Well Khayzaraan started this season the way she did last year. That was terrible and another small bubble burst there. Still, I was delighted with Tropbeau and she must be short for the Guineas now. She put to bed any doubt about getting a mile today and she kept on really well. She had a ton in hand of Khayzaraan on form so far and it's a pity Victor Ludorum did not read the script. ps Generally 6/4 Tropbeau for the French 1000 Guineas and Khayzaraan is out to 16/1 (Man the lifeboats)
The winner nicked it from the front. Great ride from the winning jockey. Helter smelter was beaten at the off. I agree you are never gonna make up ground from the back in bottom less ground.
Perhaps she didn't like the ground or just had an off day. Would you give her any chance in the guineas? I get the feeling she is a bit special but just didn't show it today..
Longchamp 12.25pm Khayzaraan 7/4 win (Taking on the favourite with this one who could be special. She looked impressive in her last run of last season). Longchamp 1.05pm Simona 12/1 each way (Not sure if good enough but won last two and will like the ground) Let down by Khayzaraan but Simona nice each way at 12s as went off 7s.
Not bad for me. A winner and two seconds, pity Ecrivain didn't get going earlier. Alzire for this one
I don't think they will bother running her based on today's showing. It's a short enough time to the Guineas (1st June) and there was little encouragement today. The ground could have found her out today if it was actually very soft. She is by Kingman and Gosden was always concerned about him running on soft and once even thought is was too fast for him but the colt seemed to win on every type of going apart from plain old Good ground I thought Tickle Me Green ran a massive race today given that she has just joined Andre Fabre. She was trained in Germany and only failed by a short head to win a Group 3 on debut at Baden-Baden. Not so good next time in the same grade, she was much better today and has joined a master. I felt that the two fillies behind Tropbeau today had form on soft and the winner may be the one to prefer better ground in the future. I am not sure how soft it was today as the winning time was only slow by 3.38 seconds and I would not say that relates to very testing ground.
Interested for some feedback on this comment Grendel. Are you saying that you dont mind a horse not dropping the bit so as long as that is what the horse usually does? I have always looked upon it as a waste of energy and reserves. Something trainers try to train out of a horse. I would also think that on seasonal debut and testing ground the factor is many times worse. Interested to hear all views.
Not a good day for Rouget with Sottsass also going down the pan. Yet again held up tactics from Demuro but the horse was in a position to strike but just didn't quite pick up. A decent enough start to the season and I am sure Sottsass will be straighter next time out.
I watched Victor Ludorum last season and felt that it was just part of his make-up. He seemed a keen going sort who took a bit of time to find top gear when asked but finished his races off strongly once he got going. I would say the winner stole the race to some extent today and Victor Ludorum would have had to have been a top notcher to catch him. In the end I think the Fav got tired and perhaps he wasn't 100% today but maybe he just hasn't made the expected progress over the winter. Hand on heart I could not put today's defeat down to keenness. When horses pull ferociously hard and are fighting with the jockey it is almost always game over in a race. As you say it is wasting energy and draining the stamina. I would say a bit of keenness is nowhere like as serious a problem as downright fighting for their head. In such strong instances of pulling I always feel the jockey is compounding the problem by trying to fight with the horse. For one thing the horse is wasting energy whilst gaining no ground and the fact that the jockey is trying to assert his authority may make matters worse. On balance I would say let the horse go somewhere with the energy expended and hope that the will settle once he gets to the front. Dawn Approach pulled furiously in the Derby and the jockey kept the fighting match up for too long before letting the horse get to the front and his race was already run by that stage. I reckon a relaxed style is most efficient but some horses have a less than ideal temperaments, hence the need for equipment to combat the frailties. There is largely a resistance to apply aids to top class horses though, so it seems unlikely Victor Ludorum will wear a hood next time. Fabre has turned it around before in the Classics though. I recall thinking Miss France had zero chance in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after being only 6th in the Prix Imprudence but she defied my thinking when landing the Classic the following month. One thing is sure. With Victor Ludorum beaten and Earthlight crocked, Godolphin's stranglehold grip at the head of the colts standings looks a lot looser than it was. Hope that makes some sense.
Victor Ludorum never ran like that last year, Fabre said he was worried about him running like that but they had managed to keep him out the back and calm. He definitely ran with the choke out today with no cover and as Stick says, doing that on soft ground is even worse. Ran well enough considering but it was such a false race and for a G1 winner to finish tired off that crawling pace in a G3 shows that he was doing far too much, he wouldnt have placed in the Lagardere last year running like that and he has no chance in any classics if he repeats it.
Agree with this 100%, if the animal is wasting the energy at least use it in a productive manner and gain some lengths! Jockeys never seem to like the battle of wills though! The problem with headgear is that it often compounds the problem. I have seen trainers work horses daily in threes with the puller in the middle to train them to settle at home. With one of mine they thought they had it cracked and next time on the track he simply reverted to type. Comments on SSR today that it was a good day for O'Brien, that remains to be seen. Thanks for the opinion.
Sorry it was Barzalona quote I read, not fabre. “This one can really move (laughs). He’s a really interesting horse because of his character. He can be a bit tricky before and after the race, but nevertheless he knows what needs to be done. He doesn’t pull and has a gradual acceleration that always gives you a good feel. I have never been able to ride him like that, because of his temper before the race. I have never dared to ask him to follow a certain pace at the start of the race. Today, everything was in the cards for us, tracking Armory who was the best horse in the pack. There weren’t sure that he would like the ground, he had lots of gas, but he didn’t want to make his effort too soon and then fade in the last 100 meters. I gave only one crack of the whip because he still had a lot left in store.” Fabre described him as relaxed and easy to ride.... Didnt look it today
hi fellas! hope,youre well.. although, i am a bit cautious to back on courses,i dont know much about,like compiegne,i ll try my luck with the favourite here,LOU BUCKS.not sure,where i read it,but there have been some useful comments regarding this horse.is with a top yard,and should go well today.
