Bob, I went to York today despite four of the races being “no bet”. I did not have an advance ticket as I waited to see if Australia would be declared and it was £30 on the gate for a six race card. How much would they have knocked off if Australia had not been declared? There are only six races now because they extended it to a four day meeting. I wanted Kingston Hill to run because it is a mudlark and would have set the race up for punters who consider that the Derby was a one-off and he will not win the St Leger (or even run) unless the word “soft” is in the going. I felt sorry for the stable lad leading him round the pre-parade ring when the announcement was made that he had been withdrawn. He had to lead the horse round three or four more times before some numpty opened the gates so he could lead him away. As it was I went with Snow Sky and he was put firmly in his place by Luca Cumani’s horse, who had inherited favouritism. There were no hard luck stories in the International. The best horse won but this does not make him the best horse that his trainer has ever trained. The runner-up was rated 119 going into the race and went down by two lengths. The winner came into the race rated 123 so he has not exactly improved that much. Maybe that was why O’Brien put out that “race rusty” excuse in advance so he is covered if the horse had got turned over and he can resort to it to explain why he won the Irish Derby on the bit but actually had a race this time.
Boris, I will help you out here: This all comes down to the drainage work that was done at York a few years ago. You will notice now how in races run on the round course (7f or more), the runners almost always come down the middle or the stands’ side, shunning the shortest route on the far side. This is because the track does not drain evenly anymore and this is why I scarcely ever have a bet at York because I have no idea how the race is going to be run; and also I tend to ignore York form subsequently. Look at the Great Voltigeur Stakes and the Juddmonte International Stakes today. The official photographers at York are clearly brain-dead because most of them still work on the stands’ side and have the horses virtually run over their toes when they could go on the far side.
Certainly didn't back it myself, but I do believe Outer Space was top-rated by Timeform for the horse's debut on the Polytrack? Good 7/1 winner if so.
Hear, hear. His Epsom win basically paid for my summer's punting on the flat so obviously I have a soft spot for him! Keeps proving himself over different trips and tracks but he'll never please some because he's O'Brien trained! Rightly joins Kingman and Taghrooda as a star 3 year old but if versatility comes into it you'd have to say he's different level. From a mile to a mile and a half he's shown he can do it all. The most impressive thing is that you'll not get to the bottom of him, like the similarly versatile great Sea the Stars, Australia keeps plenty for himself. He'd beat a plater the same distance as a grade 1 animal, we haven't yet seen his level yet. Plenty of improvement left in him yet hopefully, roll on Lepardstown
It would take Kingman at 1m or Taghrooda at 1m4 to get anywhere near the bottom of him I think Beef, was thinking the same myself today. Hes like the perfect horse, some engine and just bombproof in every way, he doesnt seem to have any weakness, but still he doesnt blow me away like Kingman does. Kingman is like Dortmund and Australia is like Bayern, and im a Dortmund man.
Don't know exactly what to make of Australia, Mr.Beef, but he's obviously very good. That 2000 Gns result will remain very strange IMHO. O'Brien, well he is a bit odd and not everyone's cup of tea. Don't mind the 'listen' bit at all, that's just an affectation, but this business of getting on the fern after each big race is quite oddball. Guess he is under orders to report to his Gods in Ireland? If so, as good as he is as a trainer with no worries for the future, he should tell them to be patient and await his return.........and sunglasses are really not necessary in the UK, wouldn't you say?
