Rip Van Winkle retired

[Anonymous]

Coolmore did the job with Rip Van Winkle.

He wasn’t an exceptional horse….he wasn’t a easy horse to train but what he has is Group 1’s with Galileo in his breeding name and its very important for them to start to take some of the mares that go to New Approach and Teofilo as a way of getting into the Galileo blood line for a much smaller fee.

Darley stole a march on their own best sire. Cape Blanco to race as a 4yr old is another type of RVW. But better IMO

Only thing he’s got on Rip Van Winkle is he got away with running over the wrong trip and won. (Irish Derby) and he really stays 1m2f wheras Rip just falls short.
That form in anyone’s book isn’t worth a bucket of manure.

If placed right he may win 1 more race next year than Rip did this year but I can’t see him winning anything that will put him up there as a better horse.

Question is what targets does AOB have in mind for him?

He’s proved he can get 1m4f as long as it’s against lesser animals but his best distance would appear to be 10f. I would imagine he’ll be kept to 10f and Fame and Glory will go for the 12f races.

If that’s the case the he’ll follow in F and G’s footsteps take the Group 3 and then try and win the Tatersalls Group 1 at the Curragh.

Of course Aiden has got to fit St. Nichoalas Abbey in somehwere as well if he comes bouncing back.

Whatever happens I can’t see Cape Blanco progressing from there to the likes of the Eclipse. A year on there must be a chance Canford Cliffs will be stepped up for that as he’s given every indication 10f isn’t beyond him. I’d imagine looking at the 2yo’s around especially Frankel the Eclipse could end up being a classic and classic CB is not.

One race getting everything his own way doesn’t make him a better horse than Rip Van winkle who proved his class time and time again despite having the worst feet on earth nad Aiden struggling day after day to keep him right.

He was unnfortuate to come across the brilliant Canford Cliffs or would have won the Sussex with ease and we woudn’t be having this conversation.

Aiden worked wonders with what I think was a horse who was never quite right for most of his career.

Never quite looked the same this season but me the horse just about peaked in the Sussex and the massive effort he put into the winning the JI finished him.

I think the combination of the trip and a tired out Rip Van Winkle flatted Cape Blanco no end.

His final race being defeated by a horse who wouldn’t blow wind up his backside when at his best, bares that out.

Lovely horse sad to see him go.

[Ghost of Rob V]

Rip Van Winkle reminded me a bit of Youmzain and one that I could never have faith in. Always seemed a bit of a square peg in a round hole at a mile and hit ‘n’ miss at 10 furlongs. I never found him that exciting.

[Author]

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