- This topic has 223 replies, 57 voices, and was last updated 19 years, 4 months ago by
.
- Posts
Jack Houghton of the Sportsman for the defense has just stepped up and put forward it’s case.
Mandesha to win from Sities Icon and Shirocco and unbelievably Deep Impact last, but i’m not convinced by the defenses Form argument, so the vote still goes for Prosecutor Zorro at the mo
<br>
(Edited by empty wallet at 1:03 pm on Sep. 27, 2006)
Alistar Whitehouse Jones tried to introduce the Rail Link Key Trends argument, but Judge Rowley File threw this out immediately and with just cause imhaho :biggrin:
(Edited by empty wallet at 1:22 pm on Sep. 27, 2006)
Thankyou Empty. I trust both our wallets will be full on Sunday evening.:biggrin: <br>Poor Mr. Houghton. What can he be thinking of?:cool:
I don’t bet Ante Post Zorro and think he’s a tad short at mo, so i’m hoping he drifts a little ;)
Mr Houghton’s case has just fell apart, Mandesha non runner, Mr Houghton was unavailable for comment – allegedly gone to drowni his sorrows in the nearest drinking establishment
<br>
(Edited by empty wallet at 1:46 pm on Sep. 27, 2006)
Anyone think there is a realistic chance of Alexandrova going for the Arc rather than the Opera?  I rate her the most likely to give Deep Impact a race if the pace is modest.  The small field has diminished my concerns about DI’s jockey messing up. This looks like it could be one of the best races we have seen for many years.  Shame we won’t see Dylan T and Sir Percy in there too.
Hi apalachee and welcome to the forum.
It’d be very interesting if Alexandrova were to take in the race. An added dimension. I think she’d struggle personally.
I think she would be the most difficult runner to rate given that she hasn’t been stretched at all since losing at York and it’s difficult therefore to compare her form with any great accuracy.. Her time in the Epsom Oaks was only marginally slower than the derby and she won that uncontested. I’d be more worried about her resolution in a battle than her ability to be there at the business end as the only time this season she’s been in a battle this season she was beaten. Would add some spice if she did run.
I think she’s been at least as impressive as shawanda was last season and she was well fancied for the race and subsequently run well despite picking up an injury in the race.
If Soumi is riding Shirocco, then who rides Rail Link?
Presume Dettori now has a choice between Rail Link & Sixties Icon?
Late vote from the Prufrock jury for Deep Impact.
I was bounced into comments I made earlier in the year suggesting that the horse still had something to prove form-wise.
Frankly, I don’t really know, but I do hope he is as good as the video clips make him look.
Good luck all!
Thanks Cormack.  Good to be here on the web’s BEST SITE!  Aragorn, mitigating circumstances for Alex at York? Fallon blamed the bump early on so I am inclined to ignore that race. I agree its difficult to rate just how good she is versus the colts but her last 3 performances were all impressive and obviously trainer and jockey rate her v. highly. The video evidence alone has convinced me DI is The One. My vote 1. Deep Impact 2. HR  3. Rail Link (Alex top 3 if she runs)!
Yeah agreed, I only said that because it’s the only race this season where she had any competition in the final furlong.. That along with the lack of collateral form would put me off.. But then i’ll be backing DI so the only collateral form should really put you off (Hearts Cry in the KG) but that race was not run to suit (according to reports) and Take gave him a mountain to climb.. So even with that negative i’ll be lumping on… The Japanese seem pretty confident about this horse and my eyes tell me he’s a monster
Quote: from Salselon on 3:21 pm on Sep. 27, 2006[br]If Soumi is riding Shirocco, then who rides Rail Link?
Presume Dettori now has a choice between Rail Link & Sixties Icon?<br>
Stephane Pasquier rides Rail Link, and if something happens to him between now and Sunday, given that he is a Juddmonte horse presumably Hughesy would be given the nod:yikes:
Little chance whatsoever that Alexandrova will run – she has already proved her worth as a broodmare so may as well go and pick up much easier prize money in the fillies’ races, while Hurricane Run’s stud fee would be done no harm whatsoever if he were to win a second Arc. Can anyone recall a top-class Coolmore filly that was tested at the highest level against colts. I’m sure there is one but off the top of my head nothing springs to mind.
(Edited by Happy Jack at 5:30 pm on Sep. 27, 2006)
I was shocked to see the money today for Pride. I can’t see how anybody can put it in front of HR or Shirocco after the Prix Foy. <br>I’m still convinced Rail Link has the potential to be a superstar. Youmzain gave the Prix Niel form a boost on Sunday and Fabre’s last three Arc winners have gone via the Prix Niel. It will be interesting to see what Frankie rides if Sixties Icon is supplemented.
Well with Mandesha not being supplemented we can pretty much work out the runners.
Hurricane Run<br>Shirocco<br>Deep Impact<br>Rail Link<br>Sixties Icon<br>Pride<br>Dylan Thomas (?)<br>Best Name<br>Dragon Dancer (?)
As reported in this thread Fabre is worried about a lack of pace in The Arc. It is very easy to see why too. If Dragon Dancer does take his chance he will frontrun though probably at a slow pace, but if he doesn’t run there is no frontrunner.
If this happens then I expect Shirocco to make the running. However this will be interesting because Soumillon/ Fabre can decide what type of race they want if this happens. If Shirocco sets a fast pace I would think it could compromise his chance but help his stablemate Hurricane Run. It would also help stayers like Deep Impact and Sixties Icon.
However what happens if Shirocco sets a slow pace? The hold up horses are likely to struggle (Deep Impact, Hurricane Run, Best Name ) while horses with plenty of speed (Rail link, Dylan Thomas?, Pride?) would find it more to their liking. However I can’t get away from the thought of Soumillon stealing 3 lengths round the home bend. Once Shirocco is in front it takes a horse with a lot of heart to go past it and as it showed its ability to quicken off a slow pace last time (Prix Foy) I think Shirocco would win under these conditions.
Essentially, I think tactics will decide who wins and Fabre holds the key. Does he want a fair race with Hurricane Run and Rail Link getting a fair crack of the whip or is he happy for Shirocco to steal it? If Dragon Dancer does run I think it would create a fairer race as more pace would likely to be on up front.
Given also that Deep Impact is inclined to pull and stays further, do you think this is an oversight on DI connections’ part not to have brought over/ bought a pacemaker?
I commented a while back that football, for all Zorro’s antipathy towards it, had provided him with the material for many a column but that was as nothing compared to the effect Deep Impact and his connections have had. What would the man have done without them? This week alone we’ve had an article (in the Post) on Take and (in the Weekender) his penultimate summing-up of the case for the prosecution, the final one no doubt to be included in his column on Saturday. I well remember the man’s confidence before last year’s Arc, which turned out to be a glorious triumph for him, but I don’t think I’ve ever known a racing journalist go out on a limb to this extent.
I miss the football columns, though.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.