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Hello,
Ok a cynical topic heading, but the last time G.W. ran the excuses thread ran into many pages..there cannot be any excuses this time, other than the choice the jockeys took re: which side to run…
regards,
doyley
Ran a fantastic race on unsuitable ground against a top-notcher in Authorised. On more suitable ground (i.e. good to firm) it’d take a brave man to back Authorised (never mind Notnowcato) to confirm the placings.
I think they were probably reluctant to run GW and I am almost certain that if he was still a stallion prospect he wouldn’t have lined up. They had little to lose really and I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing how both he and Authorised progress through their campaigns.
Both George Washington and Authorized were well below their best. Yellowstone has been exposed as being a mid one-teens horse tops in numerous events last year and this. His proximity merely confirms the muddling and unsatisfactory nature of the race.
I would love to see the first three meet again at York – unlikely perhaps – but I thought George appeared to get the trip and would like to see him get another chance at 10f. I thought Heffernan might have let George go a bit sooner than he did.
Hello,
I put up this rather sarcastic post as in my humble opinion, GW is one of the most over hyped horse I have ever come across. Probably the David Beckham of Racing
I can understand the horse has fans, and I don’t query their reasoning, but hopefully some tribute should be given, maybe not on this thread, to yet another win by NOTNOWCATO.
When he was beaten last time [after giving Dylan Thomas a beating], there was no post mortem, or where will he go next discussion. He was basically ignored.
Hopefully now an Eclipse Winner he will gain the recognition he richly deserves.
regards,
doyley
I thought Heffernan might have let George go a bit sooner than he did.
Agree completely, Apalachee. Looked indecisive in the straight. Fallon would have won on him without doubt and Kinane probably too.
No excuses needed for Gorgeous George – he ran a fine race.
I’d love to see him go for the Breeder’s Cup Mile. A strongly run Mile on fast ground would be right up his street.
George ran a fine race, but I fear his temperament tends to get the better of him these days, and I think (though I may be wrong) he will find it difficult to replicate the brilliance he showed in last year’s 2000 Guineas and QE11.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Hello,
I put up this rather sarcastic post as in my humble opinion, GW is one of the most over hyped horse I have ever come across. Probably the David Beckham of Racing
I can understand the horse has fans, and I don’t query their reasoning, but hopefully some tribute should be given, maybe not on this thread, to yet another win by NOTNOWCATO.
When he was beaten last time [after giving Dylan Thomas a beating], there was no post mortem, or where will he go next discussion. He was basically ignored.
Hopefully now an Eclipse Winner he will gain the recognition he richly deserves.Doyley,
This possibly all started after GW had won the 2000g.
Some could not understand that his race could ever be questioned.
Others thought his performance was over-hyped and explained why.
Similar happened with Sir Percy in the Derby.Today both A and GW were in absolute peak condition. GW showed no quirks or upset. GW did not gain at any stage on A. GW in the Breeders Cup – please don’t humiliate this fine horse any further.
The real questions is why once again a pacemaker was run – but completely ignored. Why some jockeys/ trainers did not walk the course at all. Why some only walked the bit they intended to race on. Why did they ignore the clerks information posted in the weighing room telling which side had the fastest going. At last a jockey and trainer using their brains to win a major race – how long it seems since W Carson did same at Ascot.
Can’t have the ground excuses for GW. it walked ‘good’ pre-racing and times suggest it was. He has only won one of his last six races and, though talented, has a suspect temperament (not evident in the paddock today but it was on the way to post – it looked like he was going to unseat at one stage).
Aidan (the trainer, not the forumite – although I’ve never seen them in the same room together…) was already making the ground excuse for George before the race.
Not sure about this pacemaker argument. Thought he went off too fast early (a la some old Ballydoyle pacemakers such as Sholokhov) which allows the field to ignore him as he won’t get home, but then he slowed it down which seemed to unsettle George as he then wouldn’t settle properly. But he was Authorized’s pacemaker and Authorized sat last early on. Now, he might like a strong pace – particularly over 1m2 – but if he’s top class he needs to show some adaptability. Why didn’t Frankie move him up closer earlier when the pace began to slow to make use of his stamina?
And as for staying far side….
I thought George Washington ran his race today. He was going as well as anything as they started home, and only by Ryan Moore’s ingenuity (or the other jockey’s failures, whatever it may be) has he been stopped from fighting out a real ding-dong finish with an impressive Derby winner. If that’s not running your race, IMO people over-estimated him.
Credit to ‘George’ because I thought that he ran a fantastic race. Much the same as Authorized, he was asked to make a huge move by his jockey,and was finishing best of all.
It’ll be interesting to see which path Aidan chooses for the horse for the rest of the season , because it looks to these eyes as if GW could do himself justice over further than yesterday’s 10 furlongs.
As for yesterday’s ground not being suitable for GW, I don’t buy it. The finishing time of the race was faster than the standard, so it is highly debatable, imho, as to whether or not – running rail configuration aside – the word ‘ soft ‘ should have figured in the going assessment.
I can understand the horse has fans, and I don’t query their reasoning, but hopefully some tribute should be given, maybe not on this thread, to yet another win by NOTNOWCATO.
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