In a week when Russia quite rightly became the scourge of the world, it was perhaps fitting that a sprinter named after the land of putrid Putin’s favourite aerial freestyle skier copped the worst run in transit since the Titanic and met a similar fate.
Smirnova was the galloper’s name, and the smart 3YO filly was the odds-on favourite in race 5 at the Valley on Friday night.
If punters had seen what was coming she would have been 100-1.
First she came out of the barriers on here nose, and it was only thanks to jockey Jye McNeil’s skill that he was able to stay in the saddle and pick her up quick enough to stay in the race.
Then, having missed the start over 955m, McNeil was forced to go to the fence behind the leading pack and ride for luck.
He didn’t have any.
Watch this.
Don’t think for a second that there was anything McNeil could do about it.
The Stewards vision below puts a lie to that.
If you took the shorts don’t blame bad luck.
Blame Putin and karma.
They’re both a bitch.