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Originally Posted by todko
Do you think -- and this is a purely hypothetical question -- that Invasor may have riding orders not to win the JCGC?
After all, if Invasor wins, Bernardini's chances for Horse Of The Year may be out the window so to speak. Bernardini as HOTY would have a much bigger stud fee next year -- seems like it could be a smart business move on the part of the shieks to make sure Bernardini won. And the shieks are certainly smart business men.
They have avoided races this year where their top horses would have run against each other. Discreet Cat avoided Bernardini, Jazil avoided both DC and Bernardini, Invasor only ran against DC in Dubai. Look at the TC series -- Jazil runs the Derby alone, Bernardini the Preakness alone, Jazil comes back in the Belmont alone. Discreet Cat avoids all TC races.
Other trainers used to gripe about running against the Wayne Lukas juggernaut or the Todd Pletcher steamroller. They may have bigger issues running against the well funded Maktoum machine (you'll never hear the breeders complain).
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They never duck each other's horses. The Preakness was a perfect race for Bernardini following the Withers and Jazil was better suited to be given some extra time for the Belmont. I don't see it as a matter of avoiding each other, but each of their horses were ready at different times. We all should be so lucky.
Either Bernie or DC would have been in the Derby if they were ready, they want to win the Derby and if they could have, they probably would have sent all 3.
One thought that crossed my mind though is Invasor isn't nominated to the BC, which could be why they are testing him against Bernie in the JCGC...if he doesn't run well, hold off for the Donn & DWC....not that $250,000 means anything to them.