Hofer bets his chances for the Betford Cambridgeshire with Ideology and Combat Zone
With this Saturday being just round the corner, Mario Hofer, the German trainer plans to attack the Betford Cambridgeshire with his dual impact by racing both Ideology and Combat Zone as his representatives. It is a prestigious nine-furlong heritage handicap.
The last race in which the two just encountered one another was the Baden Racing Superhandicap on 3rd September, 2011. It was a field for six horses with Combat Zone and Ideology finishing one after the other.
Both were of course being represented by Mario Hofer with Ideology under Hofer’s daughter, Stefanie Hofer with only the sixth position in the race as the horse could not maintain the pace till the final furlong even though he stayed persistent throughout
the initial furlongs.
It was T Hallier onboard Combat Zone who was in rhythm at the beginning of the race but eventually faded out especially towards the last furlong. The 5-year-old managed getting the fifth position.
However, the winner of the race after all was Mario Hofer’s Primera Vista with Sabrina Wandt and the runner up was M Figge’s Amazing Beauty.
Ideology has run nine races this season with winning just one, the Prix Falcon for the 5-year-olds and this time onboard was Christophe Soumillon. At the beginning he was chasing the leaders after which he geared up and led over 1 ½ furlong eventually going
through the wire easily.
The other Mario Hofer representative, Combat Zone has participated in seven races this season, one of them being the Baden with Ideology. He as opposed to Ideology has won two races this season, the Hamburg in July against Indian Cat and Semina. Before this
it was in May that he won the Longchamp.
Hofer said: "Both horses are travelling over for the Cambridgeshire, with Tom Queally partnering Ideology and Terence Hellier riding Combat Zone. The owners were both keen to have a runner in a race like this and the horses look to be good candidates”.
He went on telling that the German horses are labeled ‘outsiders’ in British races and that the deliverance of his horses would clear away the misconception. They will face competition for sure but it would be something to witness at least one of Hofer’s
horses getting him the title!!
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