Euronymous
Senior Jockey
Was it not the Cornwallis? I remember it was at Ascot.
The Derby
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- Start date
rorydelargy
At the Start
Hyperion Stakes - the Cornwallis is a 5f race.
trackside528
At the Start
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Really interesting about Cape Blanco; I had a word with one of the Ballydoyle lads on track and they said he was a shade stiff after the race.
Has AP O'Brien ever pulled this before?
Has AP O'Brien ever pulled this before?
Sheikh
At the Start
I think Gal put his finger on it. They don't like their future stallions being examined too closely. I have been told before that you don't really get the full history as regards their stallions and any imperfections they may have had.
I dont agree with alot of what Nick Mordin writes but he did have an interesting article in the Weekender this week about the ratings achieved by horses leading up to the Derby, and using his system the only horse to qualify as the most likely Derby winner is Cape Blanco.
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
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And it isn't likely to be good enough so it's likely something will find the requisite improvement on the day.
Exactly. The form of the RPT is NOT working out to date in the races that matter, but some people would rather ignore the evidence of their eyes once they have an antepost bet on.
Cape Blanco looks a worthy favourite to me in a generally uninspiring year. Lovely looking horse. I think he'll win the Eclipse regardless.
The form has not worked out based on ONE race. It worked out in the Craven, in the Chester trials and in the Dante yesterday with CC running well.
Even aside from SNA - it is pretty clear to me that Elusive Pimpernel got no run of the race in the Guineas in terms of race position or by how the race was run. He is much better than that effort and expect him to prove so.
Edited to say the only worry with Cape Blanco is if they put Heffernan up, then he would need to be 3 pounds or so better than the rest. Surely they'd use a top jockey? I thought the same last year with Fame and Glory so perhaps not.
There has been one top race - the Guineas. The first 3 were unplaced, and didn't threaten.
Co-ordindated Cut ran no kind of race in the RPT and I hate it when people use examples like his run in the RPT as evidence of a race working out or not.
I am not saying SNA won't or can't win the Derby. However, for someone to come on here and say the form is working out is plain wrong, and insulting to anyone who has ever picked up a formbook.
Thats it in a nutshell
I really like Cape Blanco. Interesting Francomes comments comparing how he had really grwon this year (compared to SNA). Not had time to look at pedigree yet and as someone who always likes to see good staying evidence for the derby, are the doubters possibly correct?
I really like Cape Blanco. Interesting Francomes comments comparing how he had really grwon this year (compared to SNA). Not had time to look at pedigree yet and as someone who always likes to see good staying evidence for the derby, are the doubters possibly correct?
You are insulted by it? Get a grip....it is called a difference of opinion and the formbook is there to be interpreted not blindly followed. My reading of the Guineas has been said before - the two RPT horses ran pretty well in a race that did not show them in the best light. You see it in a different light which is fair enough.
I will bet you anything John Fran could not tell you what colour the horse was prior to seeing him in the parade ring yesterday let alone how he looked as a two year old - in saying that he is a fine looking individual.
More often than not Ballydoyle's opinion on their horse get proved right in the end - took Rip Van Winkle until the Eclipse to prove his merit.
More often than not Ballydoyle's opinion on their horse get proved right in the end - took Rip Van Winkle until the Eclipse to prove his merit.
Im not a great one for stats, but allied to that is the suspicion that it wasnt a great guineas too. Maybe thats always the prejudiced reaction by many, when theres a suprise winner and possibly when any Hannon runner is in the frame.
Time will tell, but I do find comments like "great" peformance by SNA very strange indeed. it clearly wasnt. And beyond that, it clearly fell a long way short of that expected by big punting connections (judging by late moves on day before)
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Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
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I backed it straight after the Guineas and am very happy with that bet.
However, it doesn't mean I won;t be scouring the form for something I think might also have a shout. I'll be surprised if I alight upon something like Cape Blanco but it might just be one of those years.
I'm also on record - more than once - as saying I still think the Dewhurst rather than the RPT was the key to this year's top 3yos, although it might not find us the Derby winner.
I'm quite used tio farting against thunder on here. It took people ages to realise how good RVW was last year or exactly how hot the Eclipse was.
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
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The unsatisfactory aspect of the Guineas was that it wasn't a true-run race so we don't really know how the form will pan out. All it told us was that Makfi won it well in the circumstances, circumstances that maybe suited it better but maybe Makfi will end up the top 3yo miler anyway.
I think if you look back through Ballydoyle reps that were beaten in Guineas and check their subsequent form, you'll find plenty of reason to expect significant improvement as the season wears on.
I think if you look back through Ballydoyle reps that were beaten in Guineas and check their subsequent form, you'll find plenty of reason to expect significant improvement as the season wears on.