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I don’t like the "cart" horse bit – think that’s not necessary at all. They are superb long distance athletes to race over an extreme distance and jump 30 maximum size jumps and should be admired.
Let’s be realistic.
Kauto Star will not win another Cheltenham Gold Cup, and neither will Denman.
You can bet your life on it.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
I tend to agree with soba and sovies friend because the fall he took looked awful. But, then again, if Ruby hadn’t’ve caught him so quickly he would probably have cantered back by himself possibly taking in a couple of fences as well. It was good that everyone could see quickly that he was ok. As for the race itself, I suppose Ruby is the only one who could tell us how good he was or wasn’t going, and I’m sure I heard someone in the commentary box comment to someone else that he was not travelling well. Cheltenham isn’t really his course, even though he has had such success there. He is imperious at Kempton, but seems vulnerable at Cheltenham.Denman was superb; his jumping was a joy to behold, and it was interesting how his lass said he had blossomed in the last week or so just as he did last year. But I don’t want this to go down in history as the race that Kauto Star lost..it’s the race that Imperial Commander won.
I agree about the imperial commander bit.
Thing is though…if Kauto hadnt made the first blunder….i think hed have cantered over imperial commander.
I know this sounds a bit corny….but does anyone else think that the rain and dreary conditions and the way they came on so fast was a major factor in his loss of confidence after the mistake?
i.e "feck running round here in the pouring rain after making a blunder like that….id rather be in the stables"
Glad hes ok though,KG number 5 is a cert.
But I don’t want this to go down in history as the race that Kauto Star lost..it’s the race that Imperial Commander won.
It’s quite natural that much of the post-race reaction favours the defeat of Denman and the vanquished Kauto Star.
There were three, maybe four, horses whose victory would have been far more recognized. The obvious two are Denman and Kauto Star, along with Cooldine and Carruthers. Cooldine, simply because of the Irish connection, and Carruthers because of Lord Oaksey.
I would estimate that 90% of the racing community wanted either Kauto or Denman to succeed. The rather deflated atmosphere after Imperial Commander’s success – and the far from overwhelming response on these pages – speaks volumes.
Imperial Commander is not a horse that you can get too excited about. With the exception of a novice hurdle success at Newcastle, all of his victories have come around Prestbury Park. He’s never going to win a King George or carry top weight in a Hennessy and at the age of nine, you wouldn’t exactly call him an exciting young prospect who we can all look forward to in years to come.
He was a deserving winner on the day, and whilst I consider his defeat of Denman a great performance, I wouldn’t consider him a great Gold Cup winner.
Well done, Imperial Commander. The racing community is always gracious in defeat – and you defeated 90% of us!
"DalryBear" wrote: Thing is though…if Kauto hadnt made the first blunder….i think hed have cantered over imperial commander.
I can’t help but agree, Before the blunder, I thought he had got himself into that rythem where he’s just unstoppable, absolutely soaring over fences. However, we now will never know.
And whoever said Kauto Star has just been beating poor horses like Best Mate did, well, personally I consider Exotic Dancer, Denman and Neptune Collonges better than Sir Rembrandt, Commanche Court, Harbour Pilot etc.
Bring him back for his fifth King George and retire hium straight after they receive the trophy. Everybody goes out on a high.
I thought Kauto Stars blunder yesterday was similar to the time Sam Thomas rode him; made a bad mistake when ridden on the inside beHind horses and then tipping up a few fences later when taken to the outside? Except that day Sam got the blame and no one is blaming the jockey this time.
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Thought Kauto was going fine before the first blunder.
I was pleased there was a winner from another source and was surprised by the degree Imperial Commander seemed to relish the stamina test. A very good winner on the day although we know he won`t be going through a season unbeaten.
The opposition Kauto has faced at the top level has been quite a long way better than Best Mate had to beat though I wouldn`t decry any of our top performers. Just be glad they`ve been sound enough horses to come back for a few seasons at least.Thing is though…if Kauto hadnt made the first blunder….i think hed have cantered over imperial commander.
I can’t help but agree, Before the blunder, I thought he had got himself into that rythem where he’s just unstoppable, absolutely soaring over fences. However, we now will never know.
And whoever said Kauto Star has just been beating poor horses like Best Mate did, well, personally I consider Exotic Dancer, Denman and Neptune Collonges better than Sir Rembrandt, Commanche Court, Harbour Pilot etc.
I am as big a Best Mate fan as you could get,but there is no comparison in the opposition of Matey and Kauto.I mean Kauto won 4 king georges where maybe the opposition wasnt the greatest outside ED(who i think was a better horse around cheltenham)…but aside from that hes won 2 tingle creeks hammering the likes of VPU etc,could also arguably have won a QMCC too…and has won 2 Gold Cups beating the likes of Denman,ED,Neptune collonges etc in the process.
Matey i feel was fortunate to be around in the era he was.
I must add though…i beleive on good ground round cheltenham that Matey and Kauto could have been an epic duel.
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No no no. 6/1 about kauto to win the 2011 gold cup is entirely valueless IMO. Give him the rest of the season off, bring him to the king George next year and consider the position if he loses, which I doubt he will. If he wins take him to Cheltenham again via the normal route. If he loses next years gold cup take him back to kempton for his final run in 2012.
Under no circumstances would I consider the grand national for him.Valueless is too big a word for me.
I can count to 3 though and if you can find me 3 horses that will finish in front of Kauto Star and next year Gold Cup you’re a better man than me.
The way Imperial Commander won the best that one could have expected this year was for Kauto to finish second.
He was still in there with everychance despite a mistake that would have put most horses out of the race.Imperial Commander made a similar error in the King George and from there on in couldn’t get near Kauto Star. The fact Kauto could make a howler like that and still get back into the race without too much effort shows you just how good he is.
Next year with a clear round he could easily regain his crown and it could be Imperial Commander’s turn to make a howler.
As far as will he make it to the Gold Cup goes he’s got the same chance as any other horse and probably better with PN’s record of keeping them right.
6/1 is a great price wait and see…..If he’s better than 7/4 on the day I’ll be amazed. Whatsmore if they stay apart there is more chance of Imperial Commander messing up along the way and drifting in the market…easily get 6/1 about both before the big day.
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Think I must be alone here.. admittedly I didn’t see much of the race clearly as I was by the paddock, but Kauto never looked to be travelling like he can and at the point he fell I was confident he wasn’t going to be a threat.
They are now allowed to remount and ride back as long as the vet has checked the horse over. I’m hoping Ruby had that done, because otherwise I’m disappointed there doesn’t seem to have been any reaction from the stewards.
Let’s be realistic.
Kauto Star will not win another Cheltenham Gold Cup, and neither will Denman.
You can bet your life on it.
…..agreed 100% and those who compared him to Arkle should hang their heads in shame.
Don’t worry, if Kauto wins a fifth King George, those comparisons will resurface.
Not saying he is. Not saying he isn’t, but the King George is arguably the purest race for three mile chasers and if he wins it for a record breaking fifth time, people will once again ask the question ‘Kauto or Arkle?’
As I mentioned in a different thread, a few hoses have won the Gold Cup for a ‘landmark’ third time, but no horse has ever won five King Georges.
You better be right about Kauto not winning another Gold Cup – to regain it for a second time, thus winning it for a third time, would be taking the p*** and then where would he stand amongst the greats?
Arkle was more consistent than Kauto is. Apart from that I’d say that neither is "better" than the other.
Kautos Bosing day performance must stand comparison with any of the great chasers of the past. surely that goes without saying?
It did until you just said it! Kauto has hardly been inconsistent.
Actually quite correct. I was simply thinking that Arkle never fell, and won virtually every time. Basically he was super consistent.
Whereas Kauto has had the odd blip with jumping as yesterday, but otherwise is just as consistent.
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