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That looks a particularly indulgent move likely to come back and bite him,assuming there is no more to it than face value.Pieux is a a very special talent.
I was thinking further afield, to someone who is available,vastly experienced,ridden in contrasting racing cultures and old enough to contribute to the Ballydoyle program on his own terms.I doubt this option has been entertained where it counts.
Could Betfair know something regarding the RP’s intention of becoming a user pays system that has not been announced officially?
Aidan’s parsimony in regard to Ouija Board is regrettable,at best.You would have to deny any form of largesse at the hands of Coolmore, before I could trust the impartiality of your opinions.
We are all condemned by our prejudices,but to confuse what Dettori does on a horse with what he says on the ground is elementary.God forbid that anyone might do that in Keiran Fallon’s case.
Personally I beleive this to be Ed Dunlop’s penultimate hurragh.I don’t rate him at all as a trainer and given his altered circumstances,the upcoming season is likely to be challenging.To carry that opinion when assessing OB would be dillusional.She’s come up four seasons in a row,been nursed through a shaky patch during the spring of 2005 and not had break for the bigger part of 18 months.Great job,well done to both the staff and trainer.
Numerical ratings are an arbitrary construct and deserve a lot less attention than they receive here.Reward for labour in this world is similarly feckless and about as reliable as a guide to performance.<br>We can talk about any consultancy work when you swing an invite to Ballydoyle for me.
Until then I’m fairly busy knockin out the rent week in week out.
regards,bzm
Bart was as good a trainer as ever looked through a bridle.He’s been flying on autopilot for the last 15 years, when he was seduced by money at yearling sales.His real heyday was the era when his brother Pat ran his Semaphore stable and fed him an incessant stream of top class young horses.That which he has forgotten, would be adequate for the majority of trainers to survive comfortably.<br> Cummings apparent xenophbia conceals the dire programming shortfall which Australia racing contains.There are no 10f+ maiden to intermediate level races programmed and as a consequence to compete at a major metropolitan track such as Flemington in a winners of six lifetime race at 10+ furlongs, you are likely to have broken your maiden at 6/7f in a speed oriented country. <br> To qualify prizemoneywise, a horse must do so the previous summer or have performed in the classics against likewise immature 3yo’s.This form becomes ancient history by the time of the cup and totally irrelevant.Alternatively during the early spring in the run up to the cup, horses have four possible routes.Firstly the wfa from 6f-10fs strategy,secondly the country cup handicapper path,thirdly via sydney’s metropolitan h’dcap(longer and more arduos way) or from NZ where early spring prep events can be prone to very heavy tracks.People express surprise that so many locals race on derby day, but as is evident ,it is one of the few options available to the locals.If blame is to be opportioned I’d be willing to split it evenly between incompotent administration on the programming front, and the commercialisation of the TAB which looks at the bottom line an delivers 6f dross ad naseum.I personally overlook all racing under 1mile as non racing,perhaps conceding that 7f events have some purpose as prep runs.<br> Finally Fallon.I could forsee him making a fist of training because he’s engaged in his job wholeheartedly.Have you seen another rider be at such pains to soothe a fractious horse on the way down as often as he?Those that criticise his ride on Yeats could easily compliment his raelisation that you had to be forward on the day.The fact that he rode counter style i.e forcing the issue rather than to type, tucking in and then following current through the field (which he is exemplary at) allows more scope for criticism.The fact that he rides relatively long means that he has more purchase with his calves in a driving finish and he he can use bodliy vigour to lift a horse in that situation.On the downside you cannot hold a horse with balance alone(a la dettori) without your knees conjoined over the pommel of the saddle.The alternative is upper body strength which is fatigueing for both horse and rider.A street smart pro like Fallon knows that a horse ridden with his technique settles best when confronted by another competitor directly in front of him providing a visual obstacle.Consciously or not, KF wants NOTHING to do with having to make the running(not that its ever permitted at Ballydoyle)Two things made me grin during Greg Mliles’ very accurate cup call,"Yeat’s has missed the break by 11/2 lengths" and "fallon is poring the pressure on with a 1000 left to run".Place layed at 2.6 it was good business and hammerblow for all the parochial hyperbole.Yeats stayed on very strongly and deserved the chunk of change he picked up.If they’re serious about the horses best interests, take him to Japan where the tempo is always good,the tracks invariably firm, and the prizemoney and sale possabilities likewise enticing.That said he is not High Chaparall ,but then again hes the best horse APO has trained.The final verdict on KF,who has many strengths is journeyman in comparison to Dettori,whose ride on Ouija Board was flawless.<br> regards bzm.
Layed her expecting a troubled trip.Frankie rode with supreme confidence and outrode his diffcult position in running.Bravo.
It would be ironic if Coolmore,having heavied Fallon onto their horses,were to lose his services for the cup.If there were to be a repition of the Military Cross(Derby Day) or Ad Veloreum(Queen Anne) careless riding,to name but two examples,he will be dealt with unsympathetically.<br> Mick Kinane needs to think about how to get his tack clean of all the Louisville dirt post BC Classic,in time for an eventual call up for Melbourne duties.The Cox Plate is frequently a very competitive heat owing to the cauldronlike atmosphere and the prize on offer.It’s easy for a jockey to overstep the mark.Whilst KF rides Chester well,the rail is not the place to be,approaching the false straight.He has a live chance in the big race,but might be grateful if he survives the day without an early shower.With four mounts I’d rate his chances as 50/50.<br> With the generous prizemoney down to tenth place,Yeats should pick up his expenses but wont hit the frame regardless who rides.He’s the wrong type of horse for the race, looking vulnerable to finishing speed,conceding weight all round, dependent on a good draw for a sit plus he has been up for six months.The race is invariably won by a horse in the best form of its life and thusfar Tawqeet and Mandela fit the bill coming from stables which are familiar with the big time.Given his flat performance at the Curragh we’re still guessing where Yeats is currently at. More will be revealed regarding Cup form in next the seven days but, European form should be checked in with your luggage upon departure and treated with the same caution as all liquid carryon items.<br> bzm.<br>
APO realises the mountain GW faces in the mile;tight track,short run to the first turn etc.The Classic plausibly allows him to ditch Kinane,possibly run another whom GW can sit on the quarters of in the clean air.But left handed for the first time in the Breeders for someone who leaves no stone unturned?That boulder presents a greater problem to face than any amount of kickback.<br>
<br> Intruigingly Moore rides the Macevoy horse Bulwark today for the dreadful Amanda Perret.I suspect that Godolphin committments at nomination stage were the likely explanation,but it allows the opportunity to compare reactive vigour with pro active finesse.<br> Whether KM jumps ship and takes a Stoute retainer is more problematic.I’m sure hell bank more than this year’s champion jockey, once you factor in his subsidy from Godolphin.That aside,Stoute’s stable rider has vastly more opportunities to show off his skills at the big table and attract the interest of third parties such as Fabre,for whom he has ridden only the bad going Gravitas.<br> Ultimately his destination would look to be Ballydoyle but to get there he needs to more in focus for APO to make one of his better jockey related descions.
bzm
<br> Pacemakers are the bane of european racing and should be frowned upon as they are in both Australia and North America,to name but two examples.It negates the value of tactical speed,that which is required to obtain a forward position in running,and so disqualifies the chances of a whole group of runners.Mark Johnson for one would benefit greatly by the outlawing of pacemakers as he can prouduce adaptable,hard hitting,front runners who find plenty when challenged.A quality stable jockey to go with it would be a bonus.<br> American horses are confronted with a training regime that requires them to work alone ,amid much more bustle,and to think for themselves.Europeans are, comparatively speaking, mentally soft working as they do by playing follow the leader.Hell,George Washington takes half the shedrow with him on raceday.That is why there lies great danger in judging former European form for ex pat horses in the US on an equivalent basis.If there is a stakes race in the US that pays at least the cost of entry down to sixth place it gaurentees 7 runners,all trying to gain the best possible placing and everyhorse for him/herself.As it should be.
bzm.
Churchill is a short run to the first turn,two turn mile.Kinane is now beyond his best,lacking in both reflex and strength,confining his options to following events rather than being proactive during a race.George won’t have a coterie to sheperd him down to the start as the field is there on merit.There will be no saloon passage on the inside.He is ridden on the rail so as to have something to guide him.Then there is the draw ,either high or low which,with the scramble into to the first bend ,will cause plenty of backwash. <br> Most telling of all never ever been,let alone won left handed.Negligent of O’brien and a compounding of past errors in the U.S.<br> Even if he does loop the field you know his going have the stick applied, and duck the issue.Its not an issue of ability but the translation of it on the day.We are all assuming the Turf is the event chosen for him whereas the Classic might allow more scope to influence events to his benefit.No crying in your beer excuses need be trotted out afterward,2nd is 2nd.<br> I’ll be waiting late,when the hysteria goes off the needle before laying George Washington in the Breeder’s Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in front of a packed 80000+ crowd.It will be first time Salix,a big trip a long way from home and close quarters in the urban confines that is Louiseville.<br> bzm.
The failure of nerve on behalf of Ouija Board’s connections makes me wonder if its due to financial shortcomings?<br>Fallon cannot rate a horse in front.Due to the length of his irons he must rely on upperbody strength to hold a horse.Horses NEVER travel sweetly for him in the way they do for Dettori (or Richard Hughes for that matter)as they do ride much shorter and as a consequence place their weight above the horse’s shoulder rather than behind.To KF’s eternal credit he recognizes this and adjusts to suit;i.e.always tries to embed himself in the field.<br> A simple question.Where was H.R. in running at Saint Cloud?<br> A simple statement.I know that the percentage run is the Nassau for the mare, but why punish her for your own mistake of jockey selection at Sandown?
regards bzm
