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No surprise at all to hear (from the trainer) that Shan Blue has damaged his neck and won’t race again until the spring at the earliest. Let’s hope that fall has resulted in nothing worse than muscular damage.
That’s disappointing news Highflyer. It was a heavy fall so could have been worse. Hopefully won’t lose confidence and come back to realise his undoubted potential.
Value Is EverythingShame not surprised was heavy fall to neck, he was lucky
I read he not overly sire when they stroke or pat his neck otw when he flexes vet examined him. And trainer and owners decided to lay off him until spring hopefullyAvf x
Has his mark moved? Skelton suggested that as the fall was three out, he couldn’t be put up. So I was thinking of paying for Christmas in the Hennessey before news of the injury surfaced.
BUY THE SUN
You have probably saved your money, TTC. Skelton would have kicked 20 lengths clear after jumping the cross fence and then wondered why his horse was knackered approaching the last.
I’d have certainly have had a good bet. We will never know now. But I notice he has stayed at 148lb as Skellywag suggested. The Charlie Hall wouldn’t have been the easiest race to rate had Shan Bleu hacked up by a distance, but he surely would have been a stone (at least) well in at Newbury off 148.
BUY THE SUN
TTC, fell more than 2 fences out so doesn’t get put up..
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Oh, I see shan blue, I’m confused he didn’t finish and gets an RPR rating. I’ll check to see what Timeform have given him for falling.
Do we all remember English King, all the so-called experts telling us he’ll win the derby after his Lingfield derby trial win? never won another race, sent to Australia still no wins.
Experts my assssss.
Ah yes, I remember English King. Don’t really remember experts telling us he was nailed on to win the Derby though. Good chance yes, which was what his form suggested. Indeed didn’t even start favourite.
English King ran in the Derby where the first three home were the first three pretty much throughout. Very slow pace meaning it was extremely difficult for those raced in midfield, let alone held up. Quickening to try and make ground on horses who themselves were still quickening, a pretty impossible task down the fastest home straight in the world. Even the great Dancing Brave failed in a similarly run Derby. First home of the rest – best equipped to cope with the test of speed – was the Group 1 miler Kameko who himself raced most of the way in fifth. English King came from quite a bit further back and beat all that raced behind him… and only just failed to catch Kameko for fourth.
Anyone who understands pace / sectional timing would not criticise the horse for the Derby run, jockey yes, not horse.
English King had just two runs in Europe afterwards. Not reproducing his Epsom / Lingfield form in either the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood or Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris. On both occasions won by Mogul, the horse that finished just behind English King at Epsom (6th)… And like fellow middle distance-stayer English King ran far better than his Derby finishing position suggested, Mogul fulfilled that Derby potential but not all horses do, often because of other issues. English King was first to be pushed along in the Gordon, looked as though going to play a part, not much room 1 out, then a typically Frankie pushed out easy time of things once winning chance was gone – a somewhat disappointing fourth.
Grand Prix De Paris was worse. Lost a prominent early position and gradually went backwards from then. However, got to think there was a physical reason. Good racehorses don’t go almost a year between races without good reason…
Absent from 13th September 2020 to 28th August 2021, coming back in a different continent, over a vastly inadequate 8 1/2 furlongs and starting 40/1. Running like his odds suggest, 13th of 15.
Lastly, stepped up to 10 furlongs – yet to run over his best trip but no promise anyway. Never going well, under pressure before the home turn and finishing last; looking as if something amiss.If believing those two Australian races prove English King over-rated you must believe he showed his form there.
Beating just two home of 25 in two races.A recap:
English King ran well in the Derby considering the circumstances. In a race where position was key… and after position, speed. English King’s asset is stamina. First three running in those places pretty much throughout. The miler having more speed to get 4th off slow fractions. English King finishing 5th, beating all those who raced with and behind him.
Off the course almost a year after the Grand Prix, so something in all probability went amiss there.
After injury for which they are off almost a year, most horses fail to recapture form – as English King did.
English King’s one race seemingly without a good known excuse was the Gordon. One race, big deal..…Couldn’t you find a better example of experts getting it wrong Troy?
Incidentally, that Lingfield Derby form / race you ridicule so much almost had a Classic winner anyway. When the horse English King beat so easily – Berkshire Rocco – was only a photo finish away from winning the St Leger.
We can but hope English King can come back from whatever is ailing him.
Value Is Everything“Anyone who understands pace / sectional timing would not criticise the horse for the Derby run, jockey yes, not horse.”
I was quite critical of Dettori’s ride at the time but looking back on it from this distance, I was probably a bit unfair.
If I recall correctly, English King was very poorly drawn on the inside and then jinked left when the stalls opened, which put him in what turned out to be a very bad tactical position given the way the race unfolded.
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