Some of you probably already know but i was just scaning through the DRF and came across this bit of info. Coolmore has nominated group 1 winners Canford Cliffs, Treasure Beach and So you Think to the breeders cup via the open enrollement program which the breeders cup launched this year to increase the number of horses eligible for and likely to paticipate in the Breeders Cup. Coolmoore paid $25000 each to make them eligible for the breeders ,non had been nominated as foals.
Clearly Coolmore taking a share in the ownership of Canford Cliffs will mean that Richard Hannon’s dislike of the Breeders’ Cup has become a secondary consideration and his stable star could well be heading for a Kentucky swan song in November, where he may run into Goldikova again. With the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes moving to October 15th this year and the Breeders’ Cup just three weeks later, who will be contending for the cross-Pond double?
QM Its interesting that the QE11 will now be run on the straight mile not the round mile as the shake up to that champions day
Wouldn't be surprised if Canford Cliffs missed the QEII - same with Frankel if they are Breeders Cup bound but where do they then go after the Sussex? They could step up in the Juddmonte but its then a fair wait until the Breeders Cup but three weeks after the QEII may be too close - just seems to be the head scratcher with them moving it back to October. In Canford Cliffs absence Coolmore could possibly send Zoffany & Roderic O'Connor to Ascot? Suppose it will all unwind in the coming months!
If they gave both Canford Cliffs and Frankel a break after the Sussex, then I'm sure they would both be fine to run in the QE2 and the BC Mile. There only milers, 3 weeks is sufficient enough. Finally Goldikova might actually have to take on a quality miler over in America! So You Think is a 10f horse, so the Classic would be the obvious race, though how is he going to act on dirt, his pedigree doesn't suggest it's ideal. He is a son of High Chapparel a duel winner of the Turf so maybe AOB will run Treasure Beach and So You Think in the turf. Await The Dawn is the Breeders Cup classic horse, the son of Giant Causeway is bred to handle the dirt, and they have been preparing this horse for along time, as a possible BC classic horse
Shergar its not about Goldy taking on a quality miler! Its about a horse being good enough to race the entire season,stay fit and then travel over well enough to fire on all cylinders.Then be able to act on a tight American track, and race at a searingly fast pace! Dont ever underestimate what Goldy has achieved in her 3 BC's wins.I can name you 10 world class Euro horses that didnt even place in one BC race let alone win 3!
As I've said before DB Goldikova's consistency, has to be admired, but she has beat nothing in any of her 3 BC mile race. It may be worth alot of money, but it has been an egg and spoon race for many years. If Frankel and Canford Cliffs go for the mile then she may get some genuine G1 horses in opposition, because none of the American G1 turf milers would win any G1 in Europe
I'm not missing the point, I have agreed that Goldikova's level of conisistancy has to be admired, but the competition she has beat, has been poor. America's turf racing is dire, dangerous Midge and Debussy being prime examples of this
Ignoring the fact no other horse has won three times at the Breeder's Cup and she's won 10 other Group 1s... Anyway if the likes of Canford Cliffs are going to the Breeder's Cup now, so much the better for the meeting.
These are the horses who have finished 2nd to Goldikova in her G1 wins Darjina on 2 occasions Kip Deville Heaven Sent Elusive Wave Aqlaam Courageous Cat Byword Paco Boy on 2 occasions Music Show Cirrus De Aigles Then the horses who Goldikova has been runner up to in G1s Zarkava Makfi Canford Cliffs As you can see from the stats listed above Goldikova can beat the run of the mill G1 horses, but once she comes up against horses of real quality, she gets delt with. Her consistency is thenominal but the levels she is capable of running to are not that of a great horse, she is just very good
Didn't Goldikova win the Cartier horse of the year, beating out workforce and harbinger. In my mind winning horse of the year makes her great. Ks you have to remember Goldie has experience around the breeders track and traveling over to the USA while the two you mentioned don't, thats a plus for Goldie. I hope they do go to the breeders may get some decent odds for Goldie.
What does the cartier horse of year have to do with anything, All Goldikova did last season was scrape home against Paco Boy a few times, but she had one opportunity against a horse of real quality in Mafi, and she was delt with easily. Goldikova does have the experience in America and on those tight tracks, but if Frankel and CC show up I would expect her to be 3rd
Goldikova wins 5 races from 6 last year (that's all she did anyway, I mean it's really not much!) and Shergar incessantly dwells on the one she finished 2nd in. Yet he ignores Makfi twice running badly in his four big races. None so blind...
I was actually very impressed with Goldikova at Royal Ascot. Canford Cliffs is a great horse imo and she stuck it out really well. So I would never run her down for simply coming up against a horse who was just (with the emphasis on 'just') too good.
And more suited to the course.Should be a lot of fun watching CC and Frankel try and negotiate those tight bends in the US.But then again it doesnt take much doing according to Shergar.
