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Another massive prize, and another poor turnout for yesterday’s Tattersalls Gold Cup. Seems to be the norm for the good Sunday races in Ireland at the moment for old horses. It got me thinking, where are all the top class Irish middle distance horses gone ?
I suppose the massive pots to be had in Asia have taken a few possible runners out of the equation; but outside of the Coolmore hordes, there seems a dearth of home-grown quality. Such a shame when the prize money is so good at the top end.
Are Coolmore strangelling the competition with their Gallileos and Montjeus ?..or is it the economic downturn over there at play ? Or are there just too many 10 and 12 furlong races out there at the moment ? It’s certainly a situation that needs some attention for me.
Think you’ve answered your own question there BSB.
When 22 of the 37 entries for the Leopardstown Derby Trial are for Coolmore owners; makes you realise what their first priority is.
Ballydoyle own most of the middle-distance stock; and they aren’t going to put too many good ones up against their number 1 challenger (apart from the Derbys).
Value Is EverythingI suppose the Arabs buy up the good ones(non Ballydoyle) as two year olds. As for Ballydoyle well Jim Bolger put Galileo on the map with Teofilo and New Approach. So they are there if you want to find them.But now Ballydoyle have kept their older horses in training for the first time in a long time.So look for them to carry the "older Irish horses" tag.As for the economic downturn it must have an effect but mainly with NH horses.Incidentally both Galileo and Montjeu are now super studs so everyone wants a piece of them.With the numbers they cover it seems like everyone gets a piece of them!
Coolmore have a strangle hold but Bolger has had much since New Approach, John Oxx has one proper horse every 5 years it seems and Prendergast gets fair lot of rubbish from the arabs. Economic downturn doesn’t help but usually the big owners of these middle distance horses are immune to recession.
Coolmore have a strangle hold but Bolger has had much since New Approach, John Oxx has one proper horse every 5 years it seems and Prendergast gets fair lot of rubbish from the arabs. Economic downturn doesn’t help but usually the big owners of these middle distance horses are immune to recession.
In an era where prize money levels are being continually questioned, it does make you wonder how trainers can justify to their owners not having horses ready for these types of races. Even if you don’t think you can beat So You Think, you’re running on good ground against Campanologist and Famous Name for £34,396.55 (2nd) and £16,293.10 (3rd) place money. That’s more than you’d get for winning most Group 3s.
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