Allegedly the most effective rain dance in the world is that performed by Native American Hopi Indians. The biennial 16-day rite conducted by the Snake and Antelope fraternities involves participants jiving around a column of rock in feathered dress carrying snakes in their hands and mouths.
As our dry spring moves into what could be an even drier summer, the local shops in Newmarket, Lambourn and Middleham might be wise to stock up on feathers and plastic reptiles. Fortunately, before Sandown’s key evening meeting last Thursday there had been just enough precipitation to take the sting out of the ground and embolden trainer Ed Walker to run his talented Almaqam, an entry in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in the feature event, the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Walker confessed: ‘I’ve never hidden what I thought about this horse but ground is the absolute key. You can tee yourself up for a big fall. We skipped a couple of Group 1s the previous weekend to come here and get the job done, get him back to winning ways. I was worried when I saw the soft-ground horses coming out. I thought “What do they know that I don’t?” It made me nervous.’
The four-year-old showed his quality in fending off the Godolphin-owned and John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman who was previously unbeaten in four races. Although he could race at Ascot should it suddenly turn soft, Almaqam’s targets are likely to remain in the autumn. Says Walker: ‘I won’t be lured into the big races if they are on quick ground.’
The Upper Lambourn trainer has certainly got his team in good order.
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