Dante Stakes

Elm Park ran pretty much how you'd expect a Leger type to - up with the pace, and tried to burn the speed out of the opposition. Wasn't quick enough, and you'd suspect he didn't run in the Guineas (quick ground quoted as the reason) because it wouldn't prove nearly enough of a test for him. Interesting aside from his jockey after yesterday's race - "Andrea made the point that he is a much bigger horse than he was last year and he just needed it a little bit" - which smacks more of disappointment than enthusiasm, imo. Fit or not, his whole profile points to his not having the speed for a summer ground Derby.
Jack Hobbs just plain wasn't good enough, a conclusion his trainer was at pains to steer us toward - both before, and after, the race.
Wasn't there once a stat that no horse beaten in the Dante ever won a Derby; and wouldn't it still stand if Workforce hadn't slipped his bit for much of the York straight?
 
The stats said novices don't win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and neither do horses who try to make all and horses don't win 14 top class races on the trot.... do they Frankel?

Workforce threw that stat in the bin.

John Gosden said not good enough?.......he certainly wasn't on the day but horse lose for reasons and very often they leave that bad run behind at a later date.

Around 80% of Dante winner fail to win the Derby and a big percentages of those don't even run in it.

I am one of the few that believe we haven't seen the best of Jack Hobbs.........time will tell
 
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Euronymous said:
Meaningless stat imo and King's Theatre won a King George.
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Dunno Euro, it's the richest trial, run on the fairest track and consequently attracts the best British horses, so no real surprise the form usually holds up.
Stat would have held for 57 years, too, had Workforce not been particularly unfortunate.
 
Tanlic said:
The stats said novices don't win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and neither do horses who try to make all and horses don't win 14 top class races on the trot.... do they Frankel?

Workforce threw that stat in the bin.

John Gosden said not good enough?.......he certainly wasn't on the day but horse lose for reasons and very often they leave that bad run behind at a later date.

Around 80% of Dante winner fail to win the Derby and a big percentages of those don't even run in it.

I am one of the few that believe we haven't seen the best of Jack Hobbs.........time will tell
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If this is the best of the flat i really hope the jumps hurry up back!
 
When Dettori was asked if Jack Hobbs would handle Epsom he was unconvincing.If he was mine I would give him a couple of months off and have a proper horse for the Autumn.
 
I thought Jack Hobbs was a stunner to look at prior to the race but have to agree with him possibly not handling Epsom. He struggled when the gun was put to his head albeit over 2f shorter so you may expect improvement there but he still looks a big baby who may prefer a touch more ease in the ground and if that's the case then in all probability the undulations and camber of Epsom won't suit. He hits the ground a little hard in front for me still. Golden Horn is the better candidate in that sense physically but looking at his pedigree it does throw up doubts although if they are going to get a mile and a half anywhere, it would be Epsom.

I haven't seen the Weld horse in action so can't comment but does anyone else think AOB may have a problem with his colts this year - some of them have run shockers (bar Gleneagles obviously). Maybe they just aren't that good. I was hoping Sir Isaac Newton was going to sweep onto the scene but he's now been beaten twice at odds-on. (still holds some lofty entries though)
 
No defo not giving up on him! I saw him go through the sales as a yearling (mentioned on here somewhere) - he is (or was) one of the most stunning horses I have seen.
 
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