that.
