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A clash of the generations, two unbeaten colts on a very fair flat track over a distance that I for one don’t think would compromise the chance of either. Then and perhaps only then will we see just how good Frankel is.
I can never resist an an opportunity to mention what I regard as the best race I have ever seen – the 1972 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup. I was a young boy then but I still remember the excitement of the clash between the then unbeaten miler and that year’s Derby winner. The brilliant performance of the 3 year old to inflict a first defeat on the seemingly unbeatable 4 year old is still the race I most enjoy replaying 40 years later.
I have voted yes to the St. Leger for Camelot and I would love to see him emulate Nijinsky and co. – but a clash between Camelot and Frankel at York (or Sandown for that matter) has the potential to be one of those really special moments in racing that would live long in the memory of racing fans. That would definitely get my vote. Would it be too much to ask for both?
I say well done to the owner and to John Oxx and his team. I think the horse was a very well campaigned champion with nothing more to prove. Mind you I would still have loved to see him as a four year old.
VERY impressive by Sea The Stars. I fancied RVW to beat him today – I reckoned he got going too late in the Derby. But no questioning STS ability now Speed, versatilty, looks, pedigree and temperment – this horse has it all doesn’t he. Round 1 to the 3 year olds.
From mid-season when it was clear that Soldier of Fortune was going to be aimed specifically at the Arc he was my clearcut idea of the winner. The Prix Vermeille won me over to Fists viewpoint on Zarkava and sure, I wouldn’t like to see her sit in the stalls again, but now I thinks she is a worthy favourite.
Zarkava drawn in stall 1 – still, it wont be a hindrance if she repeats her Vermeille performance!
For anyone interested, I have just come across video footage on YouTube of the closing stages of the ’72 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNsATgJA50g
It’s worth a look. I still regard this as one of the greatest performances by a racehorse that I have seen.
This thread has got me reminiscing. Some other memories of controversial races include:
Secreto v El Gran Senor –Derby. Did Pat Eddery blow it?
George Washington, Ivan Denisovich (and the world) v Librettist – QEII Stakes
Red Rum v Crisp – Grand National – If only Crisp had been ridden differently?
1993 Grand National – don’t start me!
1979 Grand Prix de Deauville – Lester famously borrowed Alain Lequeux’s whip.One I don’t remember is Caughoo’s foggy National in 1947. It is still being talked about today.
I still remember well Marinsky having a piece of Relkino for lunch in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom in 1976 (I think). That was was pretty controversial at the time.
http://allthoroughbred.com/feature3.htm
It appears that was actually 1977. I had forgotten that Marinsky was subsequently banned from racing in Britain
Good luck to Johnny – I think he’ll do well. He’s had a lot of good wins on Ballydoyle horses but I was particularly impressed with his riding of High Chaparral in the Derby.
For me George was the most exciting racehorse of recent years. A sad day. Does anyone have any detail on what happened?
No. 1 has to be ARKLE for me. CAPTAIN CHRISTY, brilliant on his day, is my No. 2. His 1975 King George was a race to remember.
I agree – that was an inspired ride by Baeza at York. I rate that race as one of the greatest I have seen. I am not sure any horse would have beaten the Roberto/Baeza combination that day. I haven’t seen the race on video/TV for years. Does anyone know where I might find it?
I.S.- I am lost again!. What benefit is there for Bolger to say "everything is going well" if "he knows full well the chances of him (Teofilo) reaching the track again are zero" If it has been clear for some time that he will not be fit to race again is there some benefit to prolonging an announcement? If he retired in April his career would have been cut short by injury. If he retires in August without racing then his career would be cut short by injury. Perhaps you mean that you think that Teofilo is just a useless horse this year and Bolger is afraid of running him for fear that will be exposed and his stud value reduced?
The Racing Post on Wednesday quoted Jim Bolger "….. any firm plans for the Galileo colt are at least a week away. He is due to have a scan some time next week and we will know more then. Everything is going well, but we will have to wait on the results of the scans before any decisions are made."
If This forum tends to be critical of horses that are campaigned to "work the hype machine" and then retired before they have to face proper competition. (Holy Roman Emperor, for example)  [/quote
Sorry – I am going back a bit here but I have just spotted the above from Steve on this thread in June. I can’t believe this didn’t get a response from any of the forum’s Ballydoyle fans. OK HREs retirement was a dissapointment but to refer to the horses 2 year old career as "campaigned for hype" can’t go unchallenged – what better way to face proper competition than the Coventry followed by the Railway followed by the Phoenix followed by the National followed by the Grand Criterium followed by the Dewhurst (facing the wonderhorse-elect twice). Perhaps 2-year-old races just don’t count?
Indeed. According to France-Galop he won 112 Group 1s in 23 years from 1982 to 2005 including 76 in France, 20 in GB and 2 in Ireland. He also rode 250 steeplechase winners as a jockey and trained the winner of the Grand Steeple Chase de Paris four years in a row. Quite a guy!
Steve,
Legerete, 3rd in the Marcel Boussac to Finsceal Beo last year, has won a G2 and G3 this year. In her first race this year she was some 3 lengths behind Darjina at Longchamp. She has an entry in the Yorkshire Oaks. I have no idea how likely she is to turn up but she might be in with a chance there. Both wins were over 12f on softish ground I think. Having said that, I am very much looking forward to the return of Alexandrova, possibly at York?
