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Correct thread TAPK
Behkabad is a proper horse, and cast-iron compared to the shell of a beast that Workforce was lto, and probably still is. The Derby was his day, but as so often, the Arc is best forgotten
I rate
Planteur
a bigger threat to my
Workforce
than
Bekhabad
!
It’s so open. I think Bekhabad will win now but if Workforce is on his game he’ll turn into the home straight, Moore will shake his reins and he’ll go past them last Usain Bolt.
Behkabad laughed at Planteur, quickened away from him, and when Planteur challenged Behkabad quickened again, sending planteur all over the track in surprise. Was actually eased before the line too
Behkabad didn’t quicken once in that race. He held on grimly as a superior horse, poorly ridden, used up too much energy trying to get on terms.
Workforce has no chance. You can’t win Arcs off the sort of in and out season he’s had.
The Racing Post in-running comments, and more importantly, my eyes, disagree. Definitely quickened smartly, Planteur would have beaten him otherwise.
Behkabad laughed at Planteur, quickened away from him, and when Planteur challenged Behkabad quickened again, sending planteur all over the track in surprise. Was actually eased before the line too
Behkabad didn’t quicken once in that race. He held on grimly as a superior horse, poorly ridden, used up too much energy trying to get on terms.
I have no idea how you can support this statement. Planteur was quite a bit behind Behkabad on the turn but with about 450m had already cruised up on the bridle to be close enough if good enough. He was shaken up at the 450m and had every chance from there.
As for Behkabad not quickening, our eyes, and the distances between him and both Jan Vermeer and the fast finishing Goldwaki suggest otherwise.BEHKABAD HAS THE ARC AT HIS MERCY
I’ve been whittering on all season about how I rate BEHKABAD (42) the best horse in Europe and that he was a good thing for the Grand Prix de Paris. So I would have looked a little silly if he’d been beaten in the big race. Thankfully the horse saved me from embarrassment with a tremendous performance which went a long way towards justifying what I’ve said about him.
Behkabad’s rider decided to ditch his normal pace-pressing tactics in the Prix du Jockey Club due to being draw wide in an enormous field. This time around the field was smaller so he sat on the heels of Planteur’s pacemaker Vivre Libre who set a searching pace.
Entering the straight with two and a half furlongs left Vivre Libre fell away and Behkabad was kicked into the lead. But a furlong or so later he looked like a sitting duck as Planteur swept through from the back on the bridle with a perfectly timed move, looking like he could blow by him in a matter of strides.
However it turned out that Behkabad had plenty more in the tank. When Planteur got to him Behkabad produced another surge that broke his spirit and caused him to tire badly enough to wander around. Remarkably, it looked like Behkabad still had something left and could have produced another rally if Planteur had somehow been able to come back for more.
Only a top class horse can produce two big moves in a race as Behkabad did here. And to do so after pressing a searching early gallop was quite something.
I guess it’s possible Behkabad could lose the Prix Niel through lack of fitness when he comes back to prep for the Arc in September. But having seen this run I’d be extremely wary of opposing him at mile and a half. As I see it, he has the Arc at his mercy.
Runner up PLANTEUR (41) would have won a normal renewal of the Grand Prix de Paris and was unlucky to come up against such a smart winner. It is worth pointing out though that he lacks the smart turn of foot that’s usually needed to win the very biggest Group 1’s. This is why he had a pacemaker.
In the Prix du Jockey Club Planteur lost three and a half lengths to Behkabad in the final furlong and a half. Here his jockey and pacemaker gave him every chance but it was always going to be tough for him to come from behind a rival that has shown superior acceleration.
I don’t see Planteur turning this form around in the Arc, but that remains his obvious target. I do hope he stays in training next year because he could do very well indeed assuming Behkabad is bundled off to stud like most of the Aga Khan’s three year old stars.
I won’t hear of defeat for Behkabad. I simply cannot see any realistic challengers.
Indeed, if people can’t see Behkabad visibly quickening away and being eased down, then best of luck!!
I will be hoping for a soft ground Arc, cause if Workforce would turn up he would destroy the field.
Dea oh dear, the sheer amount of different opinions here just shows how open a race this seems.
I might as well throw in my hay-penny tuppence worth and say that SARISKA won’t be out of the first 3 given a half decent draw.
Dea oh dear, the sheer amount of different opinions here just shows how open a race this seems.
I might as well throw in my hay-penny tuppence worth and say that SARISKA won’t be out of the first 3 given a half decent draw.
She’ll need to get out of the stalls which ever number she gets!
I have a very bright and lively Collie that will chase 9 out of 10 thrown sticks at a vast rate of knots, but once out of about every ten or so throws she plants herself and looks at me as if I’m mad to have thrown it because she’s not going to move an inch.
I’ve never known why even though I can now usually work out which one she’s going to ignore.I won’t bother posting my selection for The Arc, she’s been named in several other threads.
My lay of the race is undoubtably Workforcehave a feeling a french horse will win it this year, sarafina.
She is meant to have worked well on the round course @ Les Aigles Chantilly – the term ‘plenty gas’ was used!
People saying this and that WILL WIN should calm down really.
I’d pick Cape Blanco if pushed, but its wide open. Maybe the Foy/Niel will help, but i doubt it.
why will you be stunned if F&G is placed?
Because he just takes far too long to find top gear. They’ll be long gone when he finally gets into gear. He’ll be outpaced 4 out.
Personally I think that he’ll be placed very handy as he was at Epsom behind his pacemaker – kicking for it some ways out…
Grand Prix de Paris form looks rubbish though.
Based on…?
At this stage in 2006, the 2nd and 3rd behind Rail Link in the GP de Paris had finished 2nd in the Voltigeur and last of 6 runners in a 10f Group 2.
I’d pick Cape Blanco if pushed, but its wide open. Maybe the Foy/Niel will help, but i doubt it.
How is it wide open? Name me more than 5 realistic contenders. Oh, and Cape Blanco cannot win an Arc with the busy season he’s had.
One of the things that grates about all racing forums are people saying things like "it’s wide open" without having the slightest idea what they are on about.
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