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Don’t like to over-criticise jockeys, however what was Mr Velasquez doing on him last night? 8 looks around, instead of going to win the race. Disappointed for all concerned.
It was interesting that the American pundit on ATR (something Millar??) rightly highlighted Velasquez’s ride, but then jumped to the conclusion that Quality Road couldn’t stay 10f in a horse box.
Strange conclusion – if you think the horse was best because of a bad ride how can you then say the horse is a short runner?
Personally I cannot see him beatin gthe might mare on 5th Nov, but he still deserves to be in the line up – given a more aggressive ride (a la the one in the Donn) and he would have hosed home last night. Maybe Velasquez was under instructinos not to bottom the horse with one eye formly on Churchil Downs in the winter.
I think QR was given a very aggressive ride-hit with the whip at least 5 times in the deep stretch by my count-but Blame got up with only a hand ride. It’s obvious that QR is much the best at the Gulfstream superhighway but falls short on deeper tracks like Saratoga. Remember he was also upset in last year’s Travers at a similar odds-on price. The pace in the Whitney set up perfectly for him, he just wasn’t the best horse in the field.
If anything the result proves that QR is the better horse, not Blame. Over 9f, 5lbs translates to approx 2.5 lengths, and he only lost by a head, so he’s still 2L a better horse.
Also illustrates why handicaps should not be given G1 status. All G1s should be WFA.If anything the result proves that QR is the better horse, not Blame. Over 9f, 5lbs translates to approx 2.5 lengths, and he only lost by a head, so he’s still 2L a better horse.
Also illustrates why handicaps should not be given G1 status. All G1s should be WFA.The vast majority of our great historic races are handicaps. The Santa Anita H., Brooklyn, Suburban, Metropolitan, Donn, Pimlico Special, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Whitney, and so on. Almost every G1 for older horses in the United States is a handicap. Maybe that’s why weight is rarely ever considered as a factor by most American bettors, certainly not by me.
The JCGC is not a handicap, it’s a true WFA race, older horses carry 9st and 3yos carry 8-10. That’s why it stands head and shoulders above the other races mentioned as it is invariably won by the best horse. Allowing major races to be handicaps means lesser horses can win G1s over better horses, that should never be the case.
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Jocey totally to blame for that……….he expected Quality Control to be in total control which he was until starting to waver in the home straight…when that happens top jockey get that oops! feeling and know it’s time to go for your life…..he looked like he was shellshocked and still looking round to try and convince himslef he was still holding them,instead of driving for the line like a madman.
Can anyone tell me how on earth this horse gets a higher rating than Zenyatta? She’d eat him alive.
Yes, you are probably right:
QUALITY CONTROL (IRE) 9 b.g Ferdy Murphy
Tiraaz (USA)-Booking Note (IRE) (Brush Aside (USA))
Comment Type Jump Rat h ? c ?
2009/10 c16s c25vpu :: 2010/11 26mpu May 31
close-coupled gelding: fairly useful hurdler in 2007/8, won novice at Sedgefield and handicap at Kelso: off 2 years, little impact since,including over fences: should stay beyond 3m: acts on heavy ground.Remember he was also upset in last year’s Travers at a similar odds-on price. The pace in the Whitney set up perfectly for him, he just wasn’t the best horse in the field.
Wasn’t the track sloppy though for both thr Travers and JCGP last term, which is what beat him on those occasions rather than the depth of the respective tracks under normal weather conditions? He won this year’s Met in dry conditions at Belmont, and won the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga laster term on a dry track.
Its difficult not to conclude from Saturday that trainer and jockey were minding the horse with one eye on the Travers, JCGP and Breeders Cup Classic for a showdown with Zenyatta. No consolation for punters of the odds on fav, but you can fully understand connections taking the long term view as last years campaign did become somewhat calamitous.
Remember he was also upset in last year’s Travers at a similar odds-on price. The pace in the Whitney set up perfectly for him, he just wasn’t the best horse in the field.
Wasn’t the track sloppy though for both thr Travers and JCGP last term, which is what beat him on those occasions rather than the depth of the respective tracks under normal weather conditions? He won this year’s Met in dry conditions at Belmont, and won the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga laster term on a dry track.
Its difficult not to conclude from Saturday that trainer and jockey were minding the horse with one eye on the Travers, JCGP and Breeders Cup Classic for a showdown with Zenyatta. No consolation for punters of the odds on fav, but you can fully understand connections taking the long term view as last years campaign did become somewhat calamitous.
Saratoga has long been called "The Graveyard of Favorites" because so many horses have been upset there-Man O’War of course by Upset, Gallant Fox by Jim Dandy in the Travers, Secretariat by Onion in the Whitney, etc. etc. The track factor was only one of the excuses for QR on Travers day, along with the mud, the distance, and him not getting much of a prep out of the less-than-quality Amsterdam field.
Also note that the nickname for Belmont as the "Big Sandy" came about due to its condition during the fall meeting, where the track tends to have a larger proportion of sand and is "cuppier" (the horses’ hooves dig deeper into the dirt) than in the spring.
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