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Almost a clean sweep for Europeans on turf today. Pity Diabolical did not hang on.
Mark
Value Is EverythingCurlin ran with great credit and performed a lot better than any of "ours" would have done on dirt.
How did you come to that conclusion?
I’d have backed RP on dirt and who’s to say I’d have been wrong? RP is dirt bred, has pace, is bombproof and stays. IMO, that was why he won.Raven’s Pass was a very deserving winner and Frankie also deserves a lot of credit. The conditions and style of American dirt racing were always going to play to his strengths and there’s clearly a plethora of big races available to him over eight and ten furlongs next season.
It will be interesting to see if John Gosden allows him to take his place in the Dubai World Cup. I thinks it’s fair to say the American’s won’t have a superstar like Curlin in the line-up and if Raven acts on the surface (‘real dirt’), it’s his for the taking.
A big IF, but I think it’s a chance worth taking.
Well well well! either we are in a different class,Curlin’s drug habit has caught up with him or he doesn’t like getting his feet dirty
He has run a decent race but as I thought Raven’s did him for toe in what I thought was a bit of a crawl. Correct me if I am wrong please.
Considering both he and Henry ended up in the winners enclosure it has to throw some doubt on the form at the recorded distance.
Perhaps both will get the trip again back in the good old UK at a later date but in a true run race I wouldn’t bet my life on either coming out on top.
However another good win for Ravens, thank you very much!!! which moe than paid for his defeat in the 2000 guineas.
He seems to be improving so I hope they keep him in training as he is going to be one helluva hard horse to beat at a mile next season.
As I hoped Frankie put Ravens well and truly to sleep for most of the race which paid huge dividends in the home straight. If anything he won so easy it was too good to be true but oh how I would have loved to see what Zarkava would have done to that lot. He may be the best in the world now but if she has been around she would have eaten the lot of them for breakfast.
Footnote:money is the root of all evil on the flat and that is why I will always be a jumps man. Imagine retiring the likes of Denman or Binocular now!! It would turn NH on it’s head
Synthetic surfaces are not going to be popular in America after a 1-2 for Europe in their premier horse race. I think you could see a lot of the top American dirt horses avoiding the Breeder’s Cup next year.
A brilliant performance from both Raven’s Pass & Henrythenavigator. Hopefully they decide to keep RP in training.
WOWWWWWWWWWWW I have just seen the result. Oh i cannot wait to see the replay! How fantastic, well done Frankie!!
All yesterday’s races are on http://www.bloodhorse.com/
Thanks for the link!!
what a cool website, never heard of it before but it’s great. ThanksIf anything he won so easy it was too good to be true but oh how I would have loved to see what Zarkava would have done to that lot. He may be the best in the world now but if she has been around she would have eaten the lot of them for breakfast.
I’m not so sure. There’s every chance that she would’ve choked on that breakfast.
Zarkava conquered Europe but Raven’s Pass owns the world
I’m not sure the surface was to blame for Curlin’s defeat. He’s been on the slide ever since he was taken off the ‘roids if you ask me. The ESPN post-race coverage was delightfully sore and begrudging.
I’ve got mixed feelings. I’ve always looked forward to the day one of "Ours" won a BC Classic, but its somewhat of an anti-climax with the Pro-Ride etc, which obviously had a massive bearing on the outcome.
Ravens is obviously top class, but i’m personally a bit dissapointed a true superstar such as Giants Causeway or Galileo wasn’t the 1st of ‘Ours’ to get the job done.
Long term, Great Leighs and the rest will be licking their lips. Surely now only a matter of time before an annual all-weather domestic Group 1, and a growing pattern all-weather calendar?
If anything he won so easy it was too good to be true but oh how I would have loved to see what Zarkava would have done to that lot. He may be the best in the world now but if she has been around she would have eaten the lot of them for breakfast.
I’m not so sure. There’s every chance that she would’ve choked on that breakfast.
Zarkava conquered Europe but Raven’s Pass owns the world
The result of the Mile and Classic to me suggest something different to that.
Can’t profess to knowing much about the horses involved, nor the typical race-shape on ‘synthetics’ as we’re now supposed to call AW , but would anyone care to comment on my initial thoughts on watching the race that Curlin hit the front too early and Ravens Pass benefitted greatly by being given a lead from him in the straight, enabling his miler speed to be used to good effect
Amazing race, amazing horse, great meeting for this side of the atlantic.
What a year for quality, when you look at how the 2000 guineas and french 1000 guineas form has worked out what a year 2008 has been.
Ravens Pass the world champion horse surely?
I think we have to look back on this classic generation as one of the best in years. French had the fillies with Uk and Ireland colts ruling the roost.
The Duke’s form looks to have been somewhat weaker than I thought however.
Dukey, as in the Arc, ran below form.
The Pro-ride did have a massive influence. Yanks could say they had the best horses, when Europeans were at a massive disadvantage on dirt, few of ours acted on it.
Had Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator been 4th and 5th, and Curlin won. Do you think the Americans would say "Shame the Euro’s did not act on the ground"?
Exactly Friggo. Apart from (possibly) a substandard field in the Dubai World Cup, Curlin has not been in the same form this season.
It could well be Raven’s Pass will prove just as good as Sakhee or Galileo.
Looking at the US trainers who do not like the surface, they are primarily old school. Set in their ways.
For the good of the thoroughbred, ban dirt NOW! May not be a coincidence Bo Derek was there, she is a leading campaigner on equine safety.
Mark
Value Is Everything
I’d have backed RP on dirt and who’s to say I’d have been wrong? RP is dirt bred, has pace, is bombproof and stays. IMO, that was why he won.
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