Good result for Irish racing amidst the total domination of the Obrien family and backers. Siskin looked like he just had to stay to win and so it proved, pretty low level Group 1 though, will be rated a bit behind Kameko, Pinatubo and Wichita.
I dont think it was a case of bad luck, the winner won deservedly but looking forward I would much rather have Vatican City when upped in trip. He looks a nice prospect especially when you factor in the low mileage on the clock.
Ran well enough, will surely improve for racing and no doubt will pick up a couple of nice races in time. Well done those on the winner and other winners today. Good to have the racing back and also the racing forum back.
You can't take it away from Siskin but I think he won a weak Classic there. Armory was disappointing. He didn't travel like a horse who was going to win and he didn't find very much today. Lope Y Fernandez came with a good run but patently didn't stay. I thought he looked better at 6F than 7F last year and was dubious at the mile today. Vatican City stayed on well and the rumour that he "Won" a private gallop at Ballydoyle seemed to be fleshed out today. A massive leap forward for him today. I don't think you can make a case for saying Siskin has improved his rating today. The runner up came in rated 93 and Lope Y Fernandez was ranked 107 and didn;t last home today. I was never convinced Armory was really a 110 horse and I felt he needed to improve today. I would say he hasn't done so and is stuck as a 106 or 107 horse at best. Monarch Of Egypt got closer to Siskin than any of today's runners last season but he dwelt and was never involved. He was not without support at 14/1 but he was cooked after a furlong. I am always sceptical and I reckon Siskin might have won that with a 110 performance today. Nice to see Aidan's army put in their place by a smaller outfit but this was a rag-tag squadron the maestro sent to do battle this year. Free Solo was awful for Harrington there and a poor run from Royal Lytham, whose sire Gleneagles has been disappointing from my point of view.
I like Vatican City as a colt but I always felt this was tough today and that his 5/1 odds at one stage were silly. I did say in my preview that I felt he should be 16/1 and he very nearly did reach that price. I suspected that the horse would want further than a mile this year but did not have confidence he would get 12F because there seemed no evidence from full brothers and sisters that there is stamina in the family. Gleneagles is his highest rated relation to date and Vatican City will now be the 6th of 6 foals out of You'resothrilling to become rated over 100 and that's a good, consistent achievement for her. I couldn't say he was unlucky today, because Siskin had enough in hand and Vatican City came past Lope Y Fernanzez, who was back pedalling and Armory, whose run had stalled. An excellent effort from Vatican City all the same but 12/1 for the Epsom Derby looks quite ridiculous if I am to be frank.
