- This topic has 15 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 12 months ago by
.
- Posts
With two relative outsiders winning today’s Classic trials are this year’s Epsom showpieces looking incredibly open, or simply incredibly weak?
I for one was very taken by the performance of Kayah, and will certainly be investing in her for the Oaks.
Winning with Hughesy on board is testament enough to her ability, but she looked much in need of the experience and will surely have improved markedly for it. The hill looked to catch her out a little bit, which is a worry for Epsom, but she steadied herself pleasingly and won nicely, considering.
LGR
Hold fire on your Oaks bet, she was the only one from today’s contest not entered for Epsom.
It’s not surprising that the Epsom races are still quite murky with O’Brien yet to declare his Derby hand and the York trials still to come. Bar Spanish Moon, I wasn’t impressed with a maiden winner last year more than I was Measured Tempo and, bred for the job, I think she’ll run a cracker in the Oaks if she can negotiate her trial well enough.
I was very taken by Aqaleem. Happy to have a small interest at 20’s
Gave the impression that he would benefit and run better for the experience today too
Aqaleem’s trial was no more than adequate IMO. I think tomorrow in Ireland and Tuesday at York will tell us a lot more.
20/1 appears a good trading price though, as it seems pretty likely he’ll be at Epsom and if he does go he’d start probably 14/1 max, possibly as short as 8/1 if the remaining trials are inconclusive. Doesn’t mean he’s value though, just that it’s probably a tradeable price.
Despite Lingfield’s similarity to Epsom, its Derby trial hasn’t been relevant for several years.
Aqaleen was the more impressive of the trial winners but Tregoning was non committal as to whether to go for Epsom, fearing the colt was too inexperienced. I couldn’t be having the any of the vanquished behind for the classic.
Kayah was under pressure some way out but stayed on under hard driving to win. She had a hard race and the first 3 were in a heap. I reckon she would struggle to go the pace in the Oaks and requires supplementing anyway. Those connections in the places have stronger candidates with the likes of Passage of Time, Light Shift and Measured Tempo.<br>The trials at least enabled connections to sort out a merit order and pick up some black type/group placings.<br>More will be revealed in Eire and at York. <br>
Don’t forget that Aqaleem beat current Blue Riband fancy Authorised at Newbury – and today seemed to confirm that Tregoning has a good colt on his hands.
Travelled easily and when asked the question, quickened nicely and lengthened away.
I think he’ll go for the Derby. Not sure about the Oaks trial. A strange result.<br>
I’m not a huge fan of Passage Of Time I have to admit, and have a nagging feeling that she’ll fall short in the Oaks, but you certainly couldn’t dismiss Aqaleem for the Derby on today’s effort.
Authorized is a horse I will continue to take on right until the off, as I’m still unsure as to what he achieved in winning a heavy-ground RPT and am drawn more to the likes of Salford Mill and Mariotto (although what the status of the latter is, I don’t know).
Quote: from Maxilon 5 on 9:10 pm on May 12, 2007[br]Don’t forget that Aqaleem beat current Blue Riband fancy Authorised at Newbury – and today seemed to confirm that Tregoning has a good colt on his hands. <br>
So did Teslin, and Authorized convincingly reversed the placings in the RP Trophy.
Wouldnt read too much into Aqaleems 2yr old form myself (although beating Authorised is fine). Hes clearly inexperienced (my one problem with the Derby) and Sinndar’s (i notice now) seem to do better at 3
I expect this year’s Derby, as usual, will work out as well as your average Brighton seller.
Quote: from Mounty on 10:57 pm on May 12, 2007[br]I expect this year’s Derby, as usual, will work out as well as your average Brighton seller.
Not a bad point- most of the recent ones never won another race.
With reference to the Derby, I’m not sure that the Guineas will be particularly relevant as a trial this year. Duke Of Marmalade won’t stay, Eagle Mountain is unlikely to do so and Strategic Prince doesn’t look quite good enough.
Despite the lukewarm reaction to their victories this week, Soldier Of Fortune and Admiralofthefleet impressed me. The latter isn’t certain to stay on pedigree but runs for all the world like a horse who will and we know SOF gets the trip. The times of their respective races were very decent indeed and AOTF already had a good timerating from the Royal Lodge to his credit anyway. On public form, they’re the best from Ballydoyle.
(Edited by guskennedy at 9:45 am on May 13, 2007)
I expect this year’s Derby, as usual, will work out as well as your average Brighton seller.
Harsh – within the last dozen years we’ve had 4 outstanding champions winning it and several who were beaten in the race going on to prove themselves as out of the top drawer. ÂÂÂ
Is there any other race confined to three year olds with a better long term record of identifying true champions? <br>
In a very English way we seem happy to criticise our premier classic. However, in recent years the race has produced winners at the Breeders Cup (High Chapparal twice), multiple Arc winners (Sinndar, Sakhee who was second in Sinndar’s Derby) and King George winners (Galileo. Some truly outstanding horses have won the Derby in recent years.
I get the feeling the Derby winner is either going to come from the 2000 Guineas (one of the O’Brien horses) or the Dante which promises to be the most competitive of the recognised trials. The Tregonning horse than won at Lingfield is the only horse to come out of a trial run so far that looks anything like the part.
The Oaks trial at Lingfield was useless. The winner needs supplementing but in any case if she wins the Oaks it’ll be the worst Oaks ever. Looks wide open at this stage.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.