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I was completely underwhelmed by the Breeders Cup. Does it have any relevance to European racing? Would you like to have seen the likes of Cracksman or Enable there or is it better that it’s restricted to last throw of the dice, nothing to lose options for such as Ribchester, Ulysses, Highland Reel and Churchill?
It is a sideshow, and one that is becoming more jaded by the year.Or am I wrong?
I believe you are wrong Cormack, would you have liked it better not to see the Euros who turned up more than once, Goldikova, Miesque, High Chapparal, Giant’s Causeway or magnificent displays like Arazi’s Juvenile Show or Arcangues 99-1?
I would not and if the raceconditions suits as well as the venue, I’d love to see either of the two mentioned. Missed a Frankel representative this year.
But stay away from Lasix/medicine. It’s not guaranteed to have a benefit on 1st use, it might even wear them off on the day. Churchill going out with a puff….much to soon, then stayed on. IMO.Best Wishes
SilkIt’s nice to see European runners over there and to see such scenes as Buick and Barzalona’s delight at victory but I’m happy with it being the types that are going over and not Enable and Cracksman. Golden Horn shouldn’t have travelled and got turned over on ground that was simply an embarrassment to American racing. The likes of Frankel, Treve, Muhaarar, Canford Cliffs, Sea The Stars, Almanzor, etc… shouldn’t have to be transported across the Atlantic to end their seasons/careers in such a manner.
What about ” the living legend ” Lester on Royal Academy ? What a moment
“…56 and just out of RETIREMENT…”
Best Wishes
SilkI still can’t believe the filly’s and mares race isn’t named after the mighty Ouija Board…..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Lady Eli suffered a nasty cut to her leg; should be ok but it looked horrific. I’m still missing Zenyatta in these races….
There were originally only seven BC races, there are now thirteen. It’s taken something from the event but all in all it doesn’t really have a detrimental effect on the European season.It’s almost an extension of it. Plus the excuses are already in place before you travel over.Defeat won’t really affect stallion value but in the case of trying the classic, it could massively increase it. Giant’s Causeway stood at Ashford on account of his classic run. They also ran Galileo in the race to try and make him appeal to dirt breeders too.In fact, a good one for a racing pub quiz would be around Galileo running at Southwell. Him and a few other Ballydoyle horses came for a racecourse gallop there prior to travelling over for the BC.
In fact must add that in a roundabout way it has had an influence on the European season in the shape of ‘Champions Days’ and the like. Whether it’s positive or negative depends on whether you are a fan of changes in the calendar, and filling single cards with a string of big races.The Tuesday of the Ebor meeting was once unique in the sense that for many years it was the only day in the calendar with more than one G1 on the card. I’d gladly go back to that but it ain’t going to happen. It’s an evolving sport alright but not necessarily for the better.
I’m surprised they haven’t added a 10F turf race as they pretty much have every other distance covered (getting a bit like the Cheltenham Festival) and what little relevance it had for me was diluted further by making it a two day meeting.
I am not a huge fan of US dirt racing in general if I am honest as it does not make for good viewing when you see them go off like a bat out of hell at the start and then see them finish legless at walking pace having seven bells beaten out of them by the jockey plus the courses seems to be purposely set up to suit one style of racing over another rather than just being fair to all. Add in the fact that with the turf courses on the inside it invariable ends up with all sorts of traffic problems with fancied horses having to alter tactics and drop in just because they are drawn out wide (Roly Poly a prime example) and to top it all off the meeting is hilariously tagged as being a World Championship for racehorses.
Europe will always have runners there, especially the ones looking for quick ground (which 9 times out of 10 you are guaranteed to get) but for the most part gone are the days that England/Europe’s best rated will automatically be targeted for the meeting (unless they require quick conditions) – if you look at the top 30 horses listed on BHA ratings only 5 of them turned up at Del Mar, one of which Ulysses (the highest rated) was a non runner. 12 on the list opted to go to either the Arc or Champions Day (some actually did both and Ribchester did all 3). Obviously Coolmore are probably the exception to this as they are still happy to pitch their most suitable horses at the meeting and I don’t really see that changing.
Del Mar is a beautiful setting for a racecourse with the turf meeting the surf and all that but its not very surprising this was their first time holding the event and judging by the number of upset/unsatisfactory results, I doubt the Breeders Cup will be in any rush to return.
Overall, I think it has lost a lot of its value (compared to the time shortly after its inception when it was the only game in town) due to other fairer options now being available to the European horses (Champions Day & Hong Kong to name a couple) plus the Arc weekend also has races that pretty much caters to the same horses assuming they are not ground dependant.
I don’t really see that changing going forward.
I know what the OP is getting at and the idea that the BC are legitimate world championships is stereotypical US arrogance and doesn’t wash.
I’m glad that the Europeans treat the BC as pretty much an afterthought for the best horse and it is usually proven year after year that it’s usually a race too far ,a probability that most serious trainers can usually work out beforehand based on the type of horse they’re dealing with.
However,the surprising thing is still how many top class horses are still allowed to run only for them to run palpably as though they are OTT or for whatever reason they can’t show anything like their form….I can’t help thinking that surely a good trainer would know their horse well enough to avoid a record blemishing defeat…..some of them run embarrassingly badly and it would be a shame if the pursuit of money allowed this to happen.
The BC remains of interest but it’s nothing to get carried away with and is of little relevance to the story of the European season.
Courses are too sharp for European horses…generally…. Prefer Champions day…….even if it’s run on softer than ideal most years. Lost loads on the World Championships this year
pocket talking of course. Too much prize money to turn down for Aidy and most top Euro trainers generally. Any US courses that might suit Euro horses……
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