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Agree with Paul
Ok. Different horses respond in different ways to travelling, but its very odd that a clear good ground horse is being aimed at contests which are more than likely to be run on soft/heavy
Also, cant believe that a short trip to Kempton at Xmas would affect his GC chance. Three months to recover!
i think it has more to do with kauto star being in the race than not wanting to travel WoA before cheltenham!
This piece offers a fair summary of Kauto Star’s current status.
Connections almost cerytainly running scared of Kauto Star. Remember after the Down Royal race they started talking King George. They soon changed their mind. War of Attrition is a good horse, but has more to prove in terms of form than Kauto Star.
Yes. And who can blame them frankly
But i recall that the stated intention to keep WOA in Ireland was made before KS won the Betfair. Just found that a bit strange maybe, but whatever…
Some here saying that KS may not stay the GC. Is there any reason why? I cant see one… (at haydock he looked like further would do just fine.)…but would be interested to hear
Running scared? So by Monets Garden running in the King George they are not running scared? By Racing Demon running in the King George they are not running scared….does that somehow give them a better chance?
The trainer has since said he is keen to keep WOA to the same route as last year. He again emphasised this yesterday by saying WOA will run in the Durkan (despite conditions being against him) simply because he does not want to change the plan of action. The fact they didnt even bother to enter War Of Attrition in the Betfair Chase tells you how interested they were in racing in England before Cheltenham.
Quote: from clivex on 11:40 am on Dec. 6, 2006[br]Yes. And who can blame them frankly
But i recall that the stated intention to keep WOA in Ireland was made before KS won the Betfair. Just found that a bit strange maybe, but whatever…
Some here saying that KS may not stay the GC. Is there any reason why? I cant see one… (at haydock he looked like further would do just fine.)…but would be interested to hear
I suppose Clivex the main reason is that he is obviously very quick, perhaps in the same way the likes of One Man was and obviously its a little difficult for many to belive to can be really that good at 2 miles and still stay 3mile 2 furlongs. There is also the fact that he is by a sprinter. I always think with these type of horses though, you do see signs over three miles that they may be troubled by further and so far I havent seen them. Nothing Ive seen on the race course suggests he wont. Alot of people will still be remembering Oneman of course, a horse that got 3miles in lots of places yet went out like a light at the base of the hill at cheltenham.
On the subject of Monets Garden, by Roselier out of a remainder man mare is actually bred to be slow really and a 3mile plus horse is ever one existed (although I dont know the mare)….and on soft ground at that. The fact that he could lie up with an arkle field gives a lot of his supporters reason to believe he could be very special over further.
SHL
SHL
True enough. Breeding in NH is something im not at all familar with (but trying :) ) and i know it is less conclusive than on the flat of course.
Doesnt Haydocks 3m get some getting though? i know its flat but (for reasons that are probably daft) i think courses with long run ins test stamina quite a bit more than sharper ones.
Aidan<br>Mouse can run him where he likes but it does seema bit of an intransigent programme given the variable conditions we can experience. Suspect most trainers would have somewhat more fluid plans. Im never keen on seeing horses i like getting beat on ground they dislike…
Quote: from davidjohnson on 11:33 am on Dec. 6, 2006[br]Connections almost cerytainly running scared of Kauto Star. Remember after the Down Royal race they started talking King George. They soon changed their mind. War of Attrition is a good horse, but has more to prove in terms of form than Kauto Star. <br>
DJ,
On what basis does he have more to prove than KS?
JohnJ
JJD
In that his form does not look as good to me. Likeable as Hedgehunter his, he’s a maximum mid 165 horse and War of Attrition did not beat plodding handicappers like Royal Emperor and Sir Rembrandt in the Gold Cup by any more than 15 lengths. He was undoubtedly impressive at Punchestown, but a closer inspection at that run suggests he didn’t need to be near his best to win comfortably that day. Hi Cloy and Watson Lake have no form at all that suggests they are better than mid to high 150 horses at their very best but they were only 4 lengths and over 9 lengths behind that day.
Don’t get me wrong I think he’s a better horse this year than last, the fact that he could give Beef or Salmon a race in conditions that weren’t favourable on his reappearance show that but on all public form, he has about a stone to find with Kauto Star.
DJ
So what you’re saying is "What did WoA beat last year" but claim that the same argument can’t be used against KS?
davidbrady
What I’m saying is I think Kauto Star is a better horse than War of Attrition and I think he has stronger form that reflects it.
DJ,
Do remember that WoA ran wide around the field during the GC, he did travel very well and when asked to quicken he did. He was a very impressive over his fences, I think looking at ratings alone is a very narrow minded view of judging how good a horse is, especially at the top level. We will only see which is the better horse when they meet.
JohnJ.
If Kauto Star is at his best at Cheltenham and he stays / jumps well he’ll absolutely destroy War Of Attrition. He’s on another level.
Quote: from trackside528 on 4:08 pm on Dec. 6, 2006[br]I agree TMM, but how can you be sure that he is? Surely thats a lot of things to be taking on trust at such a short price..
<br>What do you mean? How can we be sure he’ll be at his best or stay or jump?
You can’t. I wouldn’t back Kauto Star personally for the Gold Cup because that hill at the end of 3 1/4 miles at Cheltenham can really make a horse hit a wall. 3 miles and it’d be a different matter.
Not saying Kauto Star won’t stay but he hasn’t shown me he definately does yet so until he does its a cautionary approach for me. War Of Attirition is no forlorn hope for the Gold Cup IMO.
(Edited by The Market Man at 4:15 pm on Dec. 6, 2006)
Quote: from The Market Man on 4:04 pm on Dec. 6, 2006[br]If Kauto Star is at his best at Cheltenham and he stays / jumps well he’ll absolutely destroy War Of Attrition. He’s on another level. <br>
Like he destroyed everything in the Queen mother when he fell. I’m laughing my head off here, WoA was a very impressive winner of the Gold Cup, he is the benchmark IMO.
JohnJ
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