Whats everyones thoughts on Battle of Marengo today? O'Brien said...."The three owners will decide where he goes next. It's going to be an interesting Dante now (at York on Thursday)."....what does that mean? Surely Battle of Marengo now goes straight to the Derby? Hardly impressive today though
I said after his first win this year that he looked one paced and more of a Leger horse (which isnt a compliment) though it was on soft ground, so that effort could be excused. Today he didnt look that impressive either, on better ground. Loch Garman wasnt that far clear of the 3rd and 4th, who are both hounds, so i dont fancy the forms very strong. Even without DA id struggle to give BOM a chance, and would far rather side with Ruler of the World if i had to pick an AOB horse that has stood out
He looked like a real idler, his ears were flicking throughout the race. Maybe he just finds nothing in front, or just does enough, like Sea The Stars? Just because a horse does not win by half the track a la Frankel does not make him a hopeless case. Having said that, he probably is simply slow!
I agree with you Daremmi I think he just does what he has to do and keeps a bit for himself, albeit he doesn't look speedy i'm sure Aidan knows he still has work to do with him to get him fully wound up for the Derby if that was thr plan all along.
mars and kingsbarns if the later shows up wll be joeys mount with Moore on ruler of the world and frankie on Indian chief
Mars has got more chance of reaching his namesake than winning the Derby. He kept on in the Guineas but was outclassed. Kingsbarns is not fit enough by all accounts and judging by his price. BOM is too slow. Rule The World definitely the most impressive Ballydoyle horse so far but Indian Chief ia a definite contender if hw can be bang there in the Dante. Telescope all of a sudden looks very interesting having not run but I am uncomfortable about taking 6/1 at best before he has even run as a 3 Y O. However, if he wins the Dante he is 3/1 at best. More likely 5/2.
Sea The Stars didnt idle infront, that was just how good he was. He was ultra consistant, but he wasn't miles clear of his opposition, he was just consistantly a few pounds clear of a bunch of 125-130 horse's like Rip Van Winkle, Mastercraftsmen and Fame and Glory. The fact the handicapper gave Rip Van Winkle a rating of 133 and Fame And Glory a rating of 132 are 2 of the most laughable set of ratings I've ever seen, not to mention Sea The Stars being rated 140. Another joke of a rating! According to the handicapper Rip Van Winkle was a better horse than New Approach, and Fame and Glory was New Approach's equal. Laughable beyond question, and just so they could bump Sea The Stars rating up, purely for sentimental purposes! Any handicapper who was judging Sea The Stars on merit would have Sea The Stars around 132, with Fame and Glory around 127 and Rip Van Winkle around 125. It happens over both codes though, Kauto Star's sentimental rating of 193 is another laughable rating. He was at most a 182 horse, and that's me being generous
I thought BOM was decent enough today to have a chance in an average Derby. The problem I see is that Aiden has Mars, BOM, Ruler of the World, Magician, Nevis, (I know, no chance) and the injured Kingsbarns. All of them are good horses but will he realistically run all of them if he has a standout animal in the yard and if Kingsbarns was that animal I doubt he has two that are better than every other horse in every other stable.
AOB often judges his horses ability wrong, i remember Dylan Thomas being his 3rd string in the Derby and he went on to win the Irish Derby, and then the King George and The Arc the following season. Im sure Treasure Beach was the 3rd string behind Seville and Recital aswell. Im sure even High Chapparel was a 2nd string to Hawkwing. So i wouldnt get to carried away with the opinion of AOB
I never actually said Sea The Stars was an idler, but I agree that semantically that impression might have been given by my statement. I said that STS did not find much in front/just did enough.
