On the track, I think the Irish tried to play up their winnings from Ballydoyle as Ultra was the morning favourite for the Lagardère but was deposed by the weight of money on Johannes Vermeer.
Does anybody know where I can find someone who was adamant that this year’s three year old colts were rubbish and the fillies were outstanding?
Well done mate, I'm man enough to own up when I'm wrong about GH. I give plenty of stick and I must take the consequences, I can and will! Those people moaning about the draw can perhaps help with some of my humble pie, I ordered myself a supersized portion after all... I do think the 3 yo fillies are still a bloody good lot with more strength in depth than the colts. The Opera yet again showed the strength of the Nassau, look at what came out of it. Found was probably a bit unlucky in the Arc not to finish closer (only on subsequent viewings I noticed this) but clearly the Horn was in a different league on the day. The Derby first 2 were well above average for sure but the rest behind them probably weren't. Of course we all know the Derby third was stuffed in the St Leger by none other than a 3 yo filly afterall! The Champion Stakes will be a penalty kick for Jack Hobbs but in all reality there won't be another 3 yo colt in the race. The result also answered the Irish Champion debate too, I'll admit that. The winner should have been DQ'd though Well done cityhull too, you were correct. Golden Horn wasn't the 3 yo champion, he's the champion horse of the year. He's no Frankel or Sea the Stars but he's the best Derby winner since the later. I can accept defeat in a gracious and classy manner. I won't spend months afterwards arguing and crying over spilt milk
Beefy, I put the smiley on my comment just to make it abundantly clear that I was only jesting. I have to say that I no bet the race because of the draw as the ratings said that Golden Horn was the best horse in the race. Treve won it from 13 a couple of years ago, so I should have chanced it. Clearly on the track plenty did as he only paid just over 7/2 on the PMU as opposed to the British industry price of 9/2. I was surprised at the PMU place dividends as I thought the two Derby winners would be odds on, so 14/10 was good; but not as good as 5/1 Flintshire. The problem with the fillies’ form this year is that it has nearly all been against their own sex, although it has been competitive. As of 6th September, there was no three year old filly in the top 20 rankings, with four year old Mecca’s Angel (120) the only British/Irish filly in the list. The next list is supposedly out on 8th October so that should be interesting if it includes Sunday’s races. I am not sure that Jack Hobbs is a penalty kick in the Champion Stakes. Will have to wait and see what else turns up – unlikely that Golden Horn will – and what the ground is like.
QM I deserve abuse, I was massively wrong about Golden Horn. I shot my mouth of in spectacular fashion! It's taken me until the Arc to realize how good he is There's no champions on the Flat apparently Ah fair play to you and others who were proved so right. Quite embarrassing to think I felt Elm Park was the one to take from the York Dante...When I get it wrong may as well make a right pigs ear of it There's probably no 3 yo filly on a par with the 2 colts, but I do feel there's a good number of very decent ones but as you say there's limited formlines between them and the colts but they've won the Juddmonte (albeit GH was below his best) and the St Leger. The best of the bunch by a fair bit I feel is Legatissimo, she's put in top performances over a range of distances. Now she WOULD interest me if she went Champion Stakes. I feel she wouldn't be disgraced against Jack Hobbs, over her optimium trip, but I believe the Breeders Cup is her aim. At least shes staying in training as a 4 yo, she cleans up next year
