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Are we talking about a horse’s ability to travel slowly as well as quickly without any fuss?
Is it noticeable?
I’m wondering if it were "tactical speed" that ended Getaway’s serious bid at the Coronation Cup last week.
In which type of horse is "tactical speed" most important? Sprinter? Stayer? Other?
I mentioned ‘tactical speed’ with regard to Getaway.
It’s one of those cliches that people use and it probably means different things to different people.
I would think ‘immediate change of pace’ or ‘instant acceleration’ might be the way I would define it. Also athleticism and the ability to change direction easily, perhaps.
Just my thoughts on the subject, M.
Colin
An annoying phrase that, as Seabird says, has little accepted meaning. I have it filed in the same draw as ‘championship pace’.
Maybe Mr. Bolger could give a definitive explanation.
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Tactical pace – The ability to go quicker than anything else in the race and therefore give yourself a greater chance of winning….
But then fleeting spirit would have more tactical pace than soldier of fortune but over 12f there would be only one winner so really its a false positive…
If this is the case – in Getaway’s instance, he had some nice tactical speed in the Jockey Club Stakes IIRC.
Tactical speed to me sounds like versatility.
Interesting question
I tend to think of horses having two assets: speed and stamina. Some will have a higher speed, but not the stamina to sustain it for long and vice versa. And some animals may be blessed in both departments. I appreciate this may be a little simplistic (but then I prefer simple things)
How about a horse who can use his speed as opposed to his stamina or in conjunction with his stamina to avoid or resolve problems in a race.
Therefore, Andrew, would the term "spurt" be fitting in this definition?
Thats surely a term for stallions?
would the term "spurt" be fitting in this definition
Spurt is a good word which I will try to use more often.
I tend to think of stamina as a horse’s reserve of energy and speed as, well the top speed it can attain, but I suppose logically, these would be related. A horse with an abundance of stamina and the conformation/physique to travel quickly would be top class and could cope with both slowly run races that turn into sprints and true tests.
But that is only a rough tool that helps me when trying to analyse flat races.
Therefore, Andrew, would the term "spurt" be fitting in this definition?
Thats surely a term for stallions?
I guess my answer would be that there is no such thing as tactical speed, there is only speed. In my opinion, of course.
I have always assumed it meant being able to put a horse where you want to in a race, so off a slow pace you can cope with a sudden injection of pace, or lie up with a faster gallop. Most importantly I think it also refers to the ability to get out of trouble if you find yourself with no room – Mieqsue probably the most famous example in the ’87 1,000 Guineas.
That’s pretty much exactly what I thought it meant.
Then maybe it could be defined as speed combined with a temperament amenable to settling and producing that speed when asked. As opposed, perhaps to a one dimensional speedster who shoots out of the stalls and has to be restrained the whole way.
Vincent O’Brien is supposed to have said about Nijinsky that he had more stamina than was absolutely necessary,whatever that meant.I always assumed he meant that he lacked tactical speed.
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