Forum Replies Created
- Posts
Again i’d now be more concerned about her showing up… I can imagine the Aga Khan’s face if Zarkava beat Montmartre into second… Not so good for the stud value.. But then as a homebreeder would he care?
Me too as the word is she may run but only if the ground is not soft which hardly indicates the arc is her prime target.
The Aga Khan Studs consist of a stud farm in Ireland and 3 in France which includes stallions and broodmares.
Strictly on a recent form line with Raven’s Pass it would be Tamayuz but imo Henry would beat anything over a mile. Tamayuz isn’t in the Sussex but perhaps they may clash in the autumn in the QE2 or the Prix Moulin or even the Breeders Cup Mile.
Sorry for labouring the point but they went a decent pace in the Prince of Wales right from the start and Duke of Marmalade finished very strongly. Visually on that evidence I dont see any problems for him at 12f.
The time was 1/2 second inside standard but on that ground you would be amazed if it wasn’t. He did finish strongly and over 10f looks to be the best around but he is unproven over 12f and on breeding there is a doubt about him getting it. They don’t normally hang around in this race so he won’t imo get the chance to steal it off a slow pace especially as the others will want to ensure it is a test of stamina . All in all at 8/11 he may be Barry’s Bismark.
Whats the feeling about Zarkava getting the Arc trip? Looks a bit speedily bred to me and just being able to scrape hom over 12f is not quite enough for a race like the arc
If Montmatre is easily spooked, that does worry me. Is that the only sign of temperament hes shown?
Not a race i like to go ante post on simply because the going can be so very variable at that time of year. But Youmzain at 10’s ????
Her sire doesn’t inspire confidence in her getting 12f but she does have stamina on her dam’s side who is by Kahyasi. On a form line through Gagnoa she is a length superior to Moonstone so on that her form is not that outstanding and she has never raced against colts or beyond 10f.
As for Montmartre the stable believe he was spooked by the fanfare at Chantilly but he has not shown this in his other 4 outings all at Longchamps. There must be some concern however that on Arc day he will encounter a similar fanfare.
I wouldn’t go ante-post on this race either but if I had to Youmzain looks good ew value and will shorten if he wins the King George which he will need to to really put himself in the picture.
Prix du Jockey-Club form gains a significant boost.
I agree Montmartre is now a live contender but as he obviously didn’t show his true form in the Prix du Jockey-Club and none of the first 5 home have been seen out since it is a bit early to say that.
Certainly looks a straight fight between Youmzain and DOM. I don’t think the going will be the deciding factor as both have won on various ground but there must be some doubt about DOM getting the trip unlike Youmzain who if given a good ride could be the one to end AOB’s run of Group 1 successes in middle distance races.
Very classy performance but I think the RP are a bit ott in calling him the best 3yo colt seen in action this term. Ok the bare form with Dr Freemantle makes him half a length superior to New Approach but being 2nd in two guineas and winning the Derby has to make NA the owner of that particular accolade. The best priced odds of 9-2 for him look a tad skinny compared to 8-1 about NA and 6-1 about Zarkava.
The trainer says Montmartre heads for the Prx Niel and then the Arc, he seems to being saying Zarkova may run but not if the ground is soft while he believes Montmartre will handle any ground. He is quoted as saying "It is very difficult to compare them because they never gallop together but they have both galloped with Sageburg over a mile and with the same weight. They both finished in the same position."
I haven’t seen the race but on the face of it you would think Curlin would have needed to have beaten Red Rocks to justify a tilt at the Arc.
Isn’t this in the wrong section now?
Mark
Yes and no as it hasn’t been moved to the big race discussion thread.
Anyway the field has cut up with Happy Boy, Shahin, Gulf Express and Galactic Star now non-runners and Halicarnassus doubtful. Papal Bull if he behaves himself and handles the ground ought to win but he has lost his pace maker and I think Anna Palova may be a safer bet as long as the race hasn’t come too soon for her.
Overall race time is not a reliable indicator of merit. Not in Britain, at least.
Particularly true as the tracks are so varied and the going.
Calling Godolfin a British yard is rather "Imperial" is it not?
Why? If you follow that logic Luca Cumani’s yard isn’t English and John Hammon’s yard isn’t French and Michael Dickinson’s isn’t American.
You are not getting the picture. Godolfin are sponsoring the Irish Derby Why do you think? It is my opinion that they want to undermine the Epsom Derby in this way to draw attention to their own festival which Godolfin want to be the premier meeting overtaking the Breeders Cup.That is why Bolger wanted to win the Irish Derby. That is now their flagship race.What you think of that?
If it was a case of running in one or the other of these races then what you say could have some truth in it but the races are run far enough apart for a horse to run in both, as many do. If anything the increased status and popularity of the Irish Derby hurts the Eclipse. As for Godolfin tbh I think they are desperate to win the Derby and indeed any GR1 race at the mo.
An interesting idea as at the moment the only immediate assessment is the time of the race though of course the ground can play a big part plus the race may have been a tactical affair. Just a thought but computer calculation of a rating could let the the tv broadcasters do this without any recourse to the BHA, after all the RP do it.
Stouty and Bolger must now admit that the derby run did nothing good for their horses !
Yep Bolger must be gutted to have won a Derby and Sheik Mohammed must be ruing the stud fee!
As for Stouty I think he believes AV did nothing good for TB.
TB did meet interference but personally I would reserve judgment that the interference cost him the race until he rematches with AV.
I don’t believe the interference did cost him the race just that it cost him 3rd place imo.
