Godolphin/Darley article

[NoChanceToDance]

* The Guardian,
* Tuesday July 29 2008

Tonight, Kerrin McEvoy quits Britain and his job as understudy to Frankie Dettori to return to his homeland as Sheikh Mohammed's retained rider. "I am from Australia and this is probably the biggest job for a jockey in Australian racing," he said. McEvoy's identity and future is clear, unlike that of the operation he leaves behind.

Godolphin is not what it used to be - that much we know. It was conceived as a taut, elite squad of fewer than 50 horses that plundered the world's top races. It enjoyed instant success, winning the 1994 Oaks with Balanchine and peaking in 1999 with 18 global wins at the highest level.

Now, it numbers around 200, based in Newmarket, Dubai and America. Since 2004, after abandoning juvenile academies in France and the US, it has included numerous two-year-olds. This annual enlistment has been consciously downsized, averaging at about 80 now - far fewer than the distended years of 2004 and 2005.

That was why, in 2004, there was a job for McEvoy and partly why there are no plans to replace him. The other reason is Godolphin's stagnation. Last year, its worldwide haul of six Group Ones was the lowest for 11 years (although its British tally was the highest since 2004, due almost entirely to one horse, Ramonti).

The median ability of the squad has plummeted. In 2003, Godolphin did not have a single runner in a British handicap. In 2008, this division produces its best strike rate. Its class players are sidelined: Ibn Khaldun and Fast Company indefinitely, Ramonti and Creachadoir perhaps permanently.

Last Saturday, for the first time since its inaugural year, Godolphin did not even have a runner in the King George, a race it has won five times. Dettori rode Campanologist in a Group Two at York instead - and finished second.

Meanwhile, the Coolmore Stud-Ballydoyle stable axis continues to give a master class in how a racing superpower should work. There used to be two horses in this global race. Now it is a walkover. Although the prowess of Aidan O'Brien is impressive, the paucity of resistance to his dominance is to the actual detriment of Britain's top races.

If there is a device to achieving recovery, it will not be precipitated by the prevailing guesses. Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, rejects both well-intentioned counsel to revert to a smaller squad and, more forcibly, the latest malicious rumour that Saeed bin Suroor will be replaced as trainer, this time by Mark Johnston.

But neither debate nor gossip will cease as long as Godolphin's very evident problems remain. Speculation has now been rife for years. Is it the quality of the bloodstock? Bad purchasing? Intemperate nurturing or injudicious training? Is it connected with the departure of key players, such as Jeremy Noseda and Tom Albertrani?

The only outward concession to this common currency is Sheikh Mohammed's recent huge expenditure on wholesale breeding operations and nascent stallions. The most striking of the latter purchases provide access to some of Coolmore's newly successful bloodlines, originating from stallions he is said to have self-defeatingly forswore.

If this is indeed his only response, it may imply that he believes - or has been advised - that the inadequacy lies within his breeding stocks. Time may show his was a brilliant move, the re-forming of an empire in echo of - and challenge to - Coolmore.

Yet relying as it does on unproven sires, it is not guaranteed to succeed. Either way, it will be a long wait to find out: the first progeny will not race until 2011. It is also something of a gamble that this is the only shadow that falls between ambition and achievement in latter-day Godolphin.

[brockguy]

is there any truth to the Mark Johnston rumour?? It'll be sad to see McEvoy as he is such a good jockey and nice pleasant person...plus, it will be interesting to see how Darley Oz gets on. Can they go on and completely dominate the Southern Hemisphere..

EDIT - I just see McEvoy won on his last ride for Bin Suroor on a 1-5 shot and finished 2nd in his last ride in the UK..

[NoChanceToDance]

There might be some truth in them wanting Mark Johnston, but I can't imagine there being any truth in them getting him. I mean, why would he? Why would anyone?

Anyone who goes there to train get told what to do by people who have no idea how to train a racehorse.

[my miss storm cat]

Frankie switches sides...

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...ar_Substi.html

... so who gets the Truly Royal mount (Haydock on Saturday)?

[NoChanceToDance]

I don't think it's right that Frankie should be riding for the English team, especially as he's ridden for the european team in the past.

They won't be winning though. It will be interesting to see how well Baze gets on over here.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

I don't think it's right that Frankie should be riding for the English team, especially as he's ridden for the european team in the past.

They won't be winning though. It will be interesting to see how well Baze gets on over here.

I won't even say it.

Hey who else is on the Rest of the World team?

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I won't even say it.

Hey who else is on the Rest of the World team?

Take and Ricardo (sp?) the guy that has ridden the most winners in the world right now.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Take and Ricardo (sp?) the guy that has ridden the most winners in the world right now.

Yes I know who he is.

* * *

In the event anyone cares..... Diabolical on Sunday.




5ème(P/ 728) PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST , le 10.08.2008, DEAUVILLE
GROUPE I , PLAT, 1.300 mètres ( 142.850, 57.150, 28.575, 14.275, 7.150) Après Part. probables: 31 Engagés. 13 Forfaits. 1 Supplémentaire. 1 Non-Déclaré-Partant. 17 Partants probables. Offre de paris : Classic Tiercé et Trio.

Pour chevaux entiers, hongres et juments de 3 ans et au-dessus. Poids: 3 ans, 56 k. ; 4 ans et au-dessus, 58 k. Versement à la poule des propriétaires: 1.500 à l'engagement ou 15.000 à l'engagement le 7 aout. Un objet d'art sera offert au Propriétaire, ainsi qu'un souvenir à l'Entraineur, au Jockey, au Cavalier d'entrainement et à l'Eleveur du cheval gagnant par FRANCE GALOP.




Horse * Weight Rating Priorité Owner Trainer Purse Rcl
1 astronomer royal usa m.ps. 4 ans P2 58 535 D.SMITH/M.TABOR/MME J.MA AP. O'BRIEN 381.899
2 vertigineux m.ps. 4 ans P2 58 475 MME CAROLE DUFRECHE MME C. DUFRECHE 110.150
3 mariol h.ps. 5 ans P2 58 475 SC FAMILLE VIDAL ROB. COLLET 182.780
4 marchand d'or h.ps. 5 ans P2 58 545 MME JEAN-LOUIS GIRAL F. HEAD (S) 756.546
5 diabolical usa m.ps. 5 ans P2 58 000 GODOLPHIN S. BIN SUROOR 365.034
6 garnica m.ps. 5 ans P2 58 520 LADY O'REILLY/E. MAHER D. NICHOLLS 150.275
7 intrepid jack gb m.ps. 6 ans P2 58 000 MICHAEL T. LYNCH H. MORRISON 92.352
8 balthazaar's gift ire m.ps. 5 ans P2 58 520 MLLE MAHONEY/DE LA WARR LM. CUMANI 142.210
9 jumbajukiba gb h.ps. 5 ans P2 58 000 J.P. O'FLAHERTY MME J. HARRINGTON 265.750
10 tiza saf h.ps. 6 ans P2 58 515 JEAN-CLAUDE SEROUL A.DE ROYER DUPRE 158.906
11 us ranger usa m.ps. 4 ans P2 58 515 TABOR/SMITH/MAGNIER/ALLE AP. O'BRIEN 239.114
12 utmost respect gb h.ps. 4 ans P2 58 000 THE RUMPOLE PARTNERSHIP RA. FAHEY 82.659
13 assertive gb m.ps. 5 ans P2 58 000 LADY WHENT RM. HANNON 142.585
14 belliflore f.ps. 4 ans P1 56,5 450 GUY PARIENTE MLLE SV. TARROU (S) 62.300
15 only answer (gb) f.ps. 4 ans ... (supp) P2 56,5 475 WERTHEIMER & FRERE A. FABRE 139.700
16 african rose gb f.ps. 3 ans P2 54,5 485 KHALID ABDULLAH MME C. HEAD-MAAREK 85.500
17 blue cayenne f.ps. 3 ans P1 54,5 455 ECURIE HARAS DE QUETIEVI MLLE SV. TARROU (S) 34.200

[my miss storm cat]

Good day for Mossee.....

Haven't seen full results yet... Did Frankie get a win?

[my miss storm cat]

http://www.godolphin.com/newsArticle.aspx?id=4089

[my miss storm cat]

Since we were talking about Baze here..... is this fair?

Thoughts?

From RP...


Baze granted ban amendment



Racing Post staff


RUSSELL BAZE'S appearance at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has not, as first feared, cost him the chance to ride in Grade 1 races at Saratoga later this month after the BHA accepted his application to have the dates of his Ascot whip ban amended.

Baze, the world's second winning most jockey, was handed a four-day suspensionon his first British ride when the Ascot stewards decided he had used his whip on Mac Gille Eoin "with excessive frequency and without allowing him sufficient time to respond".

Baze, who made his request to the BHA on Sunday, has had his penalty put back by two days, allowing him to compete in Grade 1 contests on August 23 and 24. He is now suspended on August 25, 26, 27 and 28.

[NoChanceToDance]

It is fair because that is the rule we work with over here. If it is just one ban for a few days, the jockey can ask for it to be changed if they know they have mounts in any Gr1 race on any of those days.

[my miss storm cat]

Did this get attention over there, No Chance?

Curious...

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16215

[NoChanceToDance]

No, not really. I heard about it and certainly commented on that thread. What he did then was out of order. What he did at the weekend was merely forgeting the rules of our racing. The ride he gave to the horse on Saturday would have been perfectly acceptable in America, but not here.

[my miss storm cat]

Remember this?

NEWMARKET
21 May 2005

3:10 Cheveley Park Stud King Charles II Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo) 7f

1 Council Member (USA) 6 Saeed Bin Suroor 3 8-12 Kerrin McEvoy 8/1 95 109
2 ½ Museeb 4 J L Dunlop 3 8-12 R Hills 2/1F 102 93 108
3 4 Aragorn (IRE) 7 D R Loder 3 8-12 Jamie Spencer 9/4 87 81 97
4 2 Santa Fe (IRE) 1 Sir Michael Stoute 3 8-12 Ted Durcan 10/1 105 75 92
5 5 Screwdriver 3 R Hannon 3 9-2 Ryan Moore 12/1 98 64 83
6 3 Party Boss 2 C E Brittain 3 9-2 Alan Munro 6/1 105 55 75
7 16 Golden Anthem (USA) 5 J Pearce 3 8-7 p T Quinn 50/1 90 — 25


(Sigh).

Happy retirement, Council Member.

[my miss storm cat]

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20...1961142/-1/ART

[my miss storm cat]

http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/gallery/...rdan-maktoum:1

[brockguy]

anyone want to hazard a guess to what horse(s) Godolphin will buy over the winter.

Its Gino

Paco Boy

Visio D'Etat

Stimulation

Adlerflug

Bankable

[my miss storm cat]

I'll go with Stimulation.

Can I choose an alternate? Adlerflug!

[brockguy]

Lady Marian sold to Sheikh Mo, reported that she will race next season. She is a lovely prospect but..