EC,
My point was far from lazy and even further from inaccurate, if you had bothered to actually read what I wrote, not what you think I wrote.
I mentioned a list of horses who had been favourite or near that position, or in other words fancied horses for the Champions Stakes. I then said there were 3 reasons why these horses failed to fire. You have taken that in a black and white fashion whereas for example, Twice Over running in a conditions race and listed race is not the same 2 runs as say Fame and Glory running in the Irish Champion Stakes and Arc.
So, if you take top level runs prior to the Champion Stakes for the disappointing favourites I referred to:
Fame and Glory - had contested 4 Group 1s, plus 2 other Group races (and had a late season finish the season before), and his Group 1 races included 2 in 4 weeks just 2 weeks before the CS.
Notnowcato - Had contested 4 Group 1s, 5 races in all prior to the CS.
Hurricane Run - Had contested 4 Group 1s, 5 races in all prior to the CS and was generally past his best come the CS (form had been going down all year).
Oratorio - Had contested 6 Group 1s prior to the CS.
Now, if you look at the last 7 winners of this race (not going back further as wasn't following racing intensely then and hence hadn't that in mind when making my point):
Twice Over - had contested 3 Group 1s prior to the CS.
New Approach - had contested 5 Group 1s but had 3/4 of a stone in hand on his rivals. Unbelieveably hardy horse - something we knew at the time from his 2 year old days and ability to win Derby after running in 2 Guineas. However, an exception to my general point.
Literato - had contested 1 Group 1 prior to the CS.
Pride - had contested 3 Group 1s prior to the CS.
David Junior - had contested 1 Group 1 prior to the CS.
Haafhd - had contested 2 Group 1s prior to the CS.
Rakti - had contested 1 Group 1 prior to the CS.
