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Glad it’s dawned on at least one Aussie, AIC.
Oz tracks are generally smaller, sharper, flatter, have coarser grass, faster turf, and less rainfall than their UK counterparts, and their horses are, no doubt, bred commensurately. Hence they will always have the better sprinters, yet rarely the better stayers.Well said reet hard!
Some Information added for ref.
1) As far as i know, other than Strawberry Road, the best performance of middle distance races in Europe was Balmerino, the runner-up of 1977 Arc to AllegedIn Asia, The Aus/Nz bred or trained Int G1 Winner in more than 9f as follow
Japan (0)
Both Horlicks and Better Loosen Up won Japan Cup in local G1 era.Dubai (2)
Dubai Sheema Classic – Vengeance Of Rain-trained in HK(07), Sun Classique-trained in South Africa(08)Singapore (1)
Singapore International Airline Cup-Mummify(05)Hong Kong (3)
Queen Elizabeth II Cup – Vengeance Of Rain-trained in HK(05), Ambitious Dragon-trained in HK(11)
Hong Kong Cup – Vengeance Of Rain-trained in HK(05)
——————————The AUS G1 win by European/UAE trained Horse(10f or More)
1993 Melbourne Cup – Vintage Crop: Irish St-Leger(G1) winner
1998 Caulfield Cup – Taufan’s Melody: Listed winner
2002 Melbourne Cup – Media Puzzle: Listed Handicap winner + G3 Handicap winner in AUS
2008 Caulfield Cup – All The Good: Class 2 Heritage Handicap winner
2010 Melbourne Cup – Americain: Prix Kergorlay(G2) winner + G3 Handicap winner in AUSI am a newbie from Hong Kong where always has the clash between euro and AUS/NZ runners.
The Aus/NZ sprinter undoubtedly is the best in the world, even those stars based in HK/Singapore, most are Aus/NZ bred(Cape Of Good Hope and Dim Sum[Formerly as Algol in UK] are rare exceptional). However, it is almost a reverse in 10-12f division. That’s why the Aus born, HK-based’s John Moore always bought horses in Euro for HK Derby and other big races.
So You Think carries every hope and expectation from down under to redeem such perception. He won G1 very easily in Ireland, beats Campanologist and Famous Name(I don’t think either of them can win the 10F G1 in GB/IRE/FR).
The first real test for So You Think in Europe is POW: SYT always sat behind the leader/pacemaker, or held in handy 3rd/4th with steady or a bit slow pace, then burst with the dash last 400 or bit more in previous runs.
However, the previous pacemaker for him, Windsor Palace was replaced by Jan Vermeer, a much much better one, which was a bit waste. He missed the break and showed his way by a furious gallop, which SYT never face before and the race become the true test of stamina. As a result, So You Think cannot keep his way in final 100 yards and being caught by a better stayed Rewilding.
I think the race show SYT is the best ever Aus/NZ 10f performer race in North Hemisphere(Better than Vengeance Of Rain in HK several years before). However, Aidan show his Achilles heel that the horse cannot stay 12f and those 10f with fast pace, also associated with longer straight in European racecourse. So You Think will face tougher opposition in later races, and he may win 1 or 2 G1 right there, but still has something to prove for his greatness in European racing.
For other horses, Twice Over and Planteur are under performance today. Sri Putra just pick the 3rd spot under such condition. Last but not least, we should pay attention the way Debussy runs.
