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Very sad news and not good for the game
Ok its a business but if this is a the horse many thnks he is (and i do) then hes going to be sorely missed. Its a cold decision and i wonder what AOB’s real feelings (having done so well to get him to where he is) are?
Wonder if Godolphin would have taken same decision? Maybe, but i often think they are just a bit more keen to see their best horses race
No doubt the Godolphin haters on here will have their say now…
Wonder if Godolphin would have taken same decision? Maybe, but i often think they are just a bit more keen to see their best horses race
How many seasons did Dubawi or Mark Of Esteem stay in training for?
Boring boring Coolmore – so he beat Araafa a couple of times before getting stuffed in the Breeders Cup Classic – hardly the stuff of legends?
:biggrin: Refuse to rise to the bait!!!! Disappointing we will not see him next year but hardly a surprise is it?
Interesting that those who were a few weeks ago stating his temperment had gotten worse and will never will a race again etc are looking for him to be kept in training next year. Would liked to have seen him again but not sure he would suit a 4 year old campaign considering how he was campaigned at 2&3 and his general profile.
Guessing perhaps that George Washington is a dual Group 1 winner winning both the Phoenix Stakes (Group 1 at 6 furlongs) and the Irish National Stakes (Group 1 at 7 furlongs). Giants Causeway on the other hand only won the one Group 1 at two over 7 furlongs in France. George Washington was the champion two year old, Giants Causeway was not.
George Washington won a Classic, the 2000 Guineas, where as GC did not. George Washington also won the all age mile championship of Europe at Ascot, GC was beaten in it.
Thats before you look at the pedigrees of the animals etc etc.
Not suggesting Mr Grassick is correct but its not that out landish. For the record I agree with you about Giants Causeway.
ROG pedigree is significantly weaker than George’s and George Washington in terms of physique and conformation is much the superior. Its not just race record. Rock Of Gibraltar was not champion two year old or even champion 3 year old. For that record neither was GC.
Great to see Rock Of Gibraltar finally get his dues, took long enough for some to come around to how special he was! :biggrin:
(Edited by Gareth Flynn at 10:08 am on Oct. 20, 2006)
"ROG pedigree is significantly weaker than George’s and ….. Rock Of Gibraltar was not even champion 3 year old"
Not like you to get stuff so wrong Aidan!  ROG was champion 3yr old in Europe. ÂÂÂ
And if we’re talking pedigree, neither of them are bred in the purple, to be sure.  But ROG has a solid record of black-type in his family and is related to Riverman (classic winner and champion sire).  Beyond Grandera and their grandam Blue Tip, the only black-type winners in George’s family are French jumpers and not very good ones at that.  I think that’s the biggest insult that Riverman will ever have received, that being related to him is worse than being from a N.H. family!
Quote: from thedarkknight on 10:06 am on Oct. 20, 2006[br]What about their effectiveness on different types of going, trip or surface, their willingness for a battle, their susceptibility to injury or their general attitude and demeanour?
Stop the contest, ref….<br>
As ive said before thats because GC had to battle!! He wasnt quite good enough to win it as easy the GW. BTW, who would you fancy in a match bet over a mile….honestly??
SHL
Considering Grandera soured later on; finished up running in cheek-pieces and is now in Japan, I don’t think it’s suprising that George won’t be risked as a four year old.
That may well be relevant but wasnt ascot just about the first time that he didnt show his slightly barmy side?
Having got him to that stage (although i think the whole scenario at Ascot that day was far more relaxed than say the guineas or Churchill downs will be) you would have thought that the racing benefits could now be accrued?
Well maybe just idealistic
Not like you to get stuff so wrong Aidan! ROG was champion 3yr old in Europe.
Was High Chaparral not Champion 3 year old?
RoG was top on 128 in the International Classifications (" the lowest highweight since the classification system was started 25 years ago") 1lb ahead of Marienbard with a whole slew (including High Chaparral) on a measly 126.
"But I don’t think any of them could match George Washington’s range of qualifications."
Thats just the usual hype, but im not sure that many could match his slightly mental temperament too
Isnt this a factor? Surely that will put some off…
A few more races (like Ascot) under AOB’s careful handling might allay some of those fears.. <br>
I should think his retirement is mostly down to Coolmore wanting another top-class son of Danehill at stud. They don’t actually have too many – RoG and Oratorio being the only two that really fit the bill.
Quote: from thedarkknight on 10:47 am on Oct. 20, 2006[br]
Quote: from SirHarryLewis on 10:27 am on Oct. 20, 2006[br]
Quote: from thedarkknight on 10:06 am on Oct. 20, 2006[br]What about their effectiveness on different types of going, trip or surface, their willingness for a battle, their susceptibility to injury or their general attitude and demeanour?
Stop the contest, ref….<br>
As ive said before thats because GC had to battle!! He wasnt quite good enough to win it as easy the GW. BTW, who would you fancy in a match bet over a mile….honestly??<br>
<br>What about in the Irish Guineas, Sir Harry, or at Goodwood? Where was the fight there? Or do you just chuck the towel in when everything isn’t perfect for the horse?
In a match bet over a mile – it would depend on the conditions. George Washington would be favourite if it was fast ground and he didn’t boil over or run out on the way down to post.
However, this debate isn’t about whether George Washington could beat Giant’s Causeway under his optimum conditions (I could equally ask you who would you fancy over 10f on soft ground?) – it is about who has the better "range of qualifications".
I don’t think anyone sane could argue that GW has a better range of qualifications than either ROG or GC.
(Edited by thedarkknight at 10:49 am on Oct. 20, 2006)<br>
I actually thought it was a miracle he ran as well as he did at the Curragh. The ground was practically unraceable.<br>As for the boiling over or running out on the way to post…he has never done that has he??
I wont argue with your "range of attritubes" with regard to GC because he very nearly did the impossible and he was exceptionally tough if not as quick in my opinion as GW.
Coolmore are in the business of hype to some extent so Im not so sure Grassick was just soundbiting ..thats what they do. Have to admit it was getting to the stage with O Brien that every two year old had "unbelieveable speed" and was best 2-year old ever. I didnt buy in to it with One Cool Cat but having seen this guys massive demolition of his 2 year old peers here last year, I was always willing to believe them on GW.
SHL
Quote: from seabird on 1:13 pm on Oct. 20, 2006[br]………..but it’s a little bit like ‘the boy who cried wolf’, isn’t it?!
Colin
Well, when Jim Bolger said he had a horse this year that could be his best ever, it definitly got peoples attension.
SHL
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