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Wonderful performance. It looked ominous as he strode onto the track looking as if he had a real charisma about him, positive and purposeful.
I knew my goose was cooked with Librettist as they turned for home when Frankie pressed the button and nowt occured. From then on it was a case of watching a very, very good horse win in great style.
Good job they ran him (GW) though, we’d all be thinking Araafa was a real champ if they hadn’t.
Does improve Sir Percy’s general standing I’d say.<br>
Aidan fair enough re: HRE, it was a cheap jibe tbh, but going around saying this will demolish this etc ain’t wise
Despite all the plaudits and admiration, George Washington has NOT been tested properly over a mile ( todays test was another rung up the ladder) but in the Breeders he will probably be tested to the limit unless there is no pace to the race and all i’m saying do not underestimate the two horses mentioned because these two have been tested and come through with flying colours
Without question he’ll be the best horse in the line up for the Breeders Cup mile and I’ll be supporting him 100% like I do with all the European runners. However, because he comes from off the pace and can be a slow starter there is always the risk of him running into traffic problems or being left with too much ground to make up.<br>It happend to Rock Of Gibralter in 2002. He was clearly the best horse in the field but got a slow start and was in the end left with too much ground to make up.
Plus, in the states his temprement before the race will be tested to the full. There will be a lot more going on around him out there and he will have to cope with a lot more hassle. One of the most frustrating days in racing for me came in 1989 when Zilzal got really wound up before the race. When he entered the stalls he was moving about alot and he ended up missing the break and losing his chance. Like George Washington, Zilzal was the best miler in the world at the time and as good a miler as I have ever seen but his temprement cost him the race.
I know I’m sounding very negative picking on things that might go wrong. I suppose it’s just that I’ve seen so many of our great champions go over there and not deliver and I’m just hoping the same thing doesn’t happen to GW. <br>
I am a massive George Washington fan, through and through and will back him to beat anything at a mile as i did today but its clear that aragorn is not the same horse as last year and i will always respect the chance of any son of giants causeway running at a mile,regardless of where they are from, gorella however i dont respect as much.
One horse who i would like to see george face at churchill downs is the godolphin horse DISCREET CAT who is another clearly high class animal. His seasonal debut romp in the states was something special. If GW and DC are both in form it could be the race of the year.
Good job they ran him (GW) though, we’d all be thinking Araafa was a real champ if they hadn’t
what would be wrong with that?! :)
He may be considered unlucky to be facing GW at the present time
Quote: from EC on 7:23 pm on Sep. 23, 2006[br]
My take on that was it was not Kinane’s finest hour..he sat back off a slow pace..would have won it otherwise.<br>
Mine is a swerve around his ill fated stable mate cost him dearly and had the race been a couple of strides further he would have had the BC Mile to his GREAT career – best Miler in recent times imhaho and George has the potential to be as good
(Edited by empty wallet at 7:32 pm on Sep. 23, 2006)
Yes, a bizarre statement. Today was probably the best mile race run anywhere in the world this year.
What will be of major benefit to George Washington is the likely firmer going and first time medication. Like I (and someone else said) only possible threat is bad luck in running.
Cream?
GW can only beat whats put in front of him, but i wouldn’t rate todays opposition as cream tbh
<br>GW has beat the best Milers in Europe (average imo) now he has to go (hopefully) and beat the best in the US ( above average imo)which he may do, but he should be tested more in the US becuase of the way they race over there, none of this 2f sprint stuff, of which todays race wasn’t imo, but in general they go harder from the off over there(sometimes too hard) and this will test GW more than today
<br>I would back Gorella and Aragorn to beat what GW beat today because these two have been tested properly from beginning to the end of the race
(Edited by empty wallet at 8:35 pm on Sep. 23, 2006)
Quote: from Aidan on 8:24 pm on Sep. 23, 2006[br]Yes, a bizarre statement. Today was probably the best mile race run anywhere in the world this year.
<br>
<br>Aidan
What has GW beat today please, do you rate these Milers highly?
EW In my opinion this years milers are good certainly better than the opposition for example Rock Of Gibraltar ever encountered. Numerous group one winners in this race and George Washington made them look like sellers. He isn’t just a good horse he’s exceptional just listen to O’Brien. Normally I ignore what I believe are often near insane mumblings of trainers but when Aidan tells you this horse is brilliant in comparrison to other horses he’s had it tells you something.
The faster they go in the US the better it’ll suit George if anything.
I actually think the cream of this years three year olds are the best crop for years when you consider George, Araafa, Dylan Thomas (who has already beaten Ouija Board over an inadequate trip) and Alexandrova. Then there’s our old mate Sir Percy beaten once by a mile machine at his awesome best. He’ll take some beating in the Arc. Some people are STILL seriously under-rating this years three year olds in my opinion and Sir Percy in particular.
(Edited by The Market Man at 8:45 pm on Sep. 23, 2006)
MM
C’mon, they’re low 120’s, thats not Top class, is it? thats an average European miler.
Now Gorella and Aragorn may prove to be the same, but i don’t think they are, i think they’re slightly above this, 125 ish
Dylan Thomas and Alexandrova are in the same rating bracket as GW at the mo, around 126, Sir Percy is a below average Derby Winner at the mo 121
All these horse have to prove they are TOP Class, TOP Class in my book is 128+, Exceptional is 130+
What has GW beat today please, do you rate these Milers highly?
Are they superstar milers? No….but they are pretty decent and he was hard on the bridle one furlong out. I would back the Noseda horse to beat the American milers. Could Aragorn win an Irish classic like Araafa, a Sussex Stakes like Court Masterpiece, two Group 1’s in France like Librettist???? Not a chance.
Just look at Aragorn….his last run in the UK was at Chester in a conditions race where he finished down the field with the likes of Suggestive and co. In his first run in the states he won a Grade 2 by a nose. He then got beat a nose by that ex-European superstar Milk It Mick. He has won 3 of his next 4 starts but seriously look at the horses he has been beating and by how far. To sit back and say what has George Washington beaten and then ignore Aragorn distinctly average victims does make sense.
George Washington is capable (already has?) of hitting 130….are you seriously trying to tell me Aragorn a horse last seen in Europe struggling at Chester is seriously capable of that? Its just another over hyped American turf horse, best dirt horses in the world but our top turf horses are in a different league.
but in general they go harder from the off over there(sometimes too hard) and this will test GW more than today
Like someone else said, GW will absolutely love that. Settle well off it and it will prevent something stealing a march off a stead pace up front.
(Edited by Aidan at 8:56 pm on Sep. 23, 2006)
I would say Kinane really gave him a peach of a ride. I would go as far as saying he probably suits GW more than Fallon who winds a horse up when really GW is a push button ride.
Aidan
As you know, horses that go to America change
Becrux won Woodbine Mile beating Ad Valorem, it’s last race this side of the pond was in Nad Al Sheba in a G2 behind Blues and Royals,where it finished LAST, previous to that it got beat in in 10k race over 6 Lengths
Is Ad Valorem as good as Court Masterpiece?
Quote: from empty wallet on 8:52 pm on Sep. 23, 2006[br]MM
C’mon, they’re low 120’s, thats not Top class, is it? thats an average European  miler.
Now Gorella and Aragorn may prove to be the same, but i don’t think they are, i think they’re slightly above this, 125 ish
Dylan Thomas and Alexandrova are in the same rating bracket as GW at the mo, around 126, Sir Percy is a below average Derby Winner at the mo 121
All these horse have to prove they are TOP Class, TOP Class in my book is 128+, Exceptional is 130+<br>
<br>EW if you read my posts regularly you’ll see what I think of ratings.
Dubai Millennium got a Timeform rating of 140, what has George Washington got before todays race 10/11 pounds less, maybe more (haven’t checked to be honest)? Anyone tells me the Godolphin horse was as good over a mile and I’m sorry but I’ll never believe that. Sir Percy rated 8lbs below Motivator after their respective Derby wins – Madness.
This years 2000 Gunieas form could hardly be stronger, the Derby form has also worked out, the best of the three year olds are beating the older horses, what more do you want?
Think we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one mate.
(Edited by The Market Man at 9:16 pm on Sep. 23, 2006)<br>
(Edited by The Market Man at 2:19 am on Sep. 24, 2006)
Becrux won Woodbine Mile beating Ad Valorem, it’s last race this side of the pond was in Nad Al Sheba in a G2 behind Blues and Royals,where it finished LAST, previous to that it got beat in in 10k race over 6 Lengths. Is Ad Valorem as good as Court Masterpiece?
Ad Valorem is a strange horse, never seems to run the same race and each time he has travelled to the US he has been disappointing, also lost a couple of shoes in that race.
Take a look who finished second in that race, Rebel Rebel…..a distinctly average horse. Some of these Grade 1 races in America (and they are so numerous) are simply not Grade 1 standard races.
Like look at the other horse you mentioned Gorella, now at least she was competitive in Group 1s here in Europe but even still her form in America does not come anywhere near the level required to beat the likes of George Washington and Arafaa.
Horses like Cacique and Milk It Mick are tying into all of their form……seriously what would George Washington do to the likes of them? Its like comparing chalk and cheese yet it happens every year that American turf horses are considered our equal. That sounds really condensing etc but its the truth, just like they have the worlds best dirt horses (by some way) we have the worlds best turf horses (we being Europe).<br>
In the last few weeks the three year olds have really shone, the Bell horse in the Matron, Dylan Thomas in the Irish Champion Stakes and now George Washington in the QE II (beating another 3 year old). Sir Percy and Rail Link still to come in the Arc and Alexandrova will be out to maintain her run Arc weekend also. Maybe in terms of strenght in depth the 3 year olds are not very strong but I think the very best (named above) are well up to scratch.
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