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It is strange how those Aussie sprinters don’t seem to keep their form long once over here. Now, I could say that this may be because you can’t cheat once in GB (like you imply of us). But I wouldn’t dare suggest such a thing.
You are kidding aren’t you–the whole argument has been started by Mark Johnstone’s implication that Aussie horses are on juice. If you care to go to MJ’s web site forum there are some who go way beyond the implying and state without any doubt that Aussie and US horses MUST be on drugs because they were able to beat the local horses.
Even the most pro UK person would agree that many horses don’t handle the Newmarket straight–the dips and rise of Newmarket is something that Aussie horses have never had to cope with and an objective viewing of Scenic Blast in the July Cup would show that he failed totally to handle the track.
What seems to have been forgotten in this thread is that although Aussies and US racing people do have respect for the quality of the best horses in UK, the implication of comments from people like Mark Johnstone shows very little respect for the quality of the overseas visitors. The UK middle distance/stayers are of the highest quality–the Aussie sprinters are also of the highest quality.
- Total Posts 17716
Even the most pro UK person would agree that many horses don’t handle the Newmarket straight–the dips and rise of Newmarket is something that Aussie horses have never had to cope with and an objective viewing of Scenic Blast in the July Cup would show that he failed totally to handle the track.
Strange that they seem to handle the rise at Ascot quite adequately; but only over 5f, never quite over 6?
My objective view says that Scenic Blast came to have every chance at the distance, but palpably didn’t stay – regardless of what distance he stayed on easier Australian tracks.And that is a point being conveniently forgotten–most non-European tracks are all pretty level (there are a few with slight rises but nothing like in UK). Choisir’s form in 3 starts in UK was probably better than his overall form in Australia–he handled the tracks very well with 2 wins at Ascot and a 2nd at Newmarket when racing in an event that was really an afterthought. It is obvious some horses handle Ascot and not Newmarket and Scenic Blast did seem uncomfortable through the run–did read elsewhere that he may have broken down, but can’t get any confirmation. The fact that he beat Fleeting Spirit so comfortably at Ascot shows he goes pretty well
- Total Posts 17716
bgm
It ought to be obvious that it isn’t just course configuration that is different, but that there’s a deal of difference between what passes for genuine good ground in either country.
While Australia undoubtedly produces some very fast horses, it should be plain by now that their very speed mitigates against them on our (overall) slower turf. Choisir got away with it on very fast (British fast
) ground at Ascot, but was unable to last home on less quick ground at Newmarket, in a race run at a better pace.
Even a blind man couldn’t fail to notice the paucity of successes for your horses over more than the minimum distance in this country – no matter how well they run on home courses – and far too many have failed for it to be simply coincidence.
You and your countrymen have offered numerous explanations as to why this might be, yet continue to "conveniently forget" a truth that is staring you in the face – your horses are bred mainly for speed; ours aren’t.So what the hell is Mark Johnstone going on for–apparently Aussie horses are failures in UK so why is he worried. And despite failing constantly, the Aussie record in UK is heaps better than the UK record in Australia–the only success UK horses seem to have in Australia is over a distance that Australian horses don’t race all that often
Please delete the racist post ITK.
Not sure whether it is allowed in Australia, but it certainly is not in Britain.
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