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Just out of interest, does anyone know why Godolphin chose to leave the horse in Newmarket over the winter, rather than take him to Dubai?
I suppose it was because the horse was purchased relatively late – December?
Transport fees always go up at Christmas time.
Zarkava, I don’t think O’Brien is running pacemakers. They will go a good gallop but that will be what O’Brien wants and I think all of those he intends to run have a chance of some sort. Same applies to Sea the Stars, Gan Amhras, Montaff and, if Godolphins 3yo’s find some form, Kite Wood. South Easter’s form is also working out well.
There are a few without a chance but the majority of this field have a chance.
Well I think Golden Sword and Age of Aquarius are the ‘pacemakers’. Those 2 will ensure a good gallop for sure.
They will but that will play to their strengths. Both of those horses are there to win, particularly Age of Aquarius who cost far too much money not to.
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I agree with that. You have to respect what AOB is doing. We’ve all thought at one time or another that a horse has little chance of success and ended up with egg on our faces.
AOB is no different and is running horses that all have a decent amount of ability. You just need to look at how many times his longer priced horses have won to reaslise even those who are hands on get it wrong.
I’m intrigued by Freemantle’s re-route to Royal Ascot and (I assume) the King Edward VII. I am positively sure he would’ve improved in front of Black Bear Island at their next outing.
I’m therefore querying if BBI is as highly thought of in the Ballydoyle yard as I would be led to believe.
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I’m intrigued by Freemantle’s re-route to Royal Ascot and (I assume) the King Edward VII. I am positively sure he would’ve improved in front of Black Bear Island at their next outing.
I’m therefore querying if BBI is as highly thought of in the Ballydoyle yard as I would be led to believe.
He certainly wasn’t raced in the Dante like a horse who needed the run, and I’d doubt he’d ever reverse the form with Black Bear Island. I’d still say that the Dante winner is AoB’s main hope and, similarly to that race, wouldn’t read too much into JM not being on him, when riding plans are finalised.
Imo, none of the other form in the race stacks up to what Sea The Stars has achieved; he was always thought of as a middle-distance horse last year, nominated for the Derby immediately after the Guineas and, given that g/f ground looks almost certain, 7/2 looks a more than fair price.against horses that need to improve past him.Black Bear Island can’t be the main hope, for one he was almlosst heading for The Italian Derby but he must have shown enough, Kinane who was on Sans Frontiers believes the winner will not come from The Dante and thinks Fame And Glory is the danger to Sea The Stars and he has ridden agaainst them all.
Sea The Stars is going to be tough to beat, who ever can beat him wins.
My only criticsm of Aidan O’Brien is his slightly dubious, if legitimate, mob handed approach to winning these classic races.
That said, I have not yet lost faith in his Rip Van Winkle.
I sincerely hope JM hasn’t either.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
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From the same source at told me he would ride Rip Van Winkle in the 2000 Guineas told me 2 hours ago he has now made his mind up.
Nothing on the RP website yet but if it turns out ot be true it’s not looking good for those of us, myself included who backed RVW
He rides Fame and Glory
I’ve had a little on Crowded House at 25’s NRNB. Hopefully Meehan will not send him to France and just run the bugger. He was talking the horse up as the second coming in March and April, so whatever problems he’s had will hopefully (or magically) disappear.
From the same source at told me he would ride Rip Van Winkle in the 2000 Guineas told me 2 hours ago he has now made his mind up.
Nothing on the RP website yet but if it turns out ot be true it’s not looking good for those of us, myself included who backed RVW
He rides Fame and Glory
Reliable as ever Fist- ATR report Johnny on Rip, Ryan Moore BBI, Shamie Heff on Fame and Glory
Ballydoyle riding arrangements
Fame And Glory Seamus Heffernan
Rip Van Winkle Johnny Murtagh
Age Of Aquarius Pat Smullen
Black Bear Island Ryan Moore
Masterofthehorse Richrad Hughes
Golden Sword Colm O’DonoghueI’ve been watching a few races on ATR; Fame and Glory is a bit of a tail swisher, isn’t he?
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Ballydoyle riding arrangements
Fame And Glory Seamus Heffernan
Rip Van Winkle Johnny Murtagh
Age Of Aquarius Pat Smullen
Black Bear Island Ryan Moore
Masterofthehorse Richrad Hughes
Golden Sword Colm O’DonoghueIntriguing – they’re certainly not going to want an outside jockey to make the pace for them, so are trusting that role to Golden Sword.
Maybe they think none of the horses are good enough?On the whole I think that the arrangements are broadly
Positive
Rip Van Winkle
Age Of Aquarius
Black Bear IslandNegative
Fame And Glory
MasterofthehorseNeutral
Golden SwordIMO this completely writes off Ballydoyle’s Derby chances. The fact that Rip Van Winkle, a horse who’s finished 7th and 4th on his last 2 starts, a horse that has the pedigree of a 10f horse, a horse that Murtagh said probably wouldn’t stay, is the choice of the stable jockey says a lot about the other 5 horses IMO.
Am expecting this to be Gan Amhras vs Sea The Stars. Can’t see any other horse involved in the finish. Tbh wouldn’t be surprised to see Gan win by 3 or 4.
The way AOB’s runners can seemingly improve beyond expectations can make a fool of any of us, but at this point I havent seen anything from RVW which suggests a star in the making.
And given that he is possibly as much of a doubtful stayer as STS, will the AOB mob really ensure that it is an absolute stamina test?
Murtagh got off RVW after the Guineas and said he may not stay the Derby distance so now what does it mean that he thinks it has the best chance of winning?Kinane said nothing in the Dante would win the Derby. More and more I fancy Bolger.But then again Aidan’s second string has won a few Irish Derbies.No way does Oxx go fishing , so where does that leave us?
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