After watching CC win,and being a massive Goldikova and Frankel fan. I have to say at this present time if they were all to meet i would have to favour CC. He looked magnificent today and will prove very hard to beat no matter who he faces. Does anyone think that they wont meet? I know a lot of people including myself thinks that RH might dodge the big guns with CC.But due to the fact that his place at stud next year is assured,he has no reason to sidestep the big boys(and girls). So who do we all fancy should they tussle this year?
Oh, now even for a hardened jumps man that race would get the juices flowing. I've always believed CC would have the beating of the wonder mare Goldikova. I don't follow the flat that much but knew enough to back this mare in the last 2 Breeders Cups. However surely with Paco Boys proximity to her last year on numerous times (and Dick Turpin) I've always believed the Hannons know CC is superior to those two stablemates and that CC could land the knock out blow to the mare..My opinion hasn't changed after today, CC is a superior horse to what he faced today and was always going to win unless badly in need of the run. FRANKEL is another story though..but I'd still just prefer CC, albeit in the knowledge that Frankel could become on the best 8-10 furlong horses about. Still CC for me as I'm convinced it WOULD take Frankel to be that sort of 'great' horse to beat him. I can picture CC sitting behind Frankel and doing him for toe in the last 200 yards. It'd be a race to set the alarm clock for and I generally only get involved in Classics or Group Ones!
If the going was soft I would expect Canford Cliffs to be at a distinct disadvantage so it will never happen on anything softer than good. It would be one hell of a race. So difficult to know how Goldi would fair because she is so tough. Canford Cliffs was definitely impressive today but it was not quality G1 form and merely showed his well being. Dick Turpin was not at home on the fast going and his run can be ignored. It was not a very fast time so we have no idea what CC could have pulled out had the race been run at a stronger pace. Against that, it was his first run and clearly had more in hand than the winning distance would indicate. So, in terms of comparing with Frankel, I am in the dark. CC has it to prove.
I'd have Canford Cliffs against Goldikova. In the Queen Anne she does get a little weight but Paco Boy was only a neck away getting it last season and Canford Cliffs is better than he was! The Sussex looks to be where CC & Frankel could meet and I can't see any way at all CC can give Frankel 8lbs or so and a beating! Can't see anything beating Frankel over a mile this season at all and he'd take care of CC & Goldikova for me!
The difference between horses like Frankel and horses like Canford Cliffs and Goldikova is massive! Frankel is withought doubt the best of his generation, and perhaps the best we have seen for many years, were as Goldikova and Canford Cliifs are just very good horses, nothing more, and they will always be voulnerable to horses of pure class!* Goldikova and Canford Cliffs weren't even the best milers from last season, if you judge them on pure performance, Makfi was, his win in the Guineas and his easy win over Goldikova and Paco Boy were the best miling performances of last season, he may have flopped at Ascot, but some horses just don't like the round course at Ascot, if Makfi faced both Goldikova and Canford Cliffs on a straight course he would deal with both comfortably as he did last year!* Frankel is a very special horse and his Guineas and Royal Lodge performances are performances that Goldi and CC are just not capable of, as they are just not classy enough, they may be able to beat the run of the mill G1 fields, by small margins, but put them up against a horse like Frankel who is just pure class, and they will get blown away! If Frankel faces off against either of them, it will be a steering job for Tom Queally! As for Canford Cliffs and Goldikova, I fancy CC may just have the mares measure in the Queen Anne! Still a difficult one to call though! *
Shergar your back from your hols, Didnt expect you back so soon, how was it. I do agree with you about Frankel and the others. No matter how class Goldikova is she would get blown away by frankel. He is just pure speed that horse. I cant see him getting beat! I think he was meant to be a cheetah not a horse lol
It wasn't realy a holiday, I just popped over to Barcelona, with my boy for the Deportivo game! It was ok, ashame the game was a 0-0 but the atmosphere was good, and the firework display when they were given the La Liga trophy was impressive! Glad you agree with me Woolcombe, we all watched what Zarkava did to Goldikova, and Frankel could well be better than she was, in time! It could well be a good betting opportunity if Frankel meets Goldikova, as you may get a nice price about him, due to Goldikova's overrated reputation!
