- This topic has 38 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 10 months ago by
.
- Posts
I think the truth probably lies somewhere in between the two Steve. I don’t think he is a 121 horse but I don’t think he is a 130 one either – not under yesterdays conditions anyway. It was interesting that Frankie went very easy on him after PW went past and yet he didn’t lose any more ground in that last half furlong. It will be very close between them over 12f I imagine but then you will have the 3 year-olds to consider. Masar receiving all that weight on ground like that……
Definitely questions to answer now but, like I said, most horses do get beat from time to time and I wouldn’t want to write him off yet by any means.
On a separate note it will be sad to see you go and I hope you pop in from time to time as your contributions are normally interesting, often funny, sometimes controversial but ALWAYS worth reading. Best of luck to you and your wife in your new venture. Cheers Jon
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Well said Joni agree with it all. Steve as Joni says you’ll be missed- be sure not to call it a day fully.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Interesting views on a horse who is now definitely in the ‘interesting’, as opposed to hyped, category. For me, JG is always worth listening to and – in retrospect – the comment that if neither Calyx nor Without Parole had gone in then it was going to be a long week says it all about the doubts in his head over Cracksman. Although I do think it was always going to be asking a lot to pull him back to 10f on good/firm, my sense is that temperament/attitude is the root of the problem. You could see that before the start of the Coronation. Frankie was also engaged in mild cajoling there, of the sort that you sometimes see with NH horses that might be thinking of not starting. By all accounts (although I have only seen the final two furlongs), he was worse yesterday. Anyone who has ridden will know that you cannot make horses do anything – they have to want to do it. For me, Cracksman isn’t sure he wants to put it all in anymore. What we are seeing is what he’s prepared to do (B+, not A grade, by his standards). If he were mine, I’d put him away till the autumn and hope that the change in seasons brings a change in approach. I wouldn’t bring him back for what will inevitably be another hard race (probably on summer ground) at the same track and in a relatively short space of time. Maybe he’ll win pulling the proverbial, but there’s also the risk of totally souring the horse. What’s for sure is that any more performances like this one and his stallion value will be heading way south. Jack Hobbs Take 2?
I don’t really care what sectionals say about a race. If it looks like a weak race to me, I’ll treat it as such.
Cracksman put up sectionals in the 12f Voltigeur faster than Ulysees, Churchill and co did in the following 10f International. Seems very convenient to ignore those. Yes, looking at the form conventionally the Voltigeur performance wasn’t that good, but the sectionals identified a horse capable of a special performance and some of us backed him to do so in the Champion.
Timeform rating for that Champion Stakes of 136 and can only be rated as low as that by giving every other horse in the race as not running to their best. So if Cracksman ran to a lot less than 136 then every other horse must be rated as running absolutely terrible. How would you now rate the Champion Stakes?
Yes, there’s a chance softer ground -which he faced that day – suits ideally, but personally can’t have it as the main reason. The way Cracksman ran in the Prince Of Wales (pushed along early etc) was very similar to the Coronation Cup, the latter on soft ground. I don’t hold to the reasons connections gave for Epsom – particularly now he’s reproduced the same sort of effort yesterday. It could be – the way he improved from August last season and running below his best this – that he’s best at that time of year. But given that even at his best needed to be pushed along to show that brilliance. Important to realise he’s always shown some laziness and that type of trait often gets worse as they get older… With his last two performances it now looks as though that laziness has become a problem.
May be he needs 12 furlongs now – not because he hasn’t got that speed in him – just that he won’t show it. May be current temperament means he’s now unable to show his best at any trip. May be he’ll need appendages to recapture his best, if I trained Cracksman he’d be ridden more prominently and wearing blinkers next time.
If unable to show the same form again that does not necessarily mean the Champion Stakes rating should be drastically changed when there’s no other reason. This is a different season and horses change. It’ll be a pity if Cracksman only showed his brilliance on one occasion, but if so am glad I saw it.
Value Is Everything
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.