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Unlike a few observers ,I’m not so sure Duke Of Marmalade under performed today.
If one goes back to last season he was finding the likes of Authorized, Ramonti, and Dylan Thomas – genuine Gr 1 horses – a little too hot to handle, but I’d been pretty confident in saying that he hasn’t faced the same level of competition this year , today aside (yes, DOM did slam Youmzain in the King George but the latter’s form reads a lot better when there has been ease in the going ).
Just an opinion, but today’s stronger race found him out.
For my money, you are on the money regarding the Duke. The Duke has highlighted how wide open things are for a decent 4yo colt, a fact welcomly not lost on Coolmore in recent seasons. For me, the Duke is remarkbly similar to Dylan Thomas, not Dylan didn’t have a Zarkava to show him the way home.
Dylan Thomas better (for a neck beating of Youmzain) than Monjeu, Sakhee and the great Sinndar? Surely not.
Yes..Ask is a better horse than Duke Of Marmalade and his (Ask’s) performance today was superior to anything DOM has put in all season despite the fact DOM thrashed both Youmzain and Ask in the King George!!
And as for Dylan Thomas….I think it is always best to rate a horse at his peak (ala the King George) rather than on borderline ground in the Arc at the end of a long season….but maybe I am wrong there too.
Dylan Thomas 140 ?
As in, as good as Dancing Brave 140 ?
That’s gotta be wrong……
Thats what RP gave him….I found it a bit odd myself
No they didn’t.
Dylan Thomas 140 ?
As in, as good as Dancing Brave 140 ?
That’s gotta be wrong……
Thats what RP gave him….I found it a bit odd myself
No they didn’t.
Read your RP today – It’s in there just after Segal’s tips
I’ve rea’ll say it again, Dylan Thomas wasn’t awarded and RPR of 140 for winning the Arc.
I’ve rea’ll say it again, Dylan Thomas wasn’t awarded and RPR of 140 for winning the Arc.
Of course he was not…he was in fact rated pretty lowly based on that run. It was his King George win and his run behind Madurno that rated him around 130.
I’ve rea’ll say it again, Dylan Thomas wasn’t awarded and RPR of 140 for winning the Arc.
Of course he was not…he was in fact rated pretty lowly based on that run. It was his King George win and his run behind Madurno that rated him around 130.
I may have read that in that case – I know his Arc run was somewhere between 120-129. No higher than that so was a bit suprised myself.
Ive probably just misread. Apologies
Can’t go along with everyone that is rating her one of the best horses they have ever seen ……….. a couple of lengths over Youmzain and the same from Da Re Mi & Gagnoa previously. Great in terms of achievement of course but inferior as a racehorse to the likes of Montjeu, Peintre Celebre, Sinndar & Dalakhani to name a few relatively recent winners of the race, in my opinion anyway.
I was trying to get over the disppointment of Overdose, and although the two horses I backed (Meisho Samson and Kamsin) were well beaten, I had to applaud Zarkava. What a filly!! That performace finally gave me something to smile about. She absolutely flew down the outside, and she proved really what she showed in the Vermeille, that over the last couple of furlongs, she’s probably got more finish speed than any other middle distance runner.
Got to give a mention to It’s Gino as well. I’m astounded he finished third, but I’m delighted for Pavel Vovcenko, a former Czech jump jockey who trains at the Vahr racecourse in Bremen. I met him in Dortmund back in January when we had a bit of a hosepipe incident (a stable lass was hosing a horse down after a race, she dropped the hosepipe, and myself and Pavel got soaked!!). He’s a nice guy, looks bit like a Bond villain when he’s got his shades on, but he will be elated that his horse finished third. it’s Gino won his first 7 races I think, but he’s put in his place by the likes of Adlerflug since. Great result for German racing though.
Oh yes, there were only two German horses I didn’t back today – It’s Gino and Lady Marian!!
Darren – AngloGerman
___________________________________________‘The Hungarian’s going hell for leather’ – Jim McGrath
despite the fact DOM thrashed both Youmzain and Ask in the King George!!
Hardly Youmzains running was it?!
Might as well use Papal Bull as a benchmark…..
despite the fact DOM thrashed both Youmzain and Ask in the King George!!
Hardly Youmzains running was it?!
Might as well use Papal Bull as a benchmark…..
I guess not, and nor did Ask I suppose either….
But the idea that DOM beat nothing earlier in the season and now Zarkava has beaten a bunch of stars is not particularly fair.
Zarkava beat Youmzain and Ask by 2 and around 3.5 lengths today…DOM beat them 9 1/2 and 10.5. In fact Youmzain finished the same distance ahead of Ask at Ascot as he did today….so can we take it literally? Of course not…but it confirms that the suggestion that DOM was out of his depth today and gave his running is laughable.
I dont believe he gave his running at all but also dont believe he would have beated the filly if he had. Literal interpretations of her form are always going to be dodgy because she simply picks them off of course.
hes a fine horse and its hardly suprising that after such a season this was one race too many perhaps
there is a slight doubt taht she hasnt beaten colts that are absolutely top class, but the ease of the victory compensate. i also wouldnt put it past her to improve…given the chance…with a smoother passage
I am very open to the idea that even at his best DOM would not be good enough against the winner today…but I am just saying he was not at his best today and its pretty unfair (not by you Clive) to use today to downgrade the horse’s previous achievements this season…
Can’t go along with everyone that is rating her one of the best horses they have ever seen ……….. a couple of lengths over Youmzain and the same from Da Re Mi & Gagnoa previously. Great in terms of achievement of course but inferior as a racehorse to the likes of Montjeu, Peintre Celebre, Sinndar & Dalakhani to name a few relatively recent winners of the race, in my opinion anyway.
Totally agree.
It’s the filly factor that makes it all the more wonderfull. As a horse, beating Youmzain by a diminishing 3 lengths is as ‘great’ as she is.
I’d have loved to see how she’d have faired against Peeping Fawn though. That filly was never given the stage to prove her ‘greatness’ and it tears me up quite frankly.
Aga Khan has justed stated on Equidia that we won’t see her again this year. Has to be huge odds on that she wont run again at all.
Very disappointing, although not unexpected.
She hasn’t had a hard season. Most, if not all her wins have been quite effortless this season.
If she never sees another racecourse then it’s hard to compare her with the likes of the highly decorated Ouija Board.
Superior talent? Yes, but legacy is based on achievement.
Ouija Board was a dual Classic winner and a two-time Breeders Cup champion. She also boasted victories over the likes of Electrocutionist and Manduro at Royal Ascot and claimed the Hong Kong Vase on her travels.
Her globetrotting exploits also seen her finish an unlucky third in the Arc, runner-up to the mighty Dylan Thomas in the Irish Champion and a gallant third to Japanese superstar Deep Impact in the Japan Cup.
No doubt she is an incredibly talented filly – like I said, probably the best I’ve seen, but a legacy is built over time and she should be given the opportunity to build on this scintillating performance at Santa Anita and next season.
Look at the American trained superstar filly, Zenyatta. She’s unbeaten in eight starts and will be aimed at the Ladies Classic (Distaff) at Santa Anita. There’s no doubt she’ll stay in-training next year and the long term aim will probably be the Classic next season if she continues to show the same level of form.
She’ll be given the opportunity to become a legend.
If Zarkava isn’t given that opportunity, then the Aga Khan would be wasting the talent of a lifetime.
She could achieve even greater things.
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