I'm not sure I would be rushing to back Legatissimo in the Oaks. Apparently she became unbalanced in the dip so did well to win. But that doesn't augur too well for the undulations of Epsom
Backed the Gay Kelleway juvenile at Newmarket, not seen the head on but surely not going to get thrown out after winning that scrap!
I'd agree with parts of that OK but I do think the Flat game gives the 'little man' much less chance than the jumps due to the costs involved. The jumps are much more easier for people with small money to get into and get 'lucky' in for want of a better expression. Mullins is in a golden era but training for different owners DOES spread the prizes round. People seem to think his successes are just Ricci horses but that's a bit of a myth if you look at the big prizes. For example this year Mullins obviously trained 8 Cheltenham Festival winners, but how many people actually realise they were for 5 different owners....that is surely 'spreading' it around in my view. The flat's a totally different story . I guess the Arabs you mentioned aren't exactly short of a pound or two so I'd withhold getting out the violins just yet. Perhaps its simply a case Coolmore doing things better than their rivals and reaping the success from this? One thing I do think is ridiculous is the breeding side of it. Isn't it Sheik Mohammed that refuses to use Coolmore stallions?! Now that's just cutting off your nose to spite your face and there's one reason one operation breeds Derby horse after Derby horse whilst the other breeds Chelmsford Class 5 winners! Hard to be too sorry for any of them in my view! But yeah the fact Coolmore are so ahead is hardly likely to help gather much interest in the Flat for many!
I think Legatissimo has Fame&Glory in her breeding. In my opinion he was one of the best horses not to win the Derby (just beaten by superstar Sea the Stars). I think she will get round Epsom ok
Ryan Moore really is the daddy, fallon used to own this title in the old days. But looking back on this weekend, you can study the form all you like but if Moore is on board your money is safe. A masterclass.
Epsom is all about handling the track. As one of the guys on here pointed out recently its ridiculous that none of the chief protagonists ever race in the Derby Trial at the course. Too close to the Guineas?!?!
I am sure you all realised that this was tongue in cheek after the recent negative comments on here. I am taking a big liking to James Doyle too. His ride in the first today was sublime, even if he did come off second best!
Was Ryan Moore's ride in the Guineas really all that?! Rode a stayer in a race run at a mad fast gallop and got a nice split, from a nice draw?! Not saying it wasn't good but he was very much on the right horse in a race run to suit. He's the top man on the flat but I personally don't think his ride won the Guineas, the best horse in it did. No hurt in any small amount either by Kevin Manning going about a 100 yards longer too
Last at newmarket is pretty open but gona have a punt on james doyle to bring home the bacon on global force
Wise words Beefy. I think any sport thrives on competition - I used to love watching Formula 1 in the mid-90s when Schumacher was a rising star at Bennetton taking it to the likes of Hill and Villeneuve at Williams, and before that the great battles of Mansell and Senna. There then came a period of total Ferrari dominance where Schumi won all his world titles and that just switched me off from the sport. The Coolmore operation is the pinnacle of flat breeding, they have done a masterful job of cornering the bloodstock market and churning out G1 winners year after year after year. It really is a shame that the Arabs seemingly can't be arsed to try and rival this - they seem to be happy just chucking millions at the sport without much ambition to win ................... confusing really, but then I guess if you are born into a world where money is no object, that is what happens - no competitive edge.
He's come from out the back through all the traffic and nailed it today. A lot off people hate hq, but in my mind it's one of the hardest tracks in the world. It's as hard as Epsom .
I'd agree Oddy, yep. The Formula One analogy is shared by millions too including me. I felt it looked set to return to the domination days however as Mercedes looked in their own league last year but Ferrari are certainly laying down a challenge thus far. My single problem with the Flat ain't so much the domination, its simply the fact the beggars get a season or two, then off they go to stud (if there any cop). Very hard to keep an interest in them. Lovely to hear the exception to that, the warrior Cirrus des Aigles, at the ripe old age of 9 won in France today. The code could do with a few more like him, then you'd find more people having an interest
Agree with this. Look what we'd have lost had Frankel have never reappeared at 4. Australia whisked off to stud having ran at 1m 4f only once, despite being a Galileo-Ouija Board on breeding! Some absolute madness that goes on. Sea The Stars I understand because he won everything at all trips from 1m to 1m 4f. St Nicholas Abbey another fabulous example- a washout at 3 but then won multiple Group 1s at 4 and 5. Fantastic horse who people fell in love with. I never want them overraced, but you don't want them whisked off urgently with big reputations never truly tested!
Aussie won both Derby's Toppy, so ran the trip twice But yeah, typical Coolmore values of protecting stud value and that. Not great for the fans of the Flat is it. Least as you say Abdullah had the stones to run Frankel as a 4 yo.
Sorry mate yep I totally forgot the Irish Derby then for a second (to be fair it was like a piece of work for him!)
My problem with it is frankel was bred to win a derby, and yet all the top studs are only interested in a mile/ mile and a quarter horses. Where does this leave the English classics. What happened to tradition.
