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Mrs Aidan O’Brien has twittered or what ever they call it that St. Nicholas Abbey is aimed at the Coronation Cup.If he wins will it restore his reputation as a brilliant horse?
While i love to steam in to St Nick i will be watching this race….shorter trip and the course are enough to keep the cash in my pocket.
Hope he wins though
If he wins will it restore his reputation as a brilliant horse?
That partly depends if St Nicholas Abbey’s judged as a disappointment for not winning the 2000 Guineas last year.
Of course, the first four horses from last year’s 2000 Guineas race are now Group 1 1m winners, and that shouldn’t be a run to knock him on, despite Mr O’Brien’s claims about the times he was recording over a mile at home.
But, in terms of brilliance, So You Think is running in the preferred 10f, 4yo+ races for a good reason, and no spin can alter that.
To win the Coronation Cup, St Nicholas Abbey needs to be (about) as good as Fame And Glory. None of what I view as the top four middle distance older horses are likely to turn up.
If he can’t win this, it will definitely be "Mike De Kock" time at the end of the year. The main rival (probably only, realistically) is a mare who’s only run against colts/geldings was a defeat by Debussy in the Blue Riband Classic trial. That won’t matter in the context of this, but it’s clear Midday’s been very well placed by racing her own sex.
I believe that Aidan staked his reputation on this horse so he will win or Joseph is out. Abraham to the rescue.
I think Midday will provide very stiff opposition for St Nicholas Abbey if she turns up. Her performance at York impressed me immensely as I felt Frankie Dettori was gifted an easy lead and Midday still managed to win despite also conceeding five pounds.
Midday has improved with age and appears to have a lovely temperament, she also has experience at the course which will surely stand her in good stead. The value of her form against fillies is of course open to question but she has proven to be consistant and reliable which are big positives for any racehorse.
If the Ballydoyle horses improve with a run then the Chester winners must have a great chance next time out.They were so impressive.
Get the house on St Nic.
If Midday is the only credible contender, I’d be very inclined to agree.
I think some people are being a bit harsh on Midday. She may only have beaten fillies but those fillies include Sarafina who was arguably an unlucky 3rd in the Arc and Snow Fairy who has been consistently beating the boys ever since. She herself is ultra consistent and possibly better than ever this year if that first run is anything to go by.
Her form with Sarafina last year would have put her close to Fame and Glory and we know she handles the track.
I think we can safely say she has improved a little bit since that defeat by Debussy!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
If things go according to what we’ve heard about the current Ballydoyle plan, St. Nick runs in the Coronation and Await the Dawn runs in the Hardwicke. They have multiple entries so they can juggle things if plan A doesn’t pan out.
FWIW I think both those horses will be hard to beat. Midday a very feisty lady though.
St Nicholas Abbey had the Group 3 Huxley set up for him. Main rival Harris Tweed being taken on up front, pulling and going off too quick early. Even losing second close home to six year old Allied Powers. That one hasn’t been at his best on a firm surface or over as far, in the past. With St Nicholas Abbey’s no show for most of last season, there’s little doubt he’s had either physical or mental problems. On the other hand it appears Midday is bomb proof. Just because he’s the chosen representitive of Ballydoyle does not mean they think he’s better than the progressive Await The Dawn. Coronation Cups are known to be easy Group 1’s to win compared to most of that grade. Therefore, an ideal target for one who the team are desperate for Group 1 success for breeding purposes. Another look at the field sees a poor lot of rivals. Best of the rest is Dandino, an admirable individual who scraped home in a Group 2 from one who’s been beaten since in Group 2 company.
Not only is there a line through Sarafina which suggests Midday is capable of taking on top class colts. But Fame And Glory won this last year from Sariska, who looked the winner two out before finding little. Sariska only just beat Midday in the Oaks. Henry Cecil’s mare has arguably improved since and is so consistent. If anything better than ever giving weight on reappearance. We also know she acts well on good-soft and a firm surface. Proven at Epsom, unlike St Nich who can look ungainly.
Although obviously impressive and encouraging for the future at Chester, does St Nicholas Abbey really deserve to be an 11/10 shot? If the two main protaganists were the same price, I’d have difficulty chosing between them, but Midday is 2/1.
Value Is EverythingLooks a match race doesn’t it folks. I think Midday is a fine horse but really not top class in terms of Top class Colts. Its still very hard for Fillies to take on colts. I think I might back St Nick now. Especially with Ryan Moore aboard
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Midday definitely improved last season – her only 2 defeats coming on inadequate trips on the ground – and though she never raced against colts, she thrashed 3 fillies (Plumania, Sarafina and Snow Fairy) that most certainly did – and acquitted theselves very well in some high class mixed races. Henry thinks she could be even better this year.
SNA won what’s turned out to be a modest RP Trophy and wasn’t quick enough for the Guineas. He won impressively at Chester, but against listed class horses (the 2nd has won a gp2 & gp3 but against poor opposition), and I sincerely doubt he’d be running here if AOB thought him any sort of wonder horse.
Midday for me, quite comfortably.Midday definitely improved last season – her only 2 defeats coming on inadequate trips on the ground – and though she never raced against colts, she thrashed 3 fillies (Plumania, Sarafina and Snow Fairy) that most certainly did – and acquitted theselves very well in some high class mixed races. Henry thinks she could be even better this year.
SNA won what’s turned out to be a modest RP Trophy and wasn’t quick enough for the Guineas. He won impressively at Chester, but against listed class horses (the 2nd has won a gp2 & gp3 but against poor opposition), and I sincerely doubt he’d be running here if AOB thought him any sort of wonder horse.
Midday for me, quite comfortably.Sarafina was first-up off a 3 month break in the Prix Vermeille and the trainer stressed that she’d come on a lot for the run. More tellingly he also said that they rode her at the tail of the field because they weren’t sure she’d get the trip. Looking at the race that tactical change probably cost her 2nd and a real shot at Midday.
If you thought Sarafina ran to her best you’d also have to think that Midday would’ve won the Arc (since Sarafina would’ve been close-up to Workforce and Nakayama w/o interference). I actually rate Sarafina a bit higher than Midday but there isn’t much between them.SNA may not have been right for the Guineas either, but the form of his latest win is questionable.
I disagree on the Coronation Cup talk. They likely want to keep him at 1m4f and run him now (instead of waiting for the KG) to see how much ability he’s retained before planning future targets. There’s nothing else on the program.Since I rate Midday just below Sarafina, who’s up there with last year’s Workforce, she looks a nice bet. Too many question marks over SNA.
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