** Official Cricketweb Horseracing thread **

[benchmark00]

Also picked up the chicken schnitzel burger combo from the local chicken shop ftr.

That was the real winner on the day.

 

[Bobisback]

A mate of mine went 50/50 with a girl at work on a $120 box trifecta that included Americain, Maluckyday and So You Think. He found out AFTER the race that she had changed the bet at the last minute because she didn't like Maluckyday. He stood to win around $40k apparently. Needless to say he's ropeable.

Even if they had $120 straight out on Americain-Maluckyday-So You Think they wouldnt have got 40k.

 

[_Ed_]

So You Think sold to Coolmore Stud

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Their replacement for Yeats then to win all the staying group races in Europe.

 

[_Ed_]

Maybe, although I think he's at his best over distances shorter than a mile and a half.

 

[_Ed_]

Really awesome field for our NZ 2000 Guineas on Saturday.

1 33X21 Jimmy Choux 4 88 56.0 Jonathan Riddell John Bary, Hastings
2 2X346 Cellarmaster 3 85 56.0 James McDonald (a) Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
3 75171 Barside 15 80 56.0 Lisa Allpress Trent Busuttin, Cambridge
4 5X723 Icepin 17 80 56.0 Vinnie Colgan Jason Bridgman, Rangiora
5 61221 Undisclosed 18 80 56.0 Craig Grylls Peter McKay, Matamata
6 1X114 Encosta Diablo 6 78 56.0 Chris Johnson Jason Bridgman, Rangiora
7 4X232 Charma 5 76 56.0 Leith Innes Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
8 311 Hammer Down 14 75 56.0 Sam Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore
9 2X517 Hoofit 11 75 56.0 Stephen McKee, Ardmore
10 21891 Flash Hapi 1 74 56.0 Robert Hannam Kenny & Lisa Rae, Ruakaka
11 161 He's Remarkable 13 74 56.0 Matthew Cameron Roger James, Cambridge
12 23137 Maradona 9 74 56.0 Daniel Stackhouse (a) Andrew Campbell, Opaki
13 41302 Upsala 2 74 56.0 Paul Taylor Kenny & Lisa Rae, Ruakaka
14 6X120 Sweet Suitor 7 73 56.0 Darryl Bradley Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
15 82315 Santos 16 68 56.0 Jamie Bullard John & Karen Parsons, Balcairn
16 111X1 Twilight Savings 12 85 54.5 Opie Bosson Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
17 X2114 Rememba Howe 10 84 54.5 Noel Harris Evan & J J Rayner, Wanganui
18 12X51 We Can Say It Now (AUS) 8 75 54.5 Mark Du Plessis Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge

It has everything, really - last year's top 2yos (Jimmy Choux and Cellarmaster); a blueblood (Encosta Diablo); consistent stakes performers (Icepin, Charma); three hugely talented fillies taking on the boys (Twilight Savings, Rememba Howe and We Can Say It Now); and two horses that have been hyped up enormously by their connections and have shown phenomenal ability against lower class opposition (Hammer Down, He's Remarkable).

I think He's Remarkable is the most likely winner here, but I think a lot of people are unwisely forgetting about Jimmy Choux and Cellarmaster. They should definitely make their presence felt.

I think the quality of this field really shows that the big stake boost for this race has done a lot of good. There have been big overseas offers for quite a few of these runners, and the offers were turned down in part because there was this $1 million race to have a crack at in November (as well as the $2 million Derby in March).

We've had some great 3yo crops in the last couple of years, and I don't think that's a coincidence.

I hope the stakes don't fall away too much next year (but I expect they will).

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Ruby Walsh is brilliant.

Just backed his horse in the first race at Thurles which was a 2m novice chase.3rd most of the way round,went 2nd then dropped back to 4th 3 out and lost quite a lot of ground.Rallied again between last 2 fences and won by 3 lengths going away.All looked lost but he stayed calm and got it up.

Always nice to get a 4-1 winner to start the day.

 

[_Ed_]

I flew down to Christchurch for the 2000 Guineas yesterday. When I arrived and it was raining, 7 degrees and a duck waddled across the track, I wondered what I'd got myself into!

But the bleak weather didn't get in the way of a really, really awesome Guineas.
YouTube - 2010 NEW ZEALAND 2000 GUINEAS
Thought Jimmy was gone 250 from home, but he kept finding. Huge performance.

And what about He's Remarkable? I know it's still five months away, but he's looking tough to beat in the NZ Derby.

 

[_Ed_]

So the champion American mare Zenyatta failed to win her 20th race in a row and lost her unbeaten career record - by a head. She was questionably ridden and flew home.
YouTube - 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic
It was arguably as good a performance as she's ever produced. This was likely to be her last ever race, so it's a bit of a shame that such a great horse didn't go out on a winning note.

It was much better, though, for a horse that is IMO equally amazing - Goldikova.
YouTube - 2010 Breeders' Cup Mile
Her third win a row in the Breeders' Cup Mile - the first time a horse has ever won a BC race three times.

 

[Smudge]

NZ Trotting Cup tomorrow.

My top four selections:
1. Smoken Up
2. Stunin Cullen
3. Monkey King
4. Power Of Tara

 

[_Ed_]

Looks like a lovely day for it.

 

[_Ed_]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/59804/goldikova-to-go-for-mile-four-peat-in-2011
Unbelievable.

 

[_Ed_]

Wow, Monkey King's a great horse. 37 wins and more than $3m in stakes. Amazing stuff.

 

[Athlai]

NZ Trotting Cup tomorrow.

My top four selections:
1. Smoken Up
2. Stunin Cullen
3. Monkey King
4. Power Of Tara

Hope you won big.

 

[Smudge]

Got the first four and a few bets. Didn't win huge, but it'll pay for a few beers in Chch tonight.

 

[_Ed_]

My faith and patience were rewarded today by Showcause. I've always been confident he'd one day live up to his breeding and potential, but I lost a fair bit of money while waiting for it to happen. Great to see him come through today, and I loved the 16-1.

I didn't rate King's Rose in the top five contenders in today's 1000 Guineas, but wow! She was far too good for them. The margin of three quarters of a length flattered her opponents IMO. She looks a really top-class filly.

 

[Smudge]

Oooo, I was glad to see Showcause win too. Had a boxed multi with Monkey King in Friday's FFA and a greyhound on Thursday night anchored, while the four other options were Sergio in the NZ Greyhound Cup, Octane Spark in the Galaxy Greyhound Sprint, We Can Say It Now and Showcause. Was up for $600 from my $5 if We Can Say It Now could have got up, but I'll take the $157 anyway.

Thing about Showcause is that he looked done at about the 400m, but came again.

 

[_Ed_]

Absolutely. His breeding has always suggested that 3200m would be his distance, and it was his stamina and determination that got him over the line yesterday.

He'll be up in the weights now of course. That could be an issue, since he's still quite a lightly framed horse for a stayer. But I have to keep the faith now.

The Pooka went **** again yesterday. Sad decline for a horse once good enough to beat Alamosa and win the 2000 Guineas.

 

[_Ed_]

While the interference suffered by We Can Say It Now in the Guineas yesterday was severe, it's really ****ing pissing me off how everyone seems to be ignoring the performance of the winner. She was hardly mentioned in the papers this morning.

When WCSIN was slammed into the rail, she was still at least three lengths off the lead. King's Rose went to the line with her ears pricked and being eased down. I'm sure she had more up her sleeve if she'd been given a challenge.

And regardless, it was a huge run by King's Rose - three wide for the whole trip, but still way too good. I'd like to see more people acknowledge that.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

The sort of day i love.Cold wet and miserable and the stars of National Hunt come out to brighten up the day.

Master Minded takes on Albertas Run at Ascot and Imperial Commander runs against What a Friend at Haydock.

The sort of afternoon to get the blood pumping.Come on the Nicholls duo.