Absolutely agree with that. The Leger was never under any consideration for Sea The Stars, regardless of it's date. I think that moving the date might encourage more of the top 3yos to give it a try without jeopardising their chances in the Arc. It's a long-shot without question but it might help, it might not. What i do think is important is for the racing authorities to put a little more effort into reigniting the whole 'Triple Crown' idea. I must say that the idea of reducing the Leger distance would no doubt attract more horses but nevertheless it is not something that i like. I think it is a sad day when we have to make the challenge easier to make people take up the challenge. The English Triple Crown is the absolute test of the thoroughbred. The yanks will bang on about their own version but the distance variations (10f, 9f and 12f) are nowhere near as great as our own version (8f, 12f, 14f). I think the 'Triple Crown' is a great test, and one exceedingly difficult to accomplish but i am uncertain whether making it easier is the correct course to take. If i could wish for anything then perhaps it would be for the racing authorities to have these discussions that we are currently enjoying!
Nice article Tamerlo, sorry to be late in the day (travelling). There hasn't been a really top class stayer since Ardross and the Le Moss/Ardross contests were something to behold. Having run in all those Cup Races Ardross then went on and came second in the Arc. Yeats was a very good stayer but he couldn't have done that. We've lost that and it's a big hole. Nice of you to recall Provoke!
Hi, Bustino. I. hadn't forgotten Ardross and Le Moss- there were just so many. Yes, Yeats was a good stayer but I don't think he would have held a candle to some of those.
Tam....I do agree with you about the staying races, they are as weak as they have ever been. It's ashame the way things are going. The biggest problem is there is only one G1 for stayers, maybe if they made the Goodwood Cup, and the stayers event at york(forgotten the name) G1s aswell then better horse's might be attracted to have a go at 2m+ races. The sad thing is if any half decent middle distance horse runs in the stayers, they are certaintys, we seen it with Yeats, a 1m4 G1 winner, and now the same with Fame And Glory. The standard of the stayers events are so poor, that these top 1m4 horse's will have far to much class even over 2m+. Effectively most of the stayers, are just stayers by default as they are not good enough to run in group races in any other division
Lads, before you start running down the stayers of the past 10 or so years, don't forget that Westerner finished 2nd in the Prix De L'Arc de Triomphe in the same season that he'd won the Ascot Gold Cup (same as Ardross), and I'm convinced that Yeats would've been at least placed in a King George if he'd been allowed to run in it. If you want to go back a little further, Classic Cliche finished 2nd in the King George the following month after he'd won the Gold Cup.
Westerner and Yeats were both great stayers, I wouldn't argue that, and they are examples of classy middle distance horse's making a mockery of the stayers division. It's the rest that I'm running down
Chance, fair point but you're talking about three horses in 10 years. I actually had a very good bet EW on Westerner- as I did years ago on Levmoss, because both those horses were class over middle distance as well. However, there's just no real quality nor strength in depth any more- compared with what there used to be.
Great article Tam. For info, as far as I can tell not many horses winning the St Leger have done too well in the Arc. Not one has actually won it in the same year. 1957 Ballymoss won Arc de Triomphe 1958 1967 Ribocco placed 3rd Arc de Triomphe 1967 1970 Nijinsky placed 2nd Arc de Triomphe 1970 1976 Crow placed 2nd Arc de Triomphe 1976 1983 Sun Princess placed 2nd Arc de Triomphe 1983 1990 Snurge placed 3rd Arc de Triomphe 1990 1992 User Friendly placed 2nd Arc de Triomphe 1992
Ron, I'm just wondering if Sea Moon just may be allowed to take his chance in the Arc- if he didn't have a hard race in the Leger. Highly unlikely, given he's in the same ownership as Workforce. Nonetheless, his price has shrunk for the Arc since he was declared a firm Leger runner. I'm biased of course- having taken a chance and backed him at 30/1.
Nijinksy, Sun Princess and User Friendly had all had tough seasons (all 3 also won at Epsom) so not entirely surprising they did not win the Arc. Totally useless but interesting piece of info: Mill Reef was 7 when Shirley Heights was born, Shirley Heights was 7 when Slip Anchor was born and Slip Anchor was 7 when User Friendly was born
