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| Sumita Pawar |
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Ed Crisford acknowledges that West Wind Blows will encounter a demanding challenge in the Coral Eclipse on Saturday. Nevertheless, he is confident that having former champion jockey Jamie Spencer riding in the Sandown Park feature significantly improves their prospects.
At the weekend, 43YO, rider will team up with the Teofilo gelding, trained by Ed Crisford in partnership with his father Simon, to compete in the prestigious mile and a quarter contest at Sandown Park. This will be another opportunity for the rider to make a mark on the biggest stages of horse racing.
Underdog's Secret Weapon: Jamie Spencer
Despite being priced as the 25-1 outsider in the Coral-Eclipse, Ed Crisford believes that having former champion jockey Jamie Spencer riding West Wind Blows greatly improves their chances. Spencer recently celebrated Gr.1 glory at Royal Ascot and the Pretty Polly Stakes, showcasing his skill and expertise. Crisford is confident that Spencer can deliver another impressive performance in the Sandown Park feature race.
Crisford said, “I don’t think West Wind Blows will look out of place on Saturday. It is a championship race and there are some of the best horses in training in it, but funny things can happen in these small field races.
“It is going to be a challenging test but the horse is in great order and he deserves to take his chance.
“Jamie Spencer will ride him and they are a very good match. Jamie understands the horse and believes in the horse. He understands how to be with him as he can be a bit of a quirky horse in his demeanour. He has ridden him in work a few times which helps.
“Jamie is doing very well at the moment but he is one of the best jockeys around. He is a very experienced rider and he is always good to have on board your horses.”
After finishing third in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, where Hurricane Lane showed impressive form, West Wind Blows underwent a gelding operation. This decision has proven to be successful for the connections. Since the operation, West Wind Blows has won a Group Three race at Paris-Lonchamp and only faced defeat from Pyledriver when stepping up to a mile and a half in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting last month.
Crisford added, “Of course you are disappointed when you don’t win but the only reason he was the even money favourite at Newmarket is that people didn’t have the faith in Hurricane Lane because he had run so badly at Newbury.
“The real Hurricane Lane turned up at Newmarket that day and we were all just running for second place after that. As the race unfolded we pretty much knew our fate as we couldn’t run to the level of Hurricane Lane.
“At the end of the day Hurricane Lane is an Irish Derby winner and a St Leger winner. He is a proper piece of kit.
“After the race Abdulla Al Mansoori (owner) decided to get him gelded and he has come back from it and done really well.
“He bounced back with a win in France and that set him up nicely for Ascot where he ran a belter to finish second to Pyledriver.
“Since he has had the gelding operation it has helped him relax in his races. He is channelling his energy much better which is helping him stay. Now it is just a case of climbing the ladder.”
Despite the fact that West Wind Blows' next assignment is only 14 days after his last one, Crisford is optimistic that the race won't occur too soon. He believes this because he has been showing all the appropriate indications at home.
Crisford said, “It does come soon enough after Ascot but he has bounced out of Ascot and come out of it very well.
“We just thought he was in great order we would take our chance. There will be a small field, which helps, while the mile and a quarter at Sandown should suit him very well.
“Hopefully he will keep improving and be a fun horse to have around. If he can run a good race we will be happy.”