OMFG

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

No doubt it would a unique experience, and fun, but why 6f????????

That's a reasonable question.

Could it be because they consider European races more demanding, thus 6F is more like 7F in theory? Or, maybe they are avoiding Goldikova?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

No doubt it would a unique experience, and fun, but why 6f????????

Caracortado did tie the course record for 6f at Hollywood in his comeback last fall, I presume that's the reason.

That and they probably realize that can't compete with top class Euros at a mile or more.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

That's a reasonable question.

Could it be because they consider European races more demanding, thus 6F is more like 7F in theory? Or, maybe they are avoiding Goldikova?

Your answers would not make sense to me, in their shoes.

If indeed it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, why be total pussies about it? I mean why go through all the hassle, give up a lot of earnings potential here, and then duck the better race, in which their horse is a much better fit (Goldikova notwithstanding)?

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Could it be because they consider European races more demanding, thus 6F is more like 7F in theory?

Didn't BC Mile winners Last Tycoon and Royal Academy mostly race in 5f and 6f races in Europe?

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Didn't BC Mile winners Last Tycoon and Royal Academy mostly race in 5f and 6f races in Europe?

That was a long time ago, but you do have an interesting point.

[Alan07]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Caracortado did tie the course record for 6f at Hollywood in his comeback last fall, I presume that's the reason.

That and they probably realize that can't compete with top class Euros at a mile or more.

Hollywood - Smallywood - whatever. The racing & course isn't up to par to what it is at Ascot.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Alan07

Hollywood - Smallywood - whatever. The racing & course isn't up to par to what it is at Ascot.

Which is why Cannonball, a NY Bred, almost won the Golden Jubilee two seasons ago.

[freddymo]

Since when are Euro sprinters all that?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Since when are Euro sprinters all that?

Since never.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Since when are Euro sprinters all that?

I was thinking the same thing, they probably won't face too much really. Getting win at Ascot would be more fun then getting a second (or off the board finish) against Goldikova, no?

[NTamm1215]

It varies. No one was beating Starspangledbanner last year but the year before the field was weak.

Chamberlain Bridge has a big shot in the race in Dubai, so it's not like our horses can't be competitive over there.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Chamberlain Bridge has a big shot in the race in Dubai.

He has the feel of a horse I wouldn't trust over there.

Came up from the claiming ranks, has run very well in races here after dealing with physical issues that came up close to the race, having clockers from different regions come in and just trash his chances for a race in which he goes out and utterly dominates a few days later.

That to me feels like a horse who might let people down over there. Hard to forget when horses with similar issues in Lava Man and Miesque's Approval went over there and put in total non-efforts together - running like a couple of horses with flat tires.

[freddymo]

Wouldn't European sprinters rank behind US, Aussie and possibly Asian sprinters?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Wouldn't European sprinters rank behind US, Aussie and possibly Asian sprinters?

In terms of what?

On dirt - it's a complete joke how superior American sprinters are to the rest of the world.

Turf sprinting was largely ignored here until very recently - but I'd bet we're probably better than Europe at that. Especially 2-year-old turf sprinting. In terms of producing horses who are fast as fucl< and precocious as fucl< ... no one can come close to America.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

He has the feel of a horse I wouldn't trust over there.

Came up from the claiming ranks, has run very well in races here after dealing with physical issues that came up close to the race, having clockers from different regions come in and just trash his chances for a race in which he goes out and utterly dominates a few days later.

That to me feels like a horse who might let people down over there. Hard to forget when horses with similar issues in Lava Man and Miesque's Approval went over there and put in total non-efforts together - running like a couple of horses with flat tires.

I understand what you're saying but Chamberlain Bridge hasn't been in for a tag since he was taken by his current owner in March 2008. His biggest issue could be not being able to use lasix but American based horses have done very well in Dubai and England, specifically sprinting, without it.

Lava Man probably would have lost in Arizona and Miesque's Approval was 3 steps past done when he went to Dubai, so I'm not sure if Chamberlain Bridge's current situation can be compared. Take a horse like The Usual QT last year, who was a confirmed bleeder and he went there, raced without lasix, and put forth the best effort an American horse ever has in the Dubai Duty Free. It's a daunting task no matter what but I'm glad they're giving it a try. Running 5/8ths for $1 million is hard to pass up when you have a horse like him.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

You're probably right about Lava Man - everytime he left So. Cal he ran like a $3,500 claimer.

If he had the Breeders Cup in So. Cal two years in a row - and he never shipped out of that circuit ... He'd probably be rated at least one of the top 2 or 3 handicap horses of the last decade.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I understand what you're saying but Chamberlain Bridge hasn't been in for a tag since he was taken by his current owner in March 2008. His biggest issue could be not being able to use lasix but American based horses have done very well in Dubai and England, specifically sprinting, without it.

Lava Man probably would have lost in Arizona and Miesque's Approval was 3 steps past done when he went to Dubai, so I'm not sure if Chamberlain Bridge's current situation can be compared. Take a horse like The Usual QT last year, who was a confirmed bleeder and he went there, raced without lasix, and put forth the best effort an American horse ever has in the Dubai Duty Free. It's a daunting task no matter what but I'm glad they're giving it a try. Running 5/8ths for $1 million is hard to pass up when you have a horse like him.

The use of lasix is really a non issue because they are just using other things that prevent the bleeding.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Our horses virtually always run like piss in the turf races there every year.

It's pretty sad when The Usual QT gets drowned after having a dream trip and we can rightfully point to him as "putting forth the best effort an American horse ever has in the Dubai Duty Free"

Thoro-Graph makes numbers for foreign horses - and they will inevitably have our turf horses a little faster. They've selected a bunch of our horses like Notional ... only to watch him stagger around the track like he has a flat-tire.

[OTM Al]

He may have a fair shot on that 6f race. If they can train him to break fast and going hard on the cutback, he might be competitive in that race. Their sprinters have always suffered because they break pretty much the same as their middle distance runners, a hole Wesley Ward exploited to great success.

I say why not. To many times people are complaining because owners don't try something daring.

BTW, last I heard Goldikova was going to start a little later this year than last, so she probably won't run at Ascot anyway, but I would guess that a US miler would get dusted in the St James, even by middle level talent over there. The sprint though I think may be do-able.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

He may have a fair shot on that 6f race. If they can train him to break fast and going hard on the cutback, he might be competitive in that race. Their sprinters have always suffered because they break pretty much the same as their middle distance runners, a hole Wesley Ward exploited to great success.

I say why not. To many times people are complaining because owners don't try something daring.

BTW, last I heard Goldikova was going to start a little later this year than last, so she probably won't run at Ascot anyway, but I would guess that a US miler would get dusted in the St James, even by middle level talent over there. The sprint though I think may be do-able.

The St James Palace is for 3YOs. I think the mile race is the Queen Anne.