King Stands Stakes 2018

[Middle_Of_March]

My reaction here instantly was dissappointment (from a long way out) as Lady A clearly isn’t the force of last year.

But then as the race ended and I reflected, I too thought it was a poor ride on Battaash. Crowley seemed to try to run the finish out of Lady A but in doing so he played straight into the hands of Blue Point. It’s a 5f race that was run like a 4f race which probably made it feel like a 6f race for the horses at the end. If that makes sense?

[stevecaution]

Well done Darren, I was convinced Blue Point was a 6F horse but he’s popped up and done me here, after I had him at 13/2 in Dubai and then watched him pulled out at the last minute as hot favourite. That’s racing for you.

I didn’t see the race and will have to comment more after watching it.

Lady Aurelia didn’t look the right odds today, she’s been far from invincible and has finished down the field today.

Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.

[jackh1092]

I am not sure i blame Crowley as much as some on here…

The horse is a bit of a head case, trying to wrestle with him probably won’t help things.

Today he broke very well, and showed plenty of pace early…Nothing stayed with him and unfortunately he’s too buzzy and “all out” early on, to find enough in the final furlong.

One could argue Crowley could try and pull him back and reign him in a bit, but not many were exactly wanting to take the lead, and Battash is likely to not enjoy this, and pull a lot.

Either way, i don’t think it was going to work out favourably for Battash, Crowley or no Crowley.

Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!

[Voleur]

I agree with Jack’s view. There was no holding Battaash today, he simply broke too well for his own good. The same people slating Crowley for letting him get on with it would probably be slating him if he tried to wrestle Battaash into settling.

Based on what we know about the horse, its fair to say he would have expended just as much energy pulling the arms out of Crowley if he tried to restrain him than he did running too free.

[Gingertipster]

Suspect sectional times will prove it was suicidal increasing an already strong pace. Crowley didn’t need to “restrain him”, just let the horse go the pace he was already going – disputing it.

Value Is Everything

[Voleur]

I highly doubt Crowley was urging Battaash to go faster, if that is what you’re implying. Trying to get a horse to run at a steady pace/the pace he was already going – especially for a horse like Battaash – is effectively restraining the horse. There would only be one winner in that scenario, and it wouldn’t be Crowley.

[jackh1092]

Watched it back twice, not sure i see Crowley actively forcing Battash to go on Ginge?

Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!

[darren83]

Very happy with Blue Point nice ante post winner kick off with at Ascot

[KevMc]

Battaash is a horse you let stride on, Crowley did that and just got caught late on over a stiff 5F. If it was Sandown or Chantilly he’d have probably won – he needs an easy 5F.

I can’t fully re-call his Chantilly sectionals but the horse likes to blaze a trail in all of his top runs does he not?

[Degaussed]

I think part of Battaash’s performance was how worked up he got. IIRC, you could see the sweat under the saddle as he was racing. He’s ran a stone below his best but there will be other days for him.

[Author]

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