Sorry, Cyc. He did not answer the call but it was only the last hundred yards that Frankie managed to galvanise Rewilding to collect. It was a great effort though by both horses and what we really wanted – a cracking finish to a top class race. There was always going to be at least one “racing certainty” turned over this week, but I picked the wrong one to upset the Wonder Horse! I had it down to Rewilding or Twice Over and backed the wrong one.
Jan Vermeer took them along, SYT hit the front into the straight and going well kicked away from all but Rewilding who ran him down inside the distance to win comfortably at the line. So You Think was done by the better horse on the day, and it was one that Workforce put into his place last season. How much has Rewilding improved for the winter on his back and drop to 1m2f? We will have to wait and see. Think it opens the door for Frankel and Canford Cliffs to step up to 1m2 without too much fear of the great Australian hope.
NassauBoard, I backed against So You Think because the form of his Tattersalls Gold Cup win – slamming a donkey like Campanologist – did not make him a long odds on favourite against tried and trusted European Group 1 performers; however, I would not say that Rewilding won comfortably and I am not in any hurry to write off Aidan O’Brien’s charge on the back of one close defeat when the rest were six lengths and more in arrears.
He was comfortably on top at the line, being what I would call a comfortable neck (ie jockey was able to celebrate as it passed the line), it certainly wasn't an easy win. In regards Rewilding, a horse that doesn't really set the formbook alight, he either has improved massively or SYT was well under the par set pre race.
Filon D’or, I would not read too much into the track record time. The records only go back as far as 2006 when the new track was opened. The fast time was a result of Jan Vermeer virtually running himself into the ground setting the race up for the favourite. Aidan O’Brien is spouting the excuses already. I am not sure how the horse was not fit enough having had two races already this season and having won both of them easily. If the horse needed more of a workout to get fit he should have run it in some more competitive events instead of two Irish money-for-old-rope events that he regularly cleans up.
Perfect Stride holds the course record with 2m 03.24 on GF Rewilding posted 2m 04.24 on Good ground Very fast time but as Filun states, 1 second (5length?) above best ever, but on slower ground
QuarterMoon/Nassau: Thanks for that. Yes, there is so much to consider along with times, as you say, ground, the way the race was run, and even the wind conditions on occasions.......... (The only minor "problem" I have with AOB (not the sunglasses) is this silly mobile/cellphone business after every winner he gets. What's all that then, just seems odd to me, unless he has owners who are bedridden or in wheelchairs?). I don't think I have ever criticized him as regards training, however, he is just too successful!).
Have only just read that Dettori picked-up a 9-day ban for overuse of the whip on Rewilding in the final two furlongs. 24 times the horse got whacked apparently?...... "That was probably the best fight I've been in for a while - the two horses wanted to win and they are two great champions," said Dettori, whose usual excitement at a big-race win seemed heightened, but will later have been tempered as the stewards ruled he had hit Rewilding 24 times inside the final two furlongs and banned him for nine days.........."
Dettori getting banned for excessive use of the whip on Rewilding when it won “comfortably” (NS) will just re-open the pointless use of the whip debate and give the pointless animal rights nutters another whip with which to beat the sport. Some of us have taken the O’Brien hype with a pinch of salt for years. On form So You Think was no 4/11 chance and having narrowed the race down to Twice Over and Rewilding, I backed the wrong one.
QM, it already has opened up debate, I personally think that whilst its just a ban for the jockey they will see it as a worthwhile venture to overuse the whip. I say take his prizemoney off him and give him a fine too, that would stop whip abuse 'dead'.
