Well said KM. What's the score now? And if you add to that the fact that when Zarkava beat Goldi she was 30/100 fav with Goldi at 9/1 and then read this: "Unseated rider at stalls, reluctant load, stumbled start, recovered, 5th straight, headway 2f out, 1 1/2f out, every chance 1f out, ran on same pace" Not the best of luck when taking on one of the greats; not a bad performance at all.
Is this really a two horse race? If we get soft ground would it be fair to say that with a front running ride we could see a good effort by Cape Blanco and would it be fair to suggest that we could see a careers best effort under such conditions? If the answer is yes then he would be bang on with the best form of the two market leaders who to me both could have issues with rain softened ground, the price of 8/1 could be fantastic. 7 runners spoils it a bit as EW betting isn't going to be ideal, but I wouldn't rule him out if the ground is softer than good.
Goldikova was not slow to come into her own, she just came up against a great fillie in Zarkava, who delt with Goldikova easily. Goldikova was winning races when Zarkava wasn't in them. Even if Goldikova at 5 years old faced the 3yo Zarkava we all seen, it would again be a no contest, and Zarkava would beat her comprehensively again over any trip. Nass....I can see your point, but for me the soft ground will only affect CC, and to be honest if it was soft I doubt CC would even run, they would probably come out with the bad scope nonsense once again. Goldikova I still believe is a very good horse on soft ground. I know she lost to Makfi last year but I do believe he was abit special, and even if the ground was firm he would have beat her that day, afterall the ground was pretty quick when he won the Guineas. Goldikova and Paco Boy were 5 lenghs clear of the 4th placed horse, so I'm not sure the going would make to much of a difference with her. I'd even be tempted to have a good bet on her, if she's still odds against and the goings soft, as CC needs fast ground. Cape Blanco's run in last years Irish Champion Stakes was the best performance by any horse, bar Harbinger from a form point of view, he best 2 multi G1 winners by 5 lenghs making all the running, and he was still going away from them at the finish, so I do believe he is an interesting runner. If he is given an uncontested lead I can see him being hard to peg back, and I may be tempted to have a punt on him! On the going for Royal Ascot, I live a mile from the course, and it is pissing it down as im writing, and the ground in my garden would definately be given as heavy, and I don't see any reason why the ground at Ascot should be any different, i suppose it will depend if we get any rain tommorow, but I'd be amazed If the going doesn't have soft in the description
It's easy to make claims about a race that never happened (or indeed could never have happened). Also, actually Goldikova didn't win her first Group 1 until August 2008 (and then started to reel off G1 victories - in egg and spoon races and against average horses of course!), she was beaten by Zarkava in April 2008 (I'm ignoring the Prix Diane run because of the distance), so actually you can argue she was still a bit green at that stage of her career. This race is an interesting move for Cape Blanco, I think it will ultimately be too short a trip for him, but the fact they're running him at all suggests it's not as strange a race to go for as it first seemed.
The more the rain falls the more Cape Blanco becomes a more interesting proposition,as he won a couple in his 2 year old days on soft. But i certainly Cant see him having an uncontested lead with Goldys pacemaker in the race.But i agree that if it carries on raining CC will probably be scratched. And as far as Goldy is suited to soft going...dont be silly.She can run and win on it but she certainly isnt suited by it.
He won't want an uncontested lead though will he? He will want them to try and get Goldi and CC out of their ground on softer than ideal going. In regards Goldi, I have her 6lbs+ better on good or faster ground, that for me is enough to suggest that CB could upset the applecart on softer ground
DBF....I suggest you take a closer look at Goldikova's form, she has contested 5 G1s over a mile when the going has been soft, and she has won 4 of them, the only defeat coming against Makfi, so I don't believe a mile in the mud is a problem for her! This whole myth that Goldikova doesn't like soft ground came about after she lost to Makfi as it was an easy excuse to give, but Makfi was a bloomin good miler, he may not have liked Ascot, but at Newmarket and against Goldi he put up the 2 best miling performances of last season from a form perspective. In both races the 2nd and 3rd won G1s last season, and he won both races easily. Just look at Goldikova's form and you will see she is equally effective on any going
Shergar i said she can run and win on soft.But given the choice its not her preferred ground.But she is a better horse on firmer ground! And she has only 3 wins on soft and 2 on good/soft.
On Sunday at Chantilly, Peslier had a choice in the Prix de Diane: Galikova – a three-year-old Galileo filly, winner of a Group 3 race at Saint-Cloud, and half-sister to crack miler Goldikova. Golden Lilac – unbeaten winner of the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (the French equivalent of the 1000 Guineas), which threw up the first two home in the Prix de Sandringham last week. Obviously the decision making process in France differs from that which most jockeys in Britain would adopt. You are riding in a Classic and you have a choice between a Classic winner and another horse. There is no choice to be made here – unless you want to finish second. The pacemaker was supposed to assist Galikova, but as it turned out she did not pick up instantly when asked for her effort, allowing Golden Lilac to get first run and collect the race where her dam Grey Lilas did not get home. On Tuesday in the Royal Ascot opener, Olivier Peslier will be riding Goldikova as she seeks back-to-back victories in the race. Hopefully Peslier does not have any moments of indecision just after 2:30.
Right the going at Ascot has been changed to good to soft, I reckon Canford Cliffs will have had an injury set back by the end of today Kentucky....I suggest you rewatch Cape Blanco's outstanding Irish Champion stakes run when he broke the track record, if you don't believe he has the class to win G1 at 10-12 furlongs
KS, I suggest you keep your suggestions to yourself. I'm really not interested in anything you have to say.
You might not be Kentucky but Im sure alot of other people are intrested, that is the whole point of this forum!
Funnily enough, I wasn't speaking on behalf of everyone, dude. Why is everyone on this forum such an asshole?
Kentucky, in regards Goldikova, I don't think anyone is saying she doesn't go on the ground, its more that she is better on good ground. Do you disagree with this view?
No theyre not Kentucky, its just a bit of friendly banter shouldnt take it so seriously. At the end of the day we are here to give tips chat and basically just screw the bookies! Which at the moment we are very good!
