Build a BONFIRE, build a BONFIRE, Put Andrew Balding on the top, Put the Dante form in the middle, And burn the ****ing lot!
I was at Sandown yesterday Stick and made error of backing Bonfire, it was a lifeless a performance I've ever seen from a horse capable fo winning a Dante. My guess is there'll be an explanation but there's no way that was his true form
Lame. Another trainer rolls out that old load of bollocks. Race horse trainers are almost as bad as British track and field 'stars'. It's part of their training routine to complain about injurys. I watched one win her event in the Olympic qualifier thing on BBC a few weeks ago and she still rolled out some horlicks about some minor injury. Get a ****ing grip.
Yeah we know that trainers may manipulate punters on occasions but that running was just too bad to be true, he never travelled a yard so there has to be something...
I agree the regularity of injuries etc can make people cynical but when you consider the weight of a horse and the fragility of those legs, particularly young horses (ie under 5 years old) and the stress their legs are put under at speed on various surfaces, especially extremes, they are extremely vulnerable and it's not really surprising that they get injured. I will guarantee that if your (no-one in particular I stress) favourite horse (take Frankel for example) runs below par and it is subsequently discovered to be lame or suffering from some ailment, it will be genuine and not questioned. I sincerely hope so but pray nothing untoward happens to him (or any horse actually).
I've said a bit about him in my Eclipse Evaluation (posted on the Eclipse thread) but he wants crossing off anyone's list in my opinion. He's got a dodgy temperament, he's got no scope, his form looks weak and he'll likely continue to be overbet. He's not one to persevere with.
I think that just about sums it up Zenyatta, the lid is on and most of the nails are banged in, there are just one or two left such as Main Sequance needing to run and we will finally be able to bang the final nail into the coffin of the three year olds of 2012, sadly. We may indeed get a triple crown winner, but i suspect one that was not allowed to run against an older horse. I guess we must give Most Improved a chance though as was well thought of and did take The St James palace stakes well. I hoped Bonfire would be in the finish yesterday, i did not think he had the quality to beat nathaniel or the Goldolphin horse but hoped he would be pushing them so we would have something to think about. Very impressed with Twice over who i think hates soft ground and can see picking up a good race once again later when (if) the ground drys out.
Mind you, one upside about being beaten 6f out means you can take a walk back inside, go to the bar, order a beer, glance up and watch the closing stages on the TV while your beer is being poured....
Guineas and Derby form is utter toss. That is why for me Camelot needs to pick up a prize in open compnay or stay in training as a 4 Y O to prove his true class and stamp his legend. He intrigues me because half of me wonders just how much he has under the bonnet- he has won pretty cosily this season and indeed throughout his career, but the other part of me feels we have been robbed of seeing him face a real stern test as of yet. He may as well see if he can frighten Frankel in a 10f race and then win the St Leger- it wouldn't harm his reputation!
CITYSCAPE is worth following too as he travelled really well until hitting a stamina wall. He WILL win a very good race before the season is out.
Exactly how I felt about Frankel - until Royal Ascot this year. Agreed Camelot has proved he can look impressive against donkeys. But so could any half decent horse. He is a lovely specimen with lovely action so it would be a shame not to get to prove himself in top company.
I say Stick is there no end to your talents. Poet can now be added to the very long list, old boy. Bonfire at the moment though is not burning brightly I’m afraid (in fact you could say that the flame has been extinguished) and looks, in the short term, to have been vastly overrated following his close 3rd in the Criterium International and then his win the old Dante Stakes. On reflection, in the cold light of day, however there really wasn’t much to get over excited about in the latter heat as he only after all beat Ektihaam by 0.75 of a length. Excuses can be made for his last pair of efforts but at the moment he’s not on my ‘to follow’ list. There was however real solid support for the horse prior to the Eclipse so people somewhere obviously have very strong views re the horse’s ability. Where will he go next when he returns to A1 condition??? If he was mine I’d want to regroup and step him down to Group 2, or possibly even Group 3 level. As to the middle distance 3YO’s, as a whole, in my view its Camelot first the rest nowhere. I maintain that he is a top, top quality colt and hope that he gets the chance to prove that fact this season and next.
I think it was more the fact that he was the only 3yo in the race. Therefore, there was a chance that he might have surprised if the 3yos weren't as bad a bunch as they appeared.
There is still plenty of potential out there but I'm inclined to think that those tested at the top level, with the obvious exception of Camelot, are not up to much.
I don't disagree about Bonfire but a bit unfair about Balding. I'm rather impressed. As a trainer I think he's a lot better than Dad. He's been in good form this year and doesn't get sent the greatest horses.
