THIS is it Charlie, time to show us what you’ve got!
Oh yes, he’s talked the talk and nearly won a Melbourne Cup, but Charlie Fellowes now has to walk the walk with what might be the horse who defines his career.
Usually one only looks back at the moment that changed a handler’s path.
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The progression of the Fellowes-trained Luther, however, means that over the months ahead we can see how the giant Newmarket handler gets to grips with a horse who might just propel him into the big time.
The pressure is on.
Why? Because Luther looked an absolute machine at Haydock over the weekend, having been beautifully educated by Kieran Shoemark in two previous starts.
A 250,000gns Frankel offspring, Luther showed much when winning on debut at Salisbury and then learnt a bundle when upped to Listed class at the same track chasing home the promising New Century.
That performance allowed him to race like a different animal at Haydock, travelling well in behind before quickening clear to take the Listed Ascendant Stakes.
It’s what Fellowes does next that will be key. And he will surely know it.
Luther could go for a number of the top juvenile events like the Royal Lodge or Dewhurst, although it would take a brave trainer to drop back in trip with a horse who clearly gets eight furlongs strongly.
But those huge calls are exactly what Fellowes has to make.
Trainers who get a good one can almost become scared of running, living in fear their bubble will burst.
I’m sure Fellowes will, at this point, think of his friend and rival George Scott who was so inventive this year with Royal Ascot hero Isle of Jura.
The secret, of course, is to be bold but sensible.
So where we see Luther next will be something Fellowes will mull over hour after hour.
The disappointment of not winning a Melbourne Cup with Prince of Arran will haunt Fellowes for the rest of his days.
It’s not, of course, in any way Fellowes’s fault it didn’t happen, merely down to a horror ride when his charge ran on into a closing third behind Twilight Payment in 2020.
But it will always hurt.
Luther could be in a different league. A horse to dream of winning Classics.
Some big calls will be made. If you have a dream, though, it’s the big calls that define you.
Meanwhile, you may have read over the last week that Treasure Time, a decent winner up at York, is due to run at Doncaster this week for owners, Raceshare – Treasure Time.
He’s in the last race on Saturday.
Treasure Time was bought by one of the few people who have made a living out of punting, namely Patrick Veitch, who is now purchasing racehorses for Raceshare until 2030.
Veitch has long been feared by every bookmaker in the land.
What is interesting about Veitch is that although he continues to wager in the UK, he’s now set to concentrate the majority of his betting in Hong Kong.
I asked Patrick to elaborate a little more on his reason why, and in a message that everyone in British racing should listen to carefully, he said this: “Gambling for large stakes in the UK seems on the way out unless there is a change in Government policy.
“Even entirely recreational punters who want to bet for large stakes are being pestered out of it by constant demands for information and restrictions. That’s even when they have extremely strong asset positions.
“Such people don’t find the same level of difficulty when they play the City markets and are losing interest.”
Veitch added: “For now Hong Kong, where there is a genuine market for betting in large stakes, has to be the choice.”
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