IF USAIN Colt had half the horsepower of his namesake, there would have been only one winner of the Adnams Ghost Ship Handicap last Saturday.
The three-year-old was the main morning market mover, in anticipation of a lightning performance.
It doesn’t take much sometimes for punters to latch onto what is thought to be a good thing.
With the Jamaican sprinter on the brink of an Olympic double, many believed it to be a carefully orchestrated plan by team Hannon.
But while Usain the human quickened away from his opponents this week, Colt failed to thunder down the Newmarket turf after a late market drift.
Instead, it’s his jockey who keeps lapping up the praise.
While not able to work his magic this time, ‘Hughesie’s’ riding with aplomb as he aims to elevate to champion jockey status.
His ride on John Gosden’s The Fugue in the Nassau Stakes the same day was a peach of one.
Exuding confidence, the tall Irishman taught Joseph O’Brien on St Nicholas Abbey a lesson by keeping the leaders within reach before unleashing a winning run.
Gosden’s jockey William Buick chose the trainer’s more fancied Izzi Top in that ace.
He will be praying lightning won’t strike twice (like it did for Bolt) this Sunday.
The trainer has an embarrassment of riches and Buick will be a little red-faced if the Gosden horse he isn’t on triumphs in the Prix Jacques Le Marois.
It’s Fallen for You versus Elusive Kate for the Newmarket handler, but there are plenty more in the mix including Moonlight Cloud and Most Improved.
For me, it’s Kate who ticks all the boxes.
She was said to have been in need of her first run, yet nearly took the Falmouth Stakes as a 25-1 shot, then beat the well-touted Golden Lilac in France last time.
It’s a happy hunting ground for her out there as she is unbeaten and this can be win number five.
On the domestic front, we have overseas challengers of our own as the Shergar Cup comes to beautiful Berkshire .
At least there aren’t any huge fields to contend with and it is good a team of female jockeys compete for the first time.
Western Prize (1.30) is one of the better chances on the card, as he got hemmed in during his last race and he is better than that.
But Gabrial must be the bet of the day in Haydock’s 2.55.
I was at the course when he swooped down the outside of the field to win three months ago and there’s no Frankel this time, just his fairly capable stablemate Jet Away.
Others with good chances are Anjaz (2.20) who was looked after by Dettori two weeks ago when her chance was gone and Sir John Hawkwood (Newmarket 2.25).
He did this column no favours on his last run but was all at sea on the desperate ground.
Man of the moment ‘Hughiesie’ is aboard and he will no doubt be keen to get in the shake-up.