Actually, just last year, Star Witness made the voyage from Australia to Ascot and ran in both the G1 King's Stand Stakes and the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes, and he ran outstanding races in both. 2nd in the King's Stand Stakes behind Prohibit over 5f. Then 4 days later he finished 3rd behind Society Rock and Monsieur Chevalier in the Golden Jubilee Stakes over 6f. Didn't seem to drain Star Witness's ability any?
On the front page of this mornings AtTheRaces.com web-site: Quote: "Trainer Peter Moody has expressed concerns that the brilliant Black Caviar might not handle the draining flight from Australia to England." End quote. I believe that same excuse, along with an unknown surface being 2 of the primary reasons given for skipping the G1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai back in March. Now, after reading this article, I'm beginning to smell she's not going to be coming to Ascot for the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes in June either? Just curious? Is the draining flight angle always going to be the reason given now for her never leaving Australia to race? Other great Australian sprinters in the past have managed to handle the flight and run quite well in Europe. I.E., I believe Scenic Blast made the trek in 2009 and won the G1 King's Stand Stakes at the June Ascot meeting. It's not hard to stay great or undefeated when you're hammering the same inferior dozen or so sprinters over and over again in your home country. But that's only one mans opinion.
Never thought they would to begin with. Peter Moody's not that foolish. It's one thing to be confident in her ability at 7f and think you might like trying her at a mile to see how she fares? But quite another to go into the backyard of the beast that is Frankel and believe you can beat him on his own turf. I personally don't think Moody wants any part of Frankel over 8f on anywhere.
Wasn't even aware that Michael Tabor had even purchased this filly? But I saw a lot of her races in the UK, and have backed her several times over the past couple of seasons. Belle Royale was very good, particularly at Chester, and had won 3 or 4 straight handicaps in the UK prior to coming to America.
The connections of Cirrus Des Aigles went back and forth debating whether to run him in the G1 Prix D' Ispahan over 9f again after being beaten by a neck in the race by Goldikova last season. Or to wait and bring him to Epsom next week for the G1 Coronation Cup over 12f. They ultimately decided to run him again in the Prix D' Ispahan at Longchamp on Sunday, and he was beaten by 3/4 of a length by the Andre Fabre trained filly, Golden Lilac. Who won both the G1 French 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix De Diane(French Oaks) last season, with Planteur finishing in 3rd. Cirrus Des Aigles has always been quite versatile in races between 9f and 12f. But I've always thought his 12f races is where he's been seen at his best. And I say that knowing he's won both the G1 Champion Stakes and G1 Prix Ganay over 10f. Last season, he pummeled a very good horse in his own right in Silver Pond in the G2 Grand Prix De Deauville by some 10 lengths. He was also very unlucky to have been beaten by Sarafina in the G1 Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud over 12f. Literally tagged by her right on the wire. Then we all see him hold off the late charge of Breeders Cup Turf winner, St Nicholas Abbey, in Dubai back in March to win the G1 Sheema Classic over 12f. I personally would've liked to have seen his connections bring him to Epsom for the Coronation Cup. Which would likely have set up another head to head meeting with St Nicholas Abbey again. But TJMO.
After a disappointing 9th place finish in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket 3 weeks ago, Caspar Netscher rebounds to travel to Cologne, Germany and win the G2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen(German 2000 Guineas) on Monday. Defeating Amarillo in 2nd and Red Duke in 3rd.
Hard to believe that after mauling Cirrus Des Aigles by some 6+ lengths in the Prix Matchem, winning the G1 Grand Prix De Paris, the G2 Prix Niel, and finishing 3rd in the G1 Arc De Triomphe won by Sea The Stars in 2009, all when he was a 3yr.old in the barn of the great French trainer, Andre Fabre. That 16 races later for Saeed Bin Suroor and Godolphin, Cavalryman finally got his first win for Godolphin today at York in the listed LLP Grand Cup. When Andre Fabre had Cavalryman in 2008 and 2009, he looked poised to become one of the next bright middle distance turf stars in Europe. But once he made the trek from Fabre's yard in France to the yard of Saeed Bin Suroor, something went terribly wrong somewhere? What have you learned, Sheikh Mohammed?
For a brief moment in the race, it looked like Daddy Long Legs might steal the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas from the front end. But young Joseph O'Brien was clearly aboard the best horse in the race on the day, and gave Power a brilliant ride to win the race. Power showed a very explosive turn of foot today at the Curragh in the final 200 meters or so of the race. I had a hunch this horse might be setting on a big race like this with the ground in Ireland more to his liking. After a sub-par effort in the English 2000 Guineas a few weeks ago at Newmarket on ground he clearly didn't like that day. Well done to young Joseph O'Brien for riding both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas winner this season at only 19 yrs. old. A lot of jockey's will never accomplish that feat during their entire careers.
@Mary Z., based on what both have done at present, I can certainly see where you'd think all would be in Frankel's favor racing her at a mile. But she sure seemed to handle 7f with relative ease, and looked to have plenty left in the locker to me. There's even some speculation of late form some in Australia who believe 10f wouldn't even be a problem for Black Caviar? I think if Moody ever stepped her up to a mile, she'd likely get 8f with little difficulty, but I'm unsure about the 10f theory? Regardless, I don't think she can beat Frankel at 7f or a mile.