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Game of opinions, yes.
My point was aiming to be more factual about how unusual the criteria we set out is when compared to othet sports.
There is no right or wrong there.
SHL
He didnt have to go to turf no more than frankel had to go to dirt. But the criteria used to assess greatness by some of you would be considerd absurd in almost every other sport.
Conflating peak ability under ideal conditions on a measly few runs vs achievement is just looking for a rating number. And what other sport would confer hero status to a flash in the pan?
I wouold have retired him also. 100% the right financial call. Maybe he’ll be a great stallion.
SHL
Great ability vs great achievement is what im seeing.
The one thing we can probably agree on is that he could have transcended the sport.
Horseracing industry will eat itself in time as the future rich kids will buy football teams instead.
I wouldnt be surprised if one day i find myself looking back at this era with a mixture of sadness and disdain
SHL
And just another point,
the next truly great US dirt horse wont be compared to Flightline, he will again be compared to Secretariat. In the same way that Flightline should really be compared with Ghostzapper first, a horse he shares similarities with.
SHL
In human sport, we obviously look for consistency and longevity so why not with our equine heros?
.
If Tiger Woods was imperious for two years, we wouldn’t say the same things about him as we do now. Likewise Federer was no better a player at the end of his career than he was at the start. If he had retired after 10 grand slams, would we hold him where we do now?Baeed probably dented his reputation in the very last race because we saw for all his talent, his limitation. Too many horses, like boxers try very hard to stay away from that line for fear of doing themselves financial damage.
SHL
Surely he can be only compared to other dirt greats?? I imagine Frankel would struggle on dirt and vice verse here. Feels like a different sport.
Also the English horses greatest achievement wasn’t that Ascot race with all things in his favour. It was that last race where all conditions were in his opponents favour. Thats what we should look for in the great champions imo.
SHL
I knew nothing about him before last night.
Just at the point when he could go and helped the sport, he retires. Horseracing is just going to be a sport played and watched only by a few very rich individuals. Im sure he had amazing ability but he is no great to me.
SHL
I agree that he can say whatever he wants..but if he is only saying something like that because he feels he shouldnt make a fuss, he is not doing anyone a favour. In fairness, it is not his job to meet out punishment.
I was never a jockey. Does what Soumi did count as just bad race riding??
JC
SHL
I seem to recall it happening to Stephen Craine ( or some irish jockey of that era while riding a race in India I think….long time ago and the details are sketchy in my mind.
This needs to be a clear ban here. Surely a year is appropriate.
SHL
If it were a good ground arc, id run him.
Its the old issue. Avoiding the greater challenge to maintain the unbeaten record/stud value.
Its understandable but one of the more unsavory aspects of the sport. Happens in boxing also.
SHL
Strad got there and got run out of it. He might have been better coming later but I get the feeling the winner will always have his number under any scenario.
The winner is a bit of star and and going the right way. I thought todays race was a rare example of most protagonists running their race and a satisfactory result…unlike the King George fiasco for example.
Its a pity we never got to see more of Mark Johnsons horse (names escapes me) who have been fascinating rival for Trueshan on soft.
SHL
The magic 8 ball keeps giving me a different answer. Favourite deserves to be short enough though.
SHL
Its one of those things that the punters will be watching though. Not sure why he was so bad yesterday compared to the curragh??
SHL
Jocking off Westovers jockey was ridiculous anyhow. Dont blame Colin Keane for that though. He essentially bolted. Not sure id take him on next time but id want see the prelims first.
If i were to be critical of anyone though, it might be Ryan Moore.
SHL
