Wasn't looking so predictable in the first set though was it! Disappointed how quick Murray seemed to lose belief at the start of the second. There's no doubt Novak is just 5% better than him in everything and really turned it on in the second but I just expected Murray to show a bit more fight than he did. The statistics were bizarre at how negative, defensive his whole play became after he won the first.
Just goes to show that the quality of the mares matters more than the stallions. Gigolos cost more than Call Girls but perhaps are not worth the money... (heading for cover to avoid the feminist reaction )
No enthusiasm for the form in either Classic on my part. Certainly the heavy ground at Chantilly was no help. I am minded to think that The Derby may produce the better horses eventually (as you intimate); however, the form of neither race stacks up on initial analysis. It will be interesting to see what the so-called professionals like Timeform come up with as my initial opinion is that the older horses may hold sway this year except (possibly) for two fillies – Minding and So Mi Dar. Only good news out of Chantilly today was Pride’s son One Foot In Heaven winning the Grand Prix de Chantilly over Arc course and distance – but on heavy ground.
Murray’s problem is not his ability at tennis. His problem is in his head. He needs a shrink not a tennis coach as he continually beats up on himself when things are not going his way. The likes of Djokovic keep their minds on the game. Once again Murray will be Scottish on the news not British...
I think the Derby stacks up reasonably well actually. You have trial winners in the first 4. The Ballysax, Chester Vase and the Dante. The only trial of note that's missing was the Derrinstown and the close up 3rd that day came third in the Derby. Obviously it lacked the 2 year old superstar but to be fair the Dewhurst would often provide that in the Derby and on this occasion the best 2 year old who was also the Dewhurst winner has failed to train on into a 3 year old.
If you look at the recent history of The Derby, the two-year-old form of old has not been a great influence. The Dewhurst winners tend to be Guineas horses. Changes in training trends do not show up in the statistics for quite a few years.
