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I’ll keep it simple again – mastercraftsman. I’m not a fan of statistics, so the fact he hasn’t won away from the Curragh dosen’t bother me. Once Johnny says go it’s au revoir.
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Well you learn something every day. I thought this was on the straight course
As far as not having beat a top notcher is concerned Carv the neares he came to it would be when he beat the disapointing since, Art Connisseur and Bushranger. The latter in his nest race won the Prix Morny beating some decent horse then went on to win the group 1 Middlepark.
He certainly over impressed me in any of his other races on soft ground as he won them all 3 in tight finishes. However he hacked ip on good to firm against a better class animals and looked a possible future star that day.
Strickty on what he achieved in that race leads me to believe he is a better horse on fast ground. I thought he looked awsome in the heavy and with Delegator it wasn’t just so much down to the ground but the pace and the distance being beyond his stamina limitations.
Frankly I don’t think he stayed a yard of the trip in those conditions.
I was reading an article today where a jounalist was suggesting we ignore the Irish 2000G form completely and compare the two horses on their Nemarket form.
Doing that we have Delegator finishing 2nd. We have him almost heading Sea the Stars and it looked like being a good race but a combination of Sea the Stars picking up and Delegator seeming to run out of stamina put paid to any chance he had. You might disagree with that but that is how I saw it.
I never paid much attention to Mastercrafsman at the time as I backed RVW but when I go back like I did just now something stands out to me.
If you watch Mastercraftsman he sits behind Evasive and looks to be going very easily. For a time it was almost like Heff only needed to say go and he could pass him. As the pace increased Heff was niggling at him slightly but the horse still looked as if he had the beating of Evasive who was still in with a chance at the time. When they came to the bushes he is gone he loses 3 or 4 lengths like a horse that was either in need of the race, was very one paced or just wasn’t right in himself.
All of a sudden when the hit the furlong marker he seems to get a second wind and takes off after them. If you look he starts to put dayling between himself and those behind and while Evasive starts losing some ground Mastercraftsman has quickened, run on very well and made up the ground he lost on him and more.
If that had been some maiden he would have gone straight into many a good judges note books.
I think we will find today he will have improved right past Delegator who we know was as fit as a flea at Newmarket.
Of course horses can fool even the best of judges and it could be like Fantasia at Newmarket. His race in Ireland may have flattered him but I honestly doubt it. I though John Oxx’s horse Rayeni isn’t a 5k AW winner like Fantasia beat, but he was made to look like one.
the more I look at this race, it is really difficult to find one that can beat him .
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Thats the thing isn’t it. Even though there may be question marks over Mastercraftsman findind an alternative is difficult when you look at his opposition. This isn’t the strongest St James Palace stakes by a long way.
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Arrh! but if he beats Delegator by the same distance as Sea the Stars I’ll use it to win my next debate
Fantastic race. You have to say as expected Delegator just didn’t quite get home though he stayed better than I thought he would.
Race run to suit Mastercraftsman good performance but he’s no superhorse IMO.
Not sure, i think it was a good ride from Jimmy Fortune, i backed Delegator, and at one point i thought her was going to keep his head in front. A very determined effort from Murtagh’s mount though, very gutsy.
A very good run from Delegator, you just had to put his last run behind him, the horse was not suited at all by the ground that day. Just found the one too good for him today though.
God, you see that? Dettori watching the race on the big screen during the race. Disgraceful from the ‘punters” jockey.
The pacemakers couldn’t go quick enough and they were in a bit of a heap when push came to shove. Gutsy winner and I don’t think he were at his best today either.
Boy – that was close.
My pre race ground fears were vindicated. Tough as old boots but obviously Mastercraftsman prefers a softer surface.
Johnny Murtagh is not nearly as relieved as me.
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I actually agree with Matt Chapman, Delegator has seen the trip out, i dont think there is a question that he stays a mile.
He found a horse better than him today, by a neck. For those who backed him, like i did, he ran a very good race, just because he lost doesn’t mean to say he doesn’t stay a mile, bizarre.
Dont think Delegator quite stays a mile at this stage of his career. Think he would be top class over 7f or even 6f
I actually agree with Matt Chapman, Delegator has seen the trip out, i dont think there is a question that he stays a mile.
Don’t forget on fast ground form Delegator is a better horse than Mastercraftsman on Guineas form. If this race had been over seven furlongs Delegator would’ve won comfortably. He stays to a degree but just not quite well enough.
Huzzah!
I’m going to bed, with the "Mastercraftsman won’t win on good-to-firm" debate. Can’t put up with this garbage any longer.
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