greatpilsudski, Meandre’s poor statistical strike rate is obviously a negative, but he routed a pretty good field in the Grand Prix de Paris. If he had been trained by Sir Michael Stoute, everybody would be raving about him. He won’t win the Prix Foy because that is for older horses. He is in the Prix Niel for three-year-olds and I think he will need to win it because it looks like carving up, although Prix Du Jockey Club winner Reliable Man is entered. Sarafina cannot read the trends but I am encouraged by the fact that she is being trained specifically for the race. She was one of a number of horses that had no luck in running last year and whilst granted that could happen again this year, I think she will have as good a chance as any.
Apparently the QEII is also an option for SYT. Sounds like a big pile of bollocks if you ask me. I cannot possibly imagine that Coolmore would be prepared to let their best stallion prospect loose against the mighty Frankel, when the reputation of Canford Cliffs, a specialist miler and another Coolmore stallion prospect, lays in tatters at his feet?! As for SYT, I was convinced that he was exceptional, then i thought he was, and now i'm not even sure whether i think he is or not. He's still a very good horse regardless but i am beginning to accept that he might not be the wonderhorse that we were expecting. Perhaps he will prove me wrong, and i hope he does, but i think he has had the chances to show what he can do and he has proven workmanlike rather than impressive. I'd love to see him in the flesh so hope he goes to Ascot for that very reason, but i think that the Arc has to be the race for him if he is the horse that Coolmore say he is. The Champion Stakes will no doubt be a very good and competitive race but if SYT misses the Arc there can be little doubt that Coolmore have chickened out, especially as they have no other major contender for the Longchamp showpiece.
Aidan O’Brien currently has the following entered in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: So You Think, St Nicholas Abbey, Cape Blanco, Fame And Glory, Jan Vermeer, Await The Dawn, Viscount Nelson, Apache, Treasure Beach, Regent Street, Seville, Master Of Hounds, Quest For Peace, Recital, Roderic O’Connor, Marksmanship, Memphis Tennessee, Misty For Me and Wonder Of Wonders. In short, that is every big name in the yard plus a number of potential pacemakers who would get balloted out if there are more than twenty declared. I guess it depends what is considered a “major contender”.
By 'major contender' i meant a favourite for the race. So You Think is challenging for favouritism whilst their next strongest challenger is St Nicholas Abbey, who the bookies have at around 10th on their lists. Also some of the big names that he has entered are almost certain non-runners. The likes of Await The Dawn and Cape Blanco who seemingly have targets across the pond. As would i. Plenty of Festival races to be won with that lot.
Another interesting piece from Sam Walker - article. His articles are always well worth reading. He seems able to offer both an insight on the bare figures, and their interpretation, and his own opinion, without it feeling in any way manufactured. I think he has it about right once again. I also hope that Ballydoyle are clear where he is going next and what his Autumn campaign will entail even if they are adamant that we shouldn't know about it for a little while yet. It is also interesting that he feels it was a decent, if unspectacular effort. I think i am in agreement with this point also. Whilst he might have been expected to win in more convincing fashion, he never looked like getting beat. I think he was value for the half length margin at the death. Another point of interest is the fact that he seems to thrive on racing. His best effort in Europe came in the Eclipse after the POW had put him spot on. With a little break now until either the Arc or the Champion Stakes could it be that he takes in both contests, or perhaps a trip to the USA for the Classic would be in order. Obviously options abound but hopefully some clarification will be offered by connections in the immediate future as to where he is headed next.
I read this morning on one of the publicly available news sites (sorry, cannot remember which one) that So You Think is not amongst the acceptors for the Cox Plate, so he will not be heading Down Under to try and record a hat-trick.
I think O'Brien has used that race as a prep for the Breeder's Cup Classic in the past. Though it would seem a strange route for him to take with So You Think!
Interesting piece from Timeform: "So You Think returned from a mid-season break to gain a second northern-hemisphere Group 1 (seventh in all), and though only workmanlike, he was forced into running close to his best. With Famous Name six lengths back in third, So You Think has been credited with running to 132, the same figure he posted when winning the Eclipse. In pushing him to within ½ length, Snow Fairy earned a rating of 128, a career-best having been rated 123 coming into the race. She certainly looks set for another profitable autumn on her travels, but apparently could take in the Arc first."
so he as ran to his eclipse form again?? this is what i dont get,he as now twice beaten 2 horses, by less lengths the next time they met.sri putra manged to get 1 length closer at sandown compared to ascot and now famous name as got a bit closer,but the original 7l was when SYT won easy ,so could of been greater then the 7l if ridden out,he was all out in the irish champion but famous name got closer. and 2 multiple group 1 winners he as beat in workforce and snow fairy are also have deemed to run a new lifetime best even though they lost! i think handicappers are to lenient and are always wanting to give him the very best rating they can find somehow ,instead of going to the average or median,they award him the top end rating!
They surely cannot have used Famous Name as a valid form-line to arrive at their rating. Firstly, Famous Name has (famously) never won a Group 1 race; and secondly, Famous Name must have soft ground to be seen at his best. Add to that his jockey dropped his hands when he had no chance of catching the front two so the six lengths is an exaggeration. Although she holds an entry, I would suspect that there is little chance of Snow Fairy turning up at Longchamp on October 2nd as the ground is usually on the soft side and they have already pulled her a couple of times this year from intended engagements because of the going.
