Lesson learnt today, backed Tiggy Wiggy in a double with Taghrooda and Bragging in a double with Taghrooda thinking I was stealing a few extra points
Correction, she was favourite for the Oaks, prior to withdrawal. I think I picked her for the 1000 Gns but something went wrong.
We've all been there City, but that's racing for you. I always flinch when I hear on the TV of someone betting (say) 10k to win 1k on an absolute certainty. The only certainty is that whatever the price there is an element of random bad luck whick may, or may not come your way. Loose tack, spread plate, broken reins, knocked over by another horse ... all these things can and do happen on a regular basis. And not just to the bad horses! On the plus side, you had one of the highest totals in the comp
I'm staggered people think the King George is stronger than the Juddmonte form after the last two days! Did you watch yesterday's race with your eyes closed?! Well done on Tiggy Wiggy stick and anyone else on. The Anthem was always up against it today with the penalty I guess but she wouldn't have beaten the winner anyway, but would a been second. Tiggy certainly looks a real speedball, Wesley Ward comparison made above looks bang on to me. Tomorrow's York card looks distinctly mediocre and with the forecast rain it's hard to be confident on Europe's best sprinter the mighty Sole Power.
Whilst Taghrooda is a resolute galloper she looked vulnerable from about 2 out today - you could tell Ryan Moore was always going to get there on Tapestry. Clever timing as he gave Taghrooda little chance to react, and she just sort of stayed on at the same pace. Tapestry very impressive - showed real acceleration. 2 very good fillies indeed, I just wonder whether Hanagan might ride Taghrooda more aggressively next time - I agree with the comment about him perhaps being a little over-confident today. If he had got after Taghrooda earlier we might have seen a different result. Edit: Perhaps Taghrooda likes a target to aim at to show her best?
Oddy it's pretty obvious the King George form is weak enough looking now. In his Betfair column Ryan Moore described Telescope in the race as 'going up and down in the one spot for the last furlong and a half'. The 3rd horse home Mukhadram is ONE from EIGHT at Grade 1 level (and even that was in the weirdest race of all time)! We saw yesterday how easily both were brushed aside in the Juddmonte. No-one can realistically expect Taghrooda to have matched strides with Kingman and Night of Thunder over a mile the way Australia did. I had a feeling York may show the difference between them and it did.
Tapestry wouldnt have got near Taghrooda at Ascot, would have been staying on with Eagle Top for 4rth. Arod 1 3/4 behind Mukhadram in the Juddmonte but people want to rate him on his King George form Lets not forget Arod was 3 1/2 behind Romsdal in the Derby and you seen where he finished in the King George. The King George was the real race and its shown because its taken its toll on the first 3 who have all run flat next time, its no coincidence. Eagle Top is probably a better horse than The Grey Gatsby, so the fact he has finished an easy second in the Juddmonte tells you everything about the strength of the race, he would have beaten 15 lengths in the KG.
Christ Jim Best had that one ready ......................... 99 for AP and riding Chalk It Down for Jonjo and JP in the next .............................
Dont remember much comparing of the two, I know I didnt compare them anyway, never thought Taghrooda was an Arc filly, didnt think she would win the King George. I know she is a better filly than Tapestry though. Think people wanted to see them race each other for the spectacle, not to settle a debate on who was better because I dont remember that debate. But some people are bound by allegiance to a country which effects their judgements and reactions. Luckily for me im Scottish so dont have that problem.
Was surprised at that to be honest, I was fully expecting to hear "no excuses, beat by the better jockey who rode the better tactical race".
There is the possibility that York has come quite quickly for those King George horses - I would be cautious about rubbishing the race. Only 24 days between the Ascot race and the Juddmonte. Tapestry had a week longer break and Australia considerably longer. As always, time will tell, but I'd never had Telescope and Mukhadram as true middle-distance Group 1 horses, whereas Australia, Taghrooda and Tapestry clearly are.
Thank god for Princess Pearlita. Terrific ride. Really worked hard. BANG BANG Padres. Lysino ran well but I thought the withdrawal was going to hurt me and it did. A word of warning for Newland backers at the moment. I don't think the yard are fully firing and it will be worth just watching his charges for a little while.
Boris Let's not get personal here Boris, so don't bring nationality into it. Play nice I didn't refer to you either but there were comparisons made yes. 'The best 3 year old in training' was one at the start of the thread. I guess that must make Tapestry pretty special! I'm pissed I didn't back her today, had her in the Irish Oaks when her saddle slipped and was beaten a nose I suspect Tapestry would win the Leger but you'll probavly insinuate that's just because I'm from Ireland and not because she beat the King George winner today I'll agree to disagree with you but that King George was very average! Taghrooda beat Grade 2 horses in albeit impressive fashion. She'd have been cantered over in the Juddmonte yesterday and you're on the windup to suggest differently! Peace bro
This doesn't happen often but I agree with Boris, Taghrooda should have won and looked like the winner, no way Moore would have lost that if he'd been aboard her
I think she didn't quite stay the trip when it came to a battle but also agree that Ryan Moore would probably have ridden her in a slightly, and i DO MEAN SLIGHTLY, different way which would probably have ended up in a win. It's very mean spirited to criticise anyone in that race today imho. All 4 main protagonists i.e. 2 the horses and 2 jockeys, all worked their arses off and it ended up being a great race. One that was far more exciting than i expected to watch.
I fancy Silver Chief at 11/4 in the 6.40 at Killarney. Elsie, to me, has had enough of the game. The joint fav, Royal Flight, is no great shakes and Barry rides my selection so I'm backing the jockey to do the job.
Sound Im not saying the King George was a great race, far from it, we know Telescope and Mukhadram are nothing special, but I do think it was the stronger, tougher race. I think Taghrooda looked a bit off today, yet still could have won and probably would have if anyone else was on Tapestry and I think those two older horses were not at their best in the Juddmonte yesterday, the form lines suggest as much. I agree with Moore that Telescope was a bit below the Hardwicke in the KG, but the higher level gallop and the rain would have played its part in that and after two huge runs at 1m4 round Ascot, dropping back to 10f in Juddmonte its hardly surprising he was well below that level. I was going to post yesterday that I would be disappointed if The Grey Gatsby was within 5 lengths of the winner but seen Bob had gave it a good mention and didnt want to come across as knocking the horse because of that. I was very surprised he finished a clear second and for me that confirms to me the race collapsed, hes no mug and he does enjoy York but I just dont rate him very highly. Those are just my opinions though so we will need to disagree. Australia is a machine, I am not disputing that for a second, I have always stuck up for him and I never go on about Obrien saying "this is the best ive trained" like some of those with the burden of English nationality do! I said after the Guineas that I think he was right. And I doubt anyone would argue that Taghrooda is better than him, now at least anyway. For me I didnt learn anything from the two races but Australia is the superior horse.
