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I think that it would have been a travesty if Heffernan had lost the ride. He knows the horse and has done absolutely nothing wrong in my view.
What will be a travesty is if the best horse in the world gets beaten because the stable- work- out- lad got the ride over world class jockeys.Last week(before the Champion Stakes) if I remember correctly it was Joseph the apprentice, who rode out the horse and so knew him well or was that SNA? That excuse is old and worne.
Seamie has earned the chance by riding SYT to 2 group 1 victories but vastly differing tactics.
One can only presume that you would not have thought letting Walter Swinburn ride Shergar in the Derby because he was inexperienced.
The responses to your question have shown a fairly universal opinion that Seamie should ride him whilst you have deferred to actually say who you think should have been given the ride.
May we have your two penneth worth?
I believe that as Aidan said at the beginning of the year "the best available jockey" should get the ride. Now if you believe that is Seamie fine. However I don’t.I could name many finer jockeys in Europe from which to pick including but not limited to Murtagh, Fallon, Spencer, Ahern, Fortune, Dettori, Hughes,Smullen, Hanagan, De Sousa, Crowley, Sanders, there is at least as many more not mentioned who rate above Heffo in my humble opinion.Of course if you wait until today I admit you might be somewhat limited. But Ballydoyle should not wait until now to engaged the finest jockeys in Europe to ride for them in the Arc.Sad,sad,sad.
Unless of course you take a statement like "best jockey available" as a soundbite rather than a statement of intent. Given that we are not privy to the innermost workings and thoughts of the Coolmore operation, I’d much prefer to put my faith in what they do rather than what they say.
"andyod" wrote: I believe that as Aidan said at the beginning of the year "the best available jockey" should get the ride. Now if you believe that is Seamie fine. However I don’t.I could name many finer jockeys in Europe from which to pick including but not limited to Murtagh, Fallon, Spencer, Ahern, Fortune, Dettori, Hughes,Smullen, Hanagan, De Sousa, Crowley, Sanders, there is at least as many more not mentioned who rate above Heffo in my humble opinion.Of course if you wait until today I admit you might be somewhat limited. But Ballydoyle should not wait until now to engaged the finest jockeys in Europe to ride for them in the Arc.Sad,sad,sad.
Of course the game is about different opinions Andy and in mine, of the jockey’s you’ve mentioned, I’d only have Murtagh or Smullen up ahead of Heffernan.
This may not be true, but a little birdy told me that Heffernan was offered the top job, yet declined the offer.
Either way, just because he ‘rides work’ he shouldn’t be riding in the Arc?
For you to call Heffernan merely a ‘stable work out lad’ is wrong. His record speaks for itself.
Dear Horsesmouth I was following you with sincere interest until you put Heffo ahead of Dettori then I for some reason lost interest.If you can get a seconder for that opinion I will acknowledge that I don’t belong here.
In my view, the ideal jockey would be either Heffernan as he has a proven record on the horse in top class races, or alternatively , a top jock who rides regularly and successfully around Longchamp.
It would still be unfair , in my view, if Heffernan lost the ride. Especially as there seems no obvious suitable replacement with a compelling reason for the substitutionGingertipster,
In relation to Steven Arnold’s ride on Star Witness in the Kings Stand you are talking ill informed rubbish. The horse was slow to begin, which is not the first time this has happened. Arnold rated him beautifully after the slow start and worked his way into a winning position at the furlong. Prohibit probably came from behind Star Witness to beat him, the effort after a slow start was the telling factor. But most of all you question Arnolds strength in a finish!!! Are you for real? Arnold is as strong in a finish as any rider in the world, go and educate yourself in regards to jockeys and rides before you make ridiculous comments.Surely Dettori is a top class jockey who regularly and very successfully rides around Longchamp,and has I believe ridden two ARC winners.
Japan has done terribly well with limited runners in the Arc, Deep Impact 3rd, El Condor Pasa 2nd to Montjeu, Nakayama Festa (Victoire Pisa an average 6th). Very few if any other runners in recent years. And you got a good price with Nakayama last year despite an encouraging prep run. And he had a weak jockey in the finish after running 3 wide the trip while Workforce followed the rail
Nakayama seemed to fade rather tamely in the prep run, but last year he almost chased down Duncan after a crawl, with Timos only 1L behind him. This year he led a slow pace and was beaten 3L by Sarafina and Hiruno D’Amour, so maybe that’s not far off his run last year… first-up after 10 months off
At first I thought SNA would run like Fame and Glory, 5th to 8th without threatening, but at least there’s some possible upside with the pace factor. Pace didn’t help F&G threaten, but he was likely over-the-top in 09 and unlucky not to run 4th a few lengths closer after getting smashed in the straight.
I think SNA showed that he can sprint better than F&G in the King George. F&G probably should’ve been beaten 3L or 4L last year, so maybe SNA can do a bit better and sneak a place. Thoughts on SNA’s sprint vs F&G?
If you think of "best jockey" as "best jockey for the horse" there’s a strong argument to be made for SYT. It will be a completely different race, with a big field and barrier to contend with, but at the same time SYT has shown a tendency to overrace so maybe having a jockey who knows him is the way to go.
But I agree that Joseph O’Brien was a shocking choice for SNA in that it violated the "best jockey" statement by any interpretation
Aidan said today at Newmarket that the decision will be made on Wednesday(mid week)?
Meander supplemented for the Arc
According to our latest information (the same info as the jockey booking for SYT – the other day!!)
It should be supplemented Meander Thursday to participate in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. After a lackluster back in the Prix Niel, September 11, Andre Fabre Edouard de Rothschild and let herself be tempted by the adventure of Sunday by paying 100,000 euros needed for the additional commitment.Arc de Triomphe: Nathaniel, depending on the terrain
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Workforce After last Tuesday, it was the turn of Nathaniel perform a gallop on a race track for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The resident John Gosden has thus resulted in Newbury with Arctic Cosmos. The coach was satisfied with the work of his colt, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and among the bookmakers’ favorite, adding that the participation of Nathaniel Award from the Arc de Triomphe will depend on the state of ground, preferring the horse tracks relaxed. "We’ll see how the weather changes next week," said John Gosden. Knowing that summer seems, according to forecasts, will point the tip of his nose just at the end of September, he’ll have to water the track at Longchamp…
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