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How could Racing Post make such an assessment? Based on what?
Country Grammar was timed in 2:02 minutes for his performance in the 10F Pacific Classic, which was about 2 seconds faster than in the 10F Dubai World Cup. I appreciate the difference of surfaces, but 2 seconds represents about 12-15 lengths at standard conditions.
Moreover, for reference, on the day of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, about a couple of hours earlier at Saratoga, Olympiad’s winning time in the 10F Jockey Club Gold Cup was about 2:02 minutes which is on par for these horses over the distance…
In my view, Country Grammar progressed, not regressed…
The Woodward (G1) over 9F appears like a jog in a park for Life is Good who’s four runner opposition wouldn’t even make an alternate list in the heydays of this historic race. But, I take nothing for granted in a horse race. I wish that he wins, and wins well, thus enticing his connections to go for the BC Classic as opposed to opting for the Dirt Mile where many believe he will end up. Conversely, there are those that think his poor showing in the 10F Dubai World Cup was an aberration and not indicative of his true ability. I’m hopeful that is the case so we can see him against Flightline…
But I’m more interested in the 2-yo race, Champagne Stakes (G1) over 8F. It looks a very competitive renewal, and I’ll be looking to see how Verifying, a colt by Justify, does here. He only has had one start, a maiden win in August at Saratoga but it was a very good performance, visually…
“Will you be backing her, Turkoman, in her alternative lesser engagement?”
Nope.
But that’s not the issue, ID. Even if she did made the entry here I would not have supported her. My only argument is that, based on her record, the mare deserves to be in this race. From an international interest it make sense. Nothing more, nothing less….
BTW, I have not suggested or implied that this is a weak assembly of runners. In my view, it’s a strong, evenly matched field. All sorts of G1 winners including the defending champion…
“…enable won it twice? So unless she won it at 2, she must have won it at 4…”
Agreed, ham. She won it twice: in 2017 at the age of 3 and in 2018 at the age of 4. But not beyond 4+, which is my point…
As to the argument that some G1’s are weaker than others, I totally agree with that view. However, 9 wins in G1’s is always greater than 0 wins which a combined total of 5 runners!…
That Verry Elleegant did not make this field due inferior rating assigned to her by France Galop totally defies logic. Her credentials tower above most of these runners; she’s a nine-time G1 winner and 2021 Melbourne Cup winner. The next closest runner with most G1’s is Alpinista with five. In fact, five runners (25%) have zero G1 wins! But, according to France Galop the mare is not good enough to make this field.
On the contrary, from an international perspective, France Galop should have been thrilled to have her and giving Australians and New Zealanders something to cheer about.
Here are the runners and the number of G1 wins, listed in order from most to least:
Alpinista – 5
Torquater Tasso – 3
Do Deuce – 2
Luxembourg – 2
Mishriff – 2
Sealiway – 2
Titleholder – 2
Vadeni – 2
Alenquer – 1
Broome – 1
Grand Glory – 1
Mare Australis – 1
Mendocino – 1
Onesto – 1
Westover – 1
Al Hakeem – 0
Bubble Gift – 0
Deep Bond – 0
Mostahdaf – 0 (only a G3 winner)
Stay Foolish – 0– the twenty runners have a total of 27 G1 wins among them;
– eight of twenty have have 20;
– twelve of twenty only have a total of 7, two less than Verry Elleegant’s 9;One can spin France Galop’s reasoning any which way, but the mare is good enough to be in this race!
I don’t care how good a swimmer is Torguator Tasso, he’s not winning from draw 18; only one horse ever won from this number and it was Alleged in 1977. TT is no Alleged…
As to Alpinista, unfortunately, history is against her. No mare since 1937 (Corrida) has won this at the age of 4+. Even Treve and Eneble couldn’t do it…
Luxembourg needs quicker ground…
So, not much else in quality left to choose from but I’ll go with Mendocino (Adlerflug) who beat TT last time out in GP van Baden (G1). Last year TT used this race as springboard to win the Arc…
Good Luck all,
“It’s shades of Black Wednesday in 1992 for me, that’s the strongest parallel I can think of, but worse – far worse.”
ID, try 1976…
It appears that Nations Pride may not be running in the BC Turf this year. Instead, C. Appleby plans to run Rebel’s Romance who is running later this week in the Preis von Europa (G1) in Germany.
“…If he happens to win that, then it will be strongly considered about him being a Breeders’ Cup Turf horse,” Appleby told DRF. “Nations Pride being in the mix as well, but with Nations Pride we very much have our mind on next year with him hopefully doing what we tried to achieve with Yibir…”
I was really looking forward to seeing this colt in the BC…
For his victory in the Woodbine Mile, Modern Games was assigned the highest speed figure recorded this year by any turf runner in North America. He’s now listed as the favorite at 7-4 to win the BC Turf Mile. The next closest is Inspiral at 6-1, and she’s also JF with Nashwa at 7-2 to win the BC Fillies & Mares Turf…
Highfield Princess is now the fav at 2-1 for the BC Turf Sprint. Golden Pal is at 9-4…
Charlie Appleby cleans up at Woodbine for the second consecutive year! Although this year he didn’t have any runners in the Natalma Stakes (G1) for two-year-old fillies…
What’s interesting, is that Modern Games is the first 3-yo ever to win the Woodbine Mile…
Seems that Nations Pride is getting stronger every race, and is nicely progressing for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, just like Yibir did last year…
The two-year old colt looks promising, hope they run in the BC Juv Turf..
Nice pay day for both, Buick and Dettori, winning a couple million-dollar races…
BTW, in my view, the E.P. Taylor turf course is by far the best in North America. Woodbine would have had held a few more BC events if they didn’t switch to AW years ago.
Very interesting and thought provoking read, ID. Thanks for posting…
I once read that “if” is the “biggest” word in the English language. Certainly this article adds some credibility to this wisdom. To this extent, I firmly believe that if, “and only if”, AOB was the trainer of Baaeed not only would we have had seen him run in the Dewhurst, but also AOB would be running him in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and taking on Flightline…
There are historical precedents for my argument:
– In 2000 AOB had sent Giant’s Causeway to take on America’s best in the BC Classic at Churchill Downs, which to me, that iconic battle vs Tiznow is best race that I had ever seen, bar none! It was a stellar field, with Captain Steve winning the Dubai World Cup in 2001.
What “if” AOB was not his trainer? Look what the world would have missed (see link below)…– The following year, AOB sent Galileo to face Tiznow. Although, Galileo didn’t appear to be at his best nothing was lost…
– In 2008 AOB had sent not one, but two of his horses to the BC Classic: Henrythenavigator (2nd) and Duke of Marmalade.
Now, my question is this: did running the above mentioned horses in any way diminish the value at stud? I’m inclined to think not.
On the other hand, had any of them won the BC Classic their value at stud would have increased substantially. Hence, the rewards of winning the BC Cup on dirt are much greater than the risk of losing.
This why “IF” I was the owner of Baaeed, I would run him in the BC Classic against Flightline: he’s bread for it, being from the Mr. Prospector line top and bottom!
Think about the world-wide media attention such a match-up would generate? Such opportunities don’t come very often where you have two undefeated best horses on the planet. I can’t think of a better scenario to attract newcomers to the sport. Forget mickey-mouse celebrities and racing leagues as viable promotions of the sport over the long-term…
This opportunity could be momentous for the industry, and it doesn’t get any better!…
Ahhh, WHAT IF?????
John Rahm had some words about this issue, note link below…
A classless move by Sergio who disappeared following the 1st round, and guess where he ended up?
The irony of it all ? Sergio’s took a spot which instead could have had gone to a young Spaniard who was the first reserve…
https://sports.yahoo.com/exclusive-sergio-garcia-fined-bmw-133226531.html
FF, could the price reflect other factors under development?
A while back I’ve read somewhere that Golden Pal’s connections are considering trying him over dirt in an upcoming Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keenland in early October. It’s part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (dirt).
Seems to me that this move is somewhat strategic to enhance his value in the breeding shed. Obviously, he failed miserably over in Europe so not much to add to his value from that record.
However, having won already at high levels on turf and, if he were to succeed on dirt at the highest level, then this could be valuable for Coolmore et al…
Personally, I hope he does show up at the Turf Sprint to take on Highfield Princess because that would be some match-up…
From her trainer, John Quinn:
“Her next run will be the Breeders Cup, that’s the plan.”
Form Jason Hart:
“It would be nice to go and take on Golden Pal anyway (at the Breeders’ Cup) and see how we get on over there. She’s well on track to do it.
“She’s just spectacular, really.”
To me, she’s quick enough out from the start to get good position and not get bogged down in traffic then pounce in the stretch……
What was Minzaal’s actual “cause” of his injury? Was it due to the condition of the ground? Who can say with 100% certainty?
It would be very useful to look at empirical data that clearly shows injuries sustained by horses over the years by surface type. I’m yet to see one shroud of conclusive, scientific evidence that shows “firm” surface “causes” more injuries sustained by horses than any other types of surface, combined…
For as long as I can remember, the media has been blowing things out of proportion with discussion centering around types of racing surface in the context of safety: dirt vs turf vs synthetic; firm vs soft vs heavy; fast vs muddy ; etc. etc…..but no scientific evidence to back it up.
Trainers of Flightline, John Sadler, and Baaeed, William Haggas, were asked to compare the two and both were having none of it. Here are the excerpts of their responses:
John Sadler:
“No. That’s for the sports writers. They could figure that out…That’s a hard comparison,” Sadler said, because one’s running a mile-and-a-quarter on turf in Europe, and we’re running a mile-and-a-quarter on dirt.”
William Haggas:
“Dirt in America and turf in England are two completely different ballgames,” Haggas told Horse Racing Nation. “I think you should admire and appreciate Flightline, and I think and hope everyone in England and Europe admires and appreciates Baaeed for what he is. They’re terrific horses of their generation”.
“What (Flightline) did was destroy a good field,” Haggas said. “I think dirt racing is open to something like that, but he went sub two minutes, which is pretty impressive, and his last half-furlong was pulling up. You can’t be anything but hugely admiring of his performance.”
I’m still in awe of his performance, as you say ID he was eased down. I would have to go back to the days of Spectacular Bid to see a performance this good over 10F…
The second place Country Grammer demolished Life is Good in Dubai and yesterday Olympiad franked LIG by winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup…
I’m not much of a ratings or time figures person given that it’s only an opinion represented in a number, but based on some speculation in the media this morning, your figure of “148” could be close to what TimeformUSA could potentially assign. The highest figure in America is 142 assigned to Gun Runner…
BTW, what did Baaeed receive for winning the Juddmonte International?
