[Arazi]

Looking forward to hopefully seeing her run in the Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night. Taking on sprinters from different parts of the world on a new surface will present a new and tough challenge. Probably tougher than what she’ll face if she comes over for Royal Ascot. The sprinters over here really aren’t up to much. The last real outstanding sprinter in the UK was Oasis Dream back in 2003.

[Arazi]

As far as quality goes, the 70’s 2 mile hurdlers were better as a bunch. Only Hurricane Fly could compete of the current crop of comparitively disappointing animals. The staying hurdlers the opposite. With Baracouda, Iris’s Gift, Limestone Lad, Inglis Drever, Mighty Man, Kasbah Bliss, Punchestowns and Big Buck’s, it’s far better nowadays. Perhaps the fact it was a neglected (poorer quality) group in the 70’s is why many don’t appreciate todays top class stayers. Some still seem to believe the 2 mile hurdlers are of better quality just because they are 2 mile hurdlers and that it is nothing to do with form.

The same thing goes for chasers. Many older racing fans seem to believe Gold Cup (staying chasers) are of better quality than 2 mile chasers. Wasn’t so long ago we had Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and Well Chief, three 180+ horses in the same 2 miler. Former did not get the credit he was due, as a better racehorse than Best Mate. Master Minded another cracking 2 miler at his best, though inconsistent. That division has been better than it was in the 70’s. And we’re in an exceptional era for staying chasers too. Kauto Star, Denman, Imperial Commander and Long Run all of outstanding talent.

On the whole, I’d say with the exception of 2 mile hurdlers we are if anything in just as good and in some respects better era than the 70’s when it comes to National Hunt racing.

There have been exceptional horses in the interim. Desert Orchid, Burrough Hill Lad and Istabraq, but I’d say this is the first era to rival the 70’s in amount of quality.

I agree with all of this.

Also, on the flat, if you compare the 1970’s to the 2000’s there’s very little difference between the two. Outside of Brigadier Gerard and possibly Mill Reef I think you could find a horse that raced in the 00’s that could match up to the top horses from the 70’s. For example Nijinsky/Sea the Stars, Troy/Galileo, Allez France/Zarkava, Dahlia/Ouija Board, The Minstrel/High Chaparral. At a stretch you could add Brigadier Gerard/Dubai Millenium and Mill Reef/Montjeu to that list. Although those two match ups are more debatable.

I’m sure in 30 or 40 years time people will be looking back to the likes of Dubai Millenium, Montjeu, Zarkava, Sea the Stars, Frankel, Kauto Star, Denman, Moscow Flyer and Big Buck’s in the same way as people do now with the top horses from 1960’s and 70’s.

[Arazi]

Sprinter Sacre looks at this stage the best novice chaser Nicky Henderson has had since Remittance Man.

[Arazi]

Really would love to see Binocular win this. A returning to form performance from Binocular would certainly add more excitement to an already intriguing 2m Hurdling division.

[Arazi]

Here’s a look at Dayjur’s brilliant 1990 season for anyone interested. He was awesome and definitely the best sprinter I’ve seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7FBayh5TJQ

Also, I did a countdown of the top 10 sprinters that I’ve watched during the 20 years I’ve been a fan of racing. Oasis Dream’s Nunthorpe victory that has been mentioned in this thread is amongst the races shown in the countdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGE2KgC7Res

[Arazi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAhAQy3Lq5E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx72-bSIisA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t8ZGD37HRI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPREXKPNc8I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXIUzmeeYOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPANCGJL … re=related

I came across these on youtube. A few clips of the old channel 4 racing theme which always takes me back to my childhood. Also found one of the old bbc racing theme’s as well.

[Arazi]

National Hunt – Gloria Victis – 2000 Racing Post Chase

Flat – Dayjur – 1990 Nunthorpe

[Arazi]

One thing ATR has over the BBC by a mile is superior commentary on the races. Simon Holt & Richard Hoiles are the two best commentaters in the Buisness by a long way. Jim Mcgrath sounds like an amatuer when compared to those two.

[Arazi]

He was before my time but looking at his race record I don’t think you could find a greater miler than Brigadier Gerard.

In the time I’ve been watching racing (1989 onwards) I think the standout milers that I’ve seen would be Zilzal, Zafonic, Dubai Millenium, Rock Of Gibraltar, Hawk Wing, Goldikova & Frankel.

[Arazi]

Here’s a few of So You Think’s victories in Austrailia that I found on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD0r3wjO … re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWCpkUSc … re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA59q1LUfRA

He really looked impressive on his return run in Ireland and it’ll be fascinating to see how he gets on against Workforce.

[Arazi]

I never thaught I’d see a more impressive Guineas winner than Zafonic but I think I just have after that unbelievable performance from Frankel.

[Arazi]

Depends on the ground. If it’s good ground I’d say Kauto Star would win. If the word ‘soft’ is in the going description I think Denman would gallop them all into submission like he in the 2008 Gold Cup.

[Arazi]

He became better known for being a great National Hunt sire. To me though I’ll always have great memories of his French & Irish Derby victories. He was a top class racehorse in 1989, it’s shame he and Nashwan never competed against one another that year.

[Arazi]

http://www.youtube.com/user/espmadrid

http://www.youtube.com/user/Leighschlager

http://www.youtube.com/user/bluemanc43

http://www.youtube.com/user/flimper1

http://www.youtube.com/user/willibaldcornfed#p/u

http://www.youtube.com/user/Arazi124

There’s quite a lot of great footage appearing again on youtube. Here’s some links to the main channel’s I’ve come across. Might as well enjoy these races before they probably get removed by the Racing UK people again!

[Arazi]

Jumps

Well Chief (at his peak) vs Master Minded (2m Cheltenham)

Remittance Man vs Moscow Flyer (2m 4f Aintree)

Desert Orchid vs Kauto Star (3m Kempton)

Baracouda vs Big Buck’s (3m Cheltenham)

Flat

Nashwan vs See the Stars (1m 2f Sandown)

Dayjur vs Abernant (5f York)

Bosra Sham vs Zarkava (1m 2f Anywhere)

Zilzal vs Rock of Gibraltar (1m Ascot)

Dubai Millenium vs Zenyatta (1m 2f dirt)

Zafonic vs Brigadier Gerard (1m Newmarket)

[Arazi]

Very tough to pick just three but here it goes

Jumps

WELL CHIEF – In 2005, when he was just a 6yo, this horse won the Victor Chandler Handicap Chase off top weight. His handicap mark that day was 176, 2lb higher than the mark that Denman ran off to win last years Hennessy. Yet, after Denman’s victory it seemed everyone was saying that we hadn’t seen a weight carrying performance like that for decades. When in fact Well Chief had put up a performance as good as it, if not better, just 4 years before. How quickly people forget. Due to injury he was never as good after that incredible 2004/2005 season when he mixed it with Azertyuiop and the great Moscow Flyer. However, he still managed to finish an amazing second in a Champion Chase after a 2 year lay off and his win in last season’s Connaught Chase was an absolute joy to watch.

REMITTANCE MAN – A hugely talanted racehorse who for me was the best jumper of a fence that I’ve seen since I started watching racing. Although to a lesser extent than Well Chief, injuries did also prevent this fellow achieving a lot more in his career.

GLORIA VICTIS – Just so incredibly exciting to watch. I loved the way he attacked the fences and just blew the opposition away from the front. His fatal fall in the 2000 Gold Cup was desperately sad. He had the potential to be a superstar.

Flat

DAYJUR – One of the fastest horses that has ever set foot on a racetrack. Certainly the best from the last 20 odd years and I would think he’s up there with best all time sprinters.

NASHWAN – The 1989 Derby was the first race I ever saw and so I instantly connected to this horse. He was a real champion and I don’t think we’ll see a horse win the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse & King George in the same season again for a long time.

BOSRA SHAM – A lovely looking filly who was right out of the top draw. I was a fan after her first comfortable win as a 2 year old. She was an outstanding 3yo and 4yo as well despite suffering with foot problems.

[Arazi]

I was a fan of Rock Hopper as well, I remember him beating a horse called Mountain Kingdom at Newmarket. He showed a really good turn of foot that day.

Others that come to mind

Flat
Further Flight
Song Of Sixpence
Double Dutch
Travelling Light
Peter Davies
Polish Precendent
Zilzal – He was outstanding but he only ran six times so he tends to get forgotten about.

Jumps
Montelado
Brown Windsor
Man O’Magic
Blazing Walker
Muse
Carobee

I’m sure there’s loads more but I can’t think them at the moment!

[Author]

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