Pete The Feat

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
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I don't recall ever seeing a horse pull so hard for so long in a staying chase. My brother will argue Hedgehunter in his first National but I can't help thinking PTF is some way better than the bare form today. I wonder if that wee bit of interference cost him second place.
 
Though he's enthusiastic, I don't believe he was anywhere near 'pulling hard'.
That's his style, and it's done him proud, so far. For mine, he just didn't quite see out today's trip, and a small drop in distance would serve him better than any attempt to restrain him further.
 
reet hard said:
Though he's enthusiastic, I don't believe he was anywhere near 'pulling hard'.
That's his style, and it's done him proud, so far. For mine, he just didn't quite see out today's trip, and a small drop in distance would serve him better than any attempt to restrain him further.
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That seems to be the trainer's view too, this on Twitter

"The winning run might be over, but Pete ran a blinder today and just got outstayed up the straight - back to 3 miles I think."
 
Interesting comments, those. He maybe wasn't pulling Fehily's arms out but he was certainly keen to go faster than the jockey wanted. 'Running with the choke out' might be a better way of describing it.

I wonder if 'back to 3m' is maybe a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. 3m3f in heavy at Newbury didn't seem a problem and he'd also won over 3m2f.

Hopefully the handicapper won't over-react but I suspect he'll go up another 5lbs or so for today's run. Things won't be getting any easier for him but I still think he could win off his revised rating.
 
Was great performance by pete the feat, just think hes won so many times
cant keep winning all the time, those race wins have taken its toll, plus
giving weight to younger horses that are on the upgrade . IMHO
 
Desert Orchid said:
I wonder if 'back to 3m' is maybe a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. 3m3f in heavy at Newbury didn't seem a problem and he'd also won over 3m2f.
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And Tidal Bay won an Arkle, but that doesn't make him a 2 miler.
It's axiomatic that the more a horse steps up in class, the more he exposes his limitations.
 
It seems to me that the thing to take from this race regarding Pete The Feat is that he is a horse that needs to lead and whilst he may get away with pulling like that in lesser company where he can't lead, he won't get away with it anymore.

I wouldn't have a problem backing him over 3m5f in future - it's not as if he stopped like One Man.
 
Take at look at the closing stages of his previous run, Simmo. Far from the 'idling' comment of the RP racereader, he showed all the signs of a horse at the end off his tether, making a poor jump at the last and rolling about like a drunk on the run-in, with the 2nd - whom he had on toast 2 out - catching him all the time.
Pete The Feat is a cracking horse, and probably still has improvement in him, but I seriously doubt he'll find it in circumstances similar to Saturday.
 
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