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I’ve got mixed feelings about Yeats.
Yes, he’s won a lot of races and four Gold Cups in a row is a fine achievement. For a horse to come back year after year to successfully defend his crown and reign supreme is wonderful. He was
the
genuine stayer of his era.
But then, the competition he faced wasn’t that strong. For the last three years he, more or less, beat the same horses – give or take a couple of new yet average ones who appeared to be thrown in just to make up the numbers. He was strong odds-on in many of his races which, to me, reflected the tender opposition. Yeats the greatest? … not in my eyes because he isn’t a champion of champions.
Having said that, Yeats has proved what a horse
can
achieve on the Flat when it isn’t retired to stud at the age of three!
Have to admit I pissed myself laughing at that one, Corm.
The suggestion that a Flat horse could be the "defining horse of our time" is a big enough hoot…..but a Flat
stayer
??
Don’t you realise that Yeats is just a slow old boat?
And if Patkai wins next year’s Gold Cup?
Then we might see Sir Michael Stoute doing handstands in the winner’s enclosure
Must admit to feeling that rather than not give enough credit in looking for a story many people had actually gone overboard about the achievement. Not his fault but many of these staying races are relatively uncompetitive – two or three horses with chances. As regards keeping him sound for so long he is a mere youngster compared to Carraciola who albeit at a lower level almost seems to be improving in his old age. I would not put Yeats in the top three stayers of all time let alone a list of all racehorses.
And if Patkai wins next year’s Gold Cup?
More likely than not he won’t have to run any better than he did on Thursday, so it would prove nothing. Presuming Yeats has retired, he may even have Septimus to deal with, who could well put Yeats’ form in the GC into perspective.
Yeats deserves his place in racing folklore for what is a fantastic acheivement- something never done before in a race with bags and bags of heritage. He is also that rare bird of a genuine G1 performer that has been raced to the grand old age of 8, thus forming a familiar character in the "narrative" of racing, much like the best jumpers. However, as many have alluded to, none of his form is truly top-notch to rank him amongst the real greats, even his Coronation Cup success where he enjoyed the run of the race.
Urgh, can we close this thread please? Getting fed up of grumpy old men complaining about horses like Best Mate and Yeats beating nothing in their 3 Gold Cups/4 Ascot Gold Cups. Sometimes, just sometimes, form is meaningless.
Ffs, what is the point of watching horse racing if you’re not going to appreciate the amazing achievements and emulation of other great horses or setting of new records?
Urgh, can we close this thread please? Getting fed up of grumpy old men complaining about horses like Best Mate and Yeats beating nothing in their 3 Gold Cups/4 Ascot Gold Cups. Sometimes, just sometimes, form is meaningless.
Ffs, what is the point of watching horse racing if you’re not going to appreciate the amazing achievements and emulation of other great horses or setting of new records?
What’s the point of anything if all you want is someone to have the same opinion as you?
If you have a problem with threads why don’t you just go somewhere else?
Nothing to do with having the same opinion as me.
But every time I see Best Mate’s name mentioned on here, 2/7 says the next comment is to do with how weak the form is.
3 days after Yeats wins 4 Gold Cups and already there’s a thread basically slagging him off. I just don’t understand what some of you want from this sport.
I think its just people trying to find his rightful spot in the pantheon of horse racing.
Makes for good reading even if i don’t always agree.
Getting fed up of grumpy old men complaining about horses like Best Mate and Yeats beating nothing in their 3 Gold Cups/4 Ascot Gold Cups. Sometimes, just sometimes, form is meaningless.
Two things:
1) I, for one, am 22 years old, so such views aren’t the preserve of "grumpy old men".
2) Form is a far more quantitative method for weighing up a horses’ merit (or ability, if you must) than how many times the horse has won a certain race. If you’ll look at my first post, I acknowledge the enormity of Yeat’s achievements (as do many to have expressed similar ideas on this thread), but the greatest horses aren’t always those that win the most big races- they are, by their very definition, those that show the most ability.
Nothing can ever take away all the Gold Cups that Yeats has won because that is an excellent achievement in itself. It’s just that, in my opinion, greatness is measured by a combo of what a horse beats, the style of the win and the races it’s won.
From what I see in Yeats’s case, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
Right, I’m off to play some Meatloaf!
Depends how you are judging Yeats.
It is a "great" achievment to win four Gold Cups. Deserves high praise for that.
But those races themselves were not "great" form. The merit of the form is nowhere near greatness. Yeats Group 1 Coronation Cup is not good Group 1 form. Ardross put up a far better performance when runner up in the Arc.
There’s even an arguement to say he is not even the "best" stayer in his own yard. If "best" means ability of merit and not durability. Let alone best stayer of all time. Septimus might well have beaten Yeats in any of those Gold Cups, if given the chance to do so. Sorry if that is uncomfortable reading for you Zarkava.
But let’s celebrate Yeats for what he is, a sensational stayer who has graced our sport for many years. Am a member at Goodwood and the Goodwood Cup is the race I am looking forward to most.
Value Is EverythingRP online report Yeats holds an Arc entry.
Available at 20-1. Will be interesting to see if they miss the Cadran for a tilt at the great race. Nothing to lose and not a great bunch of middle distance performers around at the moment, in my opinion.
I say go for it.
I suppose it depends on whether you judge a horse on achievements (i.e. trophies in the bag) or on ability.
How does Yeats stack up on Timeform ratings (end of season ratings) against the likes of Adross, Le Moss and Sagaro does anyone know?
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