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Why do you think AOB gave Cape Blanco an entry in this? Was surprised that he entered him but with him mentioning the Champion Stakes with St Nicholas Abbey, makes you wonder if he will actually have a gamble with Cape Blanco with this race or just send him right to Paris?
I think Cape Blanco would do well at 1m, maybe not the speed of some like Canford Cliffs or Makfi but he could do a very good front running job I feel and strecth the stamina, ran short distances as a two year old, dont think he would be inconivenced by the distance, actually think he would get 1m way better than 1m4f.
On good or good to firm ground, I cannot see how Canford Cliffs can lose.
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Why do you think AOB gave Cape Blanco an entry in this?
Because AOB is hell-bent with unearthing G1 milers by Galileo. It’s his holy grail.
I believe he beat one of them(Galileos) by a nose in the Guineas. Hardly hell bent on making those two "milers by galileo"The other(Teofilo) won the Dewhurst by a nose,over 7 furlongs. Beat Aidans best Holy Roman Emperor that year.New Apporach won the Derby and lost the Guineas by a nose.They may not be milers but they are certainly capable of winning another Dewhurst or Guineas.
At the five day stage O’Brien has six left in the race – Air Chief Marshall, Windsor Palace, Rip Van Winkle, Cape Blanco, Steinbeck and Beethoven.
Its a nightmare for anyone trying to price up the race how are we supposed to figure out who he’s intending to run and who he isn’t? You wouldn’t think he’d run all six but stranger things have happened.
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I am going for Poet’s Voice, just about to write about him on the website and why his Goodwood run should make him a lively contender for the QE2
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Canford Cliffs is a league above Paco Boy ..
Boom tissss! I wouldn’t even say he was as good as Paco, let alone in a league above!
Using an 80% fit RVW as a yard stick, and with the undoubted improvement of Paco Boy, I’d say Canford has a good bit to find.
Not sure who’s the craziest here: Me for taking the bait, You for making a statement that both the Richard Hannon and Hughsie would totally disagree with or Aiden O’Brien for considering running Cape Blanco in the QEII.
Concentrating on the latter I doubt if they are thinking pacemaker in fact I doubt if they are thinking at all and it looks like a case of throw him in and hope for the best.
Of course it could be Rip Van Winkle hasn’t come out of his last race too well who knows but he’d be better depending on Steinbeck to fly the flag throwing Cape Blanco into a race he can’t possibly win.
Cape Blanco stole a march and outstayed Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over in a 10f but this is a totally different world to that. Suddenly a horse who missed the Guineas to run in the Dante and the Derby is a miler? as impressive as he was at Leopardstown I really don’t think so.
Can’t believe one of the majors has put him in at 7/2 but you can get near enough 5/1 for the likes of the Champion Stakes or even the arc, races where his undoubted combination of speed and stamina can be brought into play
The horse should be having a break and preparing for something he has a chance of winning not running against this lot who will tear him a new backside.
Hell knows what the man is thinking, maybe AOB is confused and thinks he’s training Sea the Stars
Ladbrokes are not offering prices on Cape Blanco according to Oddschecker. That tells its own story i would imagine.
Himself – did you miss the 2000 Guineas? Canford Cliffs might have progressed, but then again so might Makfi. Would you dismiss Goldikova as readily as Makfi?
Aiden and the Coolmore crew are pretty cute and even a 5 day entry in a top mile race is an advertisment for his range as a sire. A relatively cheap way to put his ‘speed’ credentials in the back of the mind of potential brood mare owners. Clever stuff.
Himself – did you miss the 2000 Guineas? Canford Cliffs might have progressed, but then again so might Makfi. Would you dismiss Goldikova as readily as Makfi?
I am not entirely dismissing Makfi. Should the ground come up soft he would pose a huge threat to Canford Cliffs. I think he’s a colt who likes cut in the ground -and a battle. However, on good or good to firm ground around Ascot, the more athletic and classier Canford Cliffs will, in my opinion, possess too much speed for Makfi and will simply mow him down.
ps I never miss a 2,000 Guineas. Pfft, How dare you, Sir ?!
pps. No, Goldikova hated the soft ground in France and was slightly below par that day. I think she’ll put Makfi firmly in his place should he turn up for the Breeders Cup Mile.
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Agreed. Out of a second season stallion who had 2 Group winners in a day on the weekend…
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Just my opinion, but Makfi was done for speed in the SJP, and the throat infection had little bearing on the way he ran.
He travelled as well as anything until turning in (at which stage the field was still well bunched, off a none to searching early pace) but perceptibly lacked a change of gear when the taps were turned on once in the straight, and he was eased considerably, once beaten.
Clearly, he’s a very good horse, and had no problems with the Rowley Mile, or the straight mile at Deauville, but this is Ascot again, with its short finishing straight,and (barring a bog) there is no way I can see him finishing in front of Canford.Why do you think AOB gave Cape Blanco an entry in this?
Because AOB is hell-bent with unearthing G1 milers by Galileo. It’s his holy grail.
This
For some reason, he wants all Galileo horses at 8f and Montjeu horses 12f.
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Just my opinion, but Makfi was done for speed in the SJP, and the throat infection had little bearing on the way he ran.
He travelled as well as anything until turning in (at which stage the field was still well bunched, off a none to searching early pace) but perceptibly lacked a change of gear when the taps were turned on once in the straight, and he was eased considerably, once beaten.
Clearly, he’s a very good horse, and had no problems with the Rowley Mile, or the straight mile at Deauville, but this is Ascot again, with its short finishing straight,and (barring a bog) there is no way I can see him finishing in front of Canford.Throat infection wouldn’t have helped Reet.
At Ascot he and Canford Cliffs were side by side when they entered the straight and Peslier more or less went for his mount straight away. Hughsie was still hacking and waited a bit longer and the rest is history.
Perhaps it was the course which is considerably differnt to Newmarket and Deauville but Makfi didn’t look like a shadow of himslef.
He certaily impressed me more at Deauville than he did at Newmarket but whether he has imroved or not os the $1M question.
Looking back at Newmarket for some reason better known to himself Hughsie overdid the waiting tactics. My guess is he had geting the trip a little bit too much on his mind.
He gave Maftki who went for home first over 2 1/2 lengths of a start and he was in full flight when Hughsie decided to go after him. By the time he got into top gear from cruise control the bird had flown.
Hughsie’s will have to be at the top of his game on Saturday if he’s going to ride him the same way he did against Rip Van Winkle.
He’s got bags of confidence in Canford Cliffs and he’s pretty sure to let Makfi get first run on him and then try and pick him off in the last furlong.
Watching the Guineas again I have no doubt in my mind Canford Cliffs is the better horse and a much stronger finisher but Hughsie would have to be crazy to give him a 3 lengths start like he did Rip Van Winkle.
IMO this is all down to the jockeys and which one of them reads the pace best and moves at the right time.
Taking it Cape Blanco doesn’t run and this is run at a sensible pace Canford Cliffs has the engine to allow Hughsie to stalk Makfi like a shadow and keep an eye on Rip Van Winle at the same time. As long as he doesn’t give either them a silly head start this should be a case of pressing the button and taking the prize.
I reckon Cape Blanco would have a better chance to win this than he would in the Arc, I think the ground is a none issue between Makfi and Canford Cliffs they both will go on anything and Canford probably hates it more if it was concrete which it wont be of course.
At Ascot you would have to favour Canford Cliffs and cant see any of the other field posing a threat unless RVW comes back to form from last year which I dont think will happen. Cape Blanco could of won this imo by pounding them into submission and 1m wouldn’t be a problem foor him but looks like longer distances at Paris seem the way for him. I’m disappointed he wont go for this, he is a bit like a poor mans Sea The Stars.
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Makfi won the 2000 Guineas pretty comfortably, Fist, and probably achieved more in beating Goldikova and Paco Boy than Canford Cliffs did in beating Rip Van Winkle.
Canford Cliffs was impressive at Goodwood, no doubt, but there’s little indication that he has any sort of edge over Makfi (who travels strongly himself).
On balance, 2/1 about Makfi is extremely generous.
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