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It’s a fantasy King George though. Sir Des Champs will probably go for the Lexus. Seems to me Willie is a man of habit.
Bobs Worth is better left-handed, we all know that. He’ll probably run at Newbury again, albeit with even more weight. Conti might run, but the only one certain to line up of those mentioned, is Long Run
Two-milers have won the KG over the easy three miles, and Sprinter Sacre would be odds-on to do so on decent ground.
The calls for him to run in handicaps surely won’t be long coming
Sprinter Sacre is a two mile horse why race him at an unsuitable distance?
Where’s the evidence that 3m is ‘an unsuitable distance’?
Mike
Both the trainer and jockey say he is a two mile horse.
They know the horse better than anyone and I’m inclined to accept their view of the horse as opposed to that of an armchair trainer or jockey.
3 miles = bigger prize-money, more competition, more prestige. The 2 biggest chases of the year are the KG and the Gold Cup. SS needs to be strutting his stuff on the big stage; penalty kicks against Wisshful Thinking won’t add to the legend
Sprinter Sacre is a two mile horse why race him at an unsuitable distance?
Where’s the evidence that 3m is ‘an unsuitable distance’?
Mike
Both the trainer and jockey say he is a two mile horse.
They know the horse better than anyone and I’m inclined to accept their view of the horse as opposed to that of an armchair trainer or jockey.
That’s fine. But I’m more inclined to accept evidence rather than hearsay.
Unless SS is properly tested over 3m in a high-quality field
nobody
is ever really going to know, no matter how close they are to the horse.
Oh, and why not eh?
Mike
His one run over two-and-a-half miles (over hurdles) did hint at a lack of stamina though he was only four at the time. Over fences there’s been no hard evidence to my eyes that he won’t stay further; he has after all won three times over 2m at stiff Cheltenham on good, dead and heavy
It’s his inclination to ‘get on with it’ that superficially suggests he’s a bare two-miler, and if he can be taught restraint (he’s only seven) then further should be within his compass and I’d echo the call for him to run in the Melling Chase before thoughts about the King George are entertained, though a plunge at that straight off 2m would undoubtedly be most intriguing and in that event I’d be inclined to assess his chance unconcerned by thoughts of stamina
Having said all that I’d be quite content to see him rack up a lengthy succession of Grade 1 two-milers: top-class speed-chasers are every bit as worthy as top-class staying-chasers, though I too do have a preference for the latter but not to the extent of deriding poor old Sprinter Sacre as ‘unproven’ if he stays at the minimum, which I fear will be the sentiment of several
He’s a joy to watch and I anticipate with relish the races yet to come, whatever they may be
I’d LOVE to see Sprinter Sacre in the King George. And this year, while he’s at his peak, not when he’s past it as an afterthought to his career.
Likely? Probably not.
What do you think?
I think he’d stay the trip at Kempton. He’s bred to stay 3 miles and i think he’d be brilliant round there. Heavy going and i’d be less confident.
I think a more confident trainer would allow the horse to run but Henderson is a worrier – the state he was in during Cheltenham was incredible.
I am strongly against Sprinter Sacre running over anything other than two miles for the rest of his career. Stepping up in trip would be taking a needless risk with the horse’s wellbeing and future career.
I say this because Sprinter Sacre is a very big horse with well-documented previous breathing problems. Big horses are especially prone to breathing issues, which are made worse by particularly strenuous races. Every giant chaser I can think of has had breathing problems: remember Denman, Mad Max and Sexy Rexy? Each became increasingly fragile.
Sprinter Sacre needs to be managed very carefully. This is evidently in the minds of connections too, with their description of him as "a pure two miler". I can understand the curiosity people have with three miles, but I would rather that connections weren’t encouraged to put the forthcoming years of two-mile domination in jeopardy. Keep him at the minimum distance or risk ruining something brilliant.
Oh, and why not eh?
Mike
and that could be turned round to why should they?
Just to satisfy peoples curiosity?
Sprinter Sacre has not learnt to settle well enough in the early stages of races to risk him over further YET.
Value Is EverythingDon’t bother with this thread, just change the name Sprinter Sacre to Frankel and dust off any number of threads from the last 2 years
We’ve even got the exact same counter arguments, ‘hasn’t learned to settle yet’ and the longer distance races are ‘more prestigious’
Lets just enjoy watching him run.
Don’t bother with this thread, just change the name Sprinter Sacre to Frankel and dust off any number of threads from the last 2 years
We’ve even got the exact same counter arguments, ‘hasn’t learned to settle yet’ and the longer distance races are ‘more prestigious’
Lets just enjoy watching him run.
So presumably it is pointless having any discussion about any horse staying further Andrew? Because the things we need to consider are
always
the same.
Just because some people want to discuss the issue Andrew; doesn’t mean they "enjoy watching him" any less.
Value Is EverythingHow do we know Sprinter Sacre won’t get a serious test over 2 miles in the future?
Just to give an example, Champagne Fever by all accounts is going to be aimed at the Arkle next year, and if he’s as good over fences as he promises to be, that would be a heck of a clash.
How do we know Sprinter Sacre won’t get a serious test over 2 miles in the future?
Just to give an example, Champagne Fever by all accounts is going to be aimed at the Arkle next year, and if he’s as good over fences as he promises to be, that would be a heck of a clash.
If Champagne Fever ever runs in a Champion Chase, I will eat my mattress.
Oh, and why not eh?
Mike
and that could be turned round to why should they?
Just to satisfy peoples curiosity?
Yes. Absolutely. To satisfy the curiosity of the racing public.
When we get a true champion like this we want to him to be tested. There’s no sign he will be at two miles.
Mike
I’ve no doubt he would stay, the settling in his races must be the biggest point holding him back, that or fearing a step into the unknown and thus fear of losing.
Yes he is fast and has tons of speed, but this is because of his inherent ability. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree on both sides, we’re talking about National Hunt horses here, they are bred for stamina simple as that. It is not like the more unique breeding lines on the flat.
Horses surprise anyway, I just notice Dux Scholar once trained by Sir Stoute who won at listed level over 10f and placed in a group 3 won at 5f the other day on his attempt back at the trip.
Get him up in trip.
How do we know Sprinter Sacre won’t get a serious test over 2 miles in the future?
Just to give an example, Champagne Fever by all accounts is going to be aimed at the Arkle next year, and if he’s as good over fences as he promises to be, that would be a heck of a clash.
If Champagne Fever ever runs in a Champion Chase, I will eat my mattress.
ryanair? anyway the point remains, you never know what is going to come out and challenge in the future, or indeed what might happen to sprinter sacre.
after all those with short memories might recall that master minded was expected to win about 10 champion chases in a row after he hacked up in his first one. what happened to him?
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