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For me – Lambourn didn’t look good in the paddock and the ground was also faster than most were saying. Time beat standard, so that surface wasn’t for Lambourn and not against Scandanavia at all. Yes, both Derbys weren’t up to standard; but the form shown to win them was better than Lambourn produced today. So it is a shame we didn’t get that duel. However, with Rahiebb and Stay True running well, it was still a good quality race.
Value Is EverythingAlthough the Eclipse on good-firm ground is currently Delacroix’s best performance, I can’t believe he isn’t equally effective on good-soft if not softer. Given both his previous form and – just as importantly – his roundish action. There were more likely reasons for his poor showing at Epsom.
Value Is Everything‘Lambourn just does enough”
This is one racing term which really gets on my nerves.
“For a horse to only “just do enough”, it has to understand the concept of a race: it has to realise that it is there, on that day, at that time, to finish in front of the other horses at some point which it doesn’t understand.
That means it has to know both the distance of the race and where the finishing post lies.
Now, there may be an argument that a front-runner does not want to let another horse get past it, which I accept. But a horse coming from behind cannot possibly understand at what point it needs to be in front of the other horses.
Looking at it logically, a horse cannot possibly know where a race ends. Therefore, the entire concept of “only just does enough” is preposterous”.
—————————————————–Sorry to “get on your nerves” Glad, but “just does enough” is imo sometimes a worthy description.
Yes, “front runners often don’t want to let another horse past”.
But also, horses are instinctively pack animals. In the wild some are leaders, some like to be in the middle of the pack and some on the outer edge. Racehorses have similar traits and connections make use of a racehorse’s individual traits in how they are both raced and trained.Some hold up horses will idle once in front.
…And even some that don’t “idle” enough to make them in danger of losing – they still won’t want to go too far away from the pack / rivals.
So although no horse “knows where a race ends”, some don’t want to go too far clear and therefore the term “just does enough” could be a fair one. That said, although it is imo an overused saying…
…Might be more relevant with Aidan’s horses. As, although he has had (by far) more “top class” horses than anyone else, they seldom win by very far… Which contributes to the fact AOB has not (by ratings) had any “great racehorses”. ie Maybe one or two have had the ability to be great horses but have not been able to show it on the racecourse because of their traits… AND the way they’ve been trained.
Not sure it applies to Lambourn, but maybe after the Epsom experience he no longer wants to go clear.
Value Is EverythingYou’ve got the Derby winner and Group 1 Goodwood Cup winner running in the Leger… And the Group 2 Queens Vase 1 – 2 – 3.
What more do you want?Not much on form between the big two. Scandanavia seems to be the “improver”, having put up a good performance against his elders at Goodwood. However, although Lambourn isn’t a great Derby winner – to my mind he’s been crying out for this trip – could yet improve… And the going might be in his favour more than Scandanavia if there’s more rain. I’ve heard some good paddock judges believe Lambourn needed the Voltigeur run and beaten only 3 lengths trying to give the 5 lbs Group 1 pen’, anyway. Wasn’t as bad a run as some made out.
Stay True finished in front of Lambourn at York and lightly raced enough to suggest has more improvement in him. But although I can see him “staying”, judged by his temperament / way of racing – he’s imo less likely to improve for the step up in trip than his stable companions. If winning today I won’t be pleased, after the ride he was given with my money on him at Lingfield! Possible might be sacrificed as pacemaker today, but then again Barza’ would be a strange jockey booking if that were True. Maybe Lambourn will go to the front.
The Voltigeur second Carmers may need to prove his ability to act on a softer surface too. But if acting on it, the added stamina test should suit. Needed the whole mile and a half to get the runner-up spot at York and may yet improve back over further. Especially with his trainer being in good form. That said, Lambourn and Scandanavia seem more likely to be capable of proper Group 1 winning form…
I have done one at a massive price. Rahiebb. Wasn’t far behind Carmers in the Queens Vase despite racing wide. Didn’t act at Goodwood last time… And most importantly – Varian is in magnificent form – so it’s possible the horse could make significant progression today. 31/1 too big to ignore yesterday.
I’ve backed Lambourn and Rahiebb with a saver on Carmers.
Value Is Everythingimo Fallen Angel combined with January have quite a bit better chance of winning than the field… And you can get odds against one of the two winning. I’ve backed Fallen Angel with a saver on January.
Also want to be against Cercene, her Ascot victory was when the Joseph Murphy stable were in magnificent form. Nowhere near that now.Value Is EverythingAnmaat maybe an older horse and there will obviously come a time when he’s on the downgrade, however there’s been no evidence of that yet. Proved effective on any going, when second to Ombudsman last time out – as good as his Champion victory… Also lightly raced for an older horse and lightly raced older horses tend to keep their form for longer. Ascot will be his number 1 target but I expect him to run his race.
Delacroix should imo have been closer to Ombudsman at York – given too much to do. Ombudsman below his best when chasing home Delacroix at Sandown (probably due to only 17 days break from a hard race at Ascot). On Ombudsman form there isn’t much between Delacroix and Anmaat. The Irish horse has home advantage this time and the way he’s got a bit over himself in the prelims – might do better or be more consistent at home. That said, although O’Brien isn’t in “bad form”, is currently in less good form than he usually is… Which might be one reason for both Delacroix and Scandanavia drifting this morning. Whereas Burrows is in pretty good form. I’d have Delacroix as only a fractional favourite.
White Birch’s best form is imo better than these, although he is less consistent. Hasn’t run for a while but often runs well fresh. Important things for him are ground and pace. Needs Good or softer and held up and probably best in a truly run race. May well have beaten Los Angeles with a clear run through. Deserves to be closer to his two main rivals. I’ve been waiting some time for White Birch to have a race that might suit. Just hope Coolmore don’t play silly buggers with the pace.
White Birch main bet, saver on Delacroix.
Value Is EverythingKind Of Blue and Flora Of Bermuda may have been favoured by the draw today, but both probably came from further back than ideal. Both have run well in the Champion Sprint before and both may well be better suited by softer ground and a stiffer track.
Value Is Everything“Sorry – that has to be one of the worst Group One races ever run. A progressive handicapper has won it, with the second and third both solid but not top-class.
This elevation of races to Group One status just for the sake it does nothing in terms of quality”.
———-I think you’re being a bit OTT Glad.
Never So Brave is a very progressive Group 2 winner, hardly a surprise he won a Group 1 next time out. At Goodwood he had Haatem 1 1/2 lengths back in third. The second that day might appear to hold the form down, but that one had been allowed a very soft lead (Qirot-like).
Second Lake Forest had won one of Australia’s most important races – The Golden Eagle – from the subsequent Jubilee winner Lazzat. Lake Forest was runner-up in the Commonwealth Cup and had won the Gimcrack at two here. Had excuses all starts this term. Wrong trip, wrong pace, got upset etc.
Third Maranoa Charlie had been beaten by less in the Group 1 Jean Prat, with The Lion In Winter and Shadow Of Light in behind.
Fourth and fifth Rossalion and Qirat fought out the Sussex. That pair were below form here, but at least they ran.
For sure it isn’t an above average Group 1. But it’s not imo an awful one either.
Value Is EverythingKingscote’s comment certainly suggests the authorities should have another look at the Lingfield Derby Trial, Kasparov. Coolmore second string Stay True given an easy time by Kingscote when first string Puppet Master challenged.
Value Is EverythingAs for people wanting an inquiry into the race:
Rosallion, Henri, Field and Docklands could all be described as “best (and / or had got used to being) held up”. Therefore you can understand why all the other jockeys wanted another horse to go for home first – to bridge the gap. The ex-American / Aussie horse the only non-pacemaker who’s fully effective racing prominently, but he is also effective held up. Bit free early so probably would’ve been too keen if racing in a clear third. Connections probably thought their best chance of winning was if the principles went too fast too soon and Carl Sparkler picks up the pieces. So can also understand his rider not racing in third.So tbh, everyone can see the pace and types of horses involved I think it is obvious why it happened and no point of inquiring.
Value Is EverythingDid I hear Kingscote right (on ITV)?
Think he said “When I saw the other horse wasn’t a grey I kept him going”.Remember Kingscote’s ride in the Lingfield Derby Trial.
Value Is EverythingWhatever you may feel about “team tactics” in today’s King George. Although it was always imo very probable, we now know Jan B’ needs a greater test of stamina to be effective at 1m4f than he got in a less than truly run 1m4f on good-firm… However, surely we already KNEW Continuous needs a strongly run race to be effective at 1m4f?
So the question is once more:
Did Wayne Lordon do all he could to maximise his own (admittedly limited) chance of winning?If not then he clearly (again) broke the rules of Racing.
Value Is Everythingtbh I don’t think Coolmore deliberately tried to stop Rebels Romance from winning – as such. But they were again playing silly buggers. Coolmore often try to surprise their rivals in Group 1’s – often over-thinking things. In last year’s International they employed similar tactics with what people thought was their pacemaker Hans Anderson leaving City Of Troy to lead. Paid off at York, with several rival riders believing being held up was the place to be. Calandagan that time the only hold up horse making any noticeable progress from rear. Doing very well to reach a challenging position and imo coming out of the race with as equal merit as the winner.
However, Jan Brughuel is no City Of Troy. I wasn’t surprised Moore led, but I agree not going a strong pace pretty much set it up for all his rivals. Question mark whether Jan needs softer ground or at least a greater test of stamina to be fully effective at 1m4f. So imo to go that pace was stupid and got what it deserved.
I’ve criticised Continuous / Lordon in the past for being a non-trier, and again a horse who needs a strongly run 1m4f race to be effective at the trip was not asked to set a fast enough pace for his own (admittedly limited) chance. But when they turned for home Wayne Lordon on Continuous left a gap for Buick to come through. It was actually Moore who closed it when his horse “hung”.
Nice to see Coolmore’s tactics backfire.
Value Is EverythingI have had a diagnosis for my health problems
Good news is it is not arthritis!It’s “Shoulder Impingement”
Possible symptoms of shoulder impingement are:
Pain located over the lateral acromion, frequently with radiation to the lateral mid-humerus.
Pain upon lifting the arm, trying to put a hand behind your back.
Night-time pain prevents you from sleeping or laying on the affected side.
Weakness and stiffness often result secondary to the pain.
Gradual or insidious onset, typically developing over weeks to months.
Pain alleviated by rest but returns with activities overhead.I’ve got most of the above.
Apparently it doesn’t usually take long to recover but in my case it probably won’t be quick, “because I was a long time seeking help”. First year it appeared in Winter and disappeared in Spring, so thought I was cured. Second year appeared in Autumn and went in Spring. This time appeared in Autumn, got worse in Winter and hasn’t disappeared… And probably been coming a long way before that, as before this I’ve been very supple. I could put my right hand over my shoulder to meet and grip my left hand behind my back. That’s gradually got worse over the last 12 years – since giving up “work”.
The lower back problem is apparently not particularly “related”, although could well be because I’ve switched to a different position which has put more pressure on that area too.
Anyway, I’ve been told the Shoulder Impingement has probably been caused by too much time sitting down (especially sat down in a soft chair). ie Too much time watching Racing, studying form, betting and being on this bloody computer.Unfortunately I’ll have to close this thread for a while. Months if not more.
Value Is Everything
