Quality Road

Yep was going to post about the race. Cracking race to end the bank holiday weekend.

Broke his own track record last time out. Thought they shoot for the World Cup because that race at Gulfstream is a usually used as a trial for Dubai but Pletcher targetted the Met straight away which I think says all u need to know.

10TH (5:49)
Metropolitan H. (G1)

1 Mile | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $500,000

Prg. #    PP    Horse    Jockey    Trainer    Wt.    Claim $    Equip.    ML

1 1 Convocation    Desormeaux K J    Jerkens James A    114            L    10-1

2 2 Tizway    Maragh R    Bond Harold James    115            L    20-1

3 3 Musket Man    Dominguez R A    Ryan Derek S    117            L    5-1

4 4 Warrior's Reward    Borel C H    Wilkes Ian R    118            L    9-2

5 5 Kensei    Prado E S    Asmussen Steven M    116            L    20-1

6 6 You and I Forever    Castellano J J    Wolfson Martin D    116            L    10-1

7 7 Quality Road    Velazquez J R    Pletcher Todd A    124            L    4-5

8 8 Le Grand Cru    Velasquez C    Jerkens H Allen    115            L    15-1



Can't argue with having a Grade 1 to look forward to on a Monday night!
Don't know a whole lot about most of the field but if Quality Road was to touch evs at any stage reckon I'd get interested in him.
Has gone really well fresh a couple of times before, especially in the Amsterdam last year after coming off the injury. The mile should suit, he can go to the front and take them wire to wire.

Blue Sq not taking any chances.

Quality Road 1/2
Musket Man 6
Warriors Reward 7
You and I Forever 10
Tizway 14
Convocation 16
Kensei 16
Le Grand Cru 20


Kensei is the only one of any interest for me.

4/5 morning line, lol, if only.

Here was me hoping for evens!
It is supposed to be a handicap afterall.

Not rated like our handicaps though by the looks of things, only Musket Man can get close to him imo but QR's looked very good this season so far and can't see him getting beat.

free form guides with DRF.

The detailed Formulator and the Easy Racing Post type won :o

http://www.drf.com/video/rod.html

More than 5k matched on here, every cent of it on Quality Road!
People taking 1.39 and 1.45.

Wonder will he be that short on the PMU?

I was thinking 1/3

Forecast

ATR commentators were underwhelmed with QR but to give Musket Man 7lbs and a beating was a very decent performance especially as he went plenty fast enough early and the race set up better for the closer Musket Man who was placed in two classics last season.

Agree with that, how far back were the 3rd and 4th, can't remember?

Tizway looked a further couple of lengths behind : he has good course form in the Jockey Club last year when third to Summer Bird and Quality Road on a sloppy surface ( which QR encountered a number of times in the second half of last year which prevented him fulfilling his potential then )

Cheers one to look at more closely but my early idea of the BC winner back on dirt.

Seems versatile regarding distance but sloppy definitely doesnt suit

wd with the forecast ben.

On to the Classic, are we absolutely sure that Quality Road stays a strongly run 10 furlongs?
He's been beaten both times over the trip, admittedly on sloppy both times but still there is the element of doubt.
I'd imagine though that it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If the race was to be priced up now, anyone want to hazard a guess as to prices?


Zenyatta 3/1
Rachel 6/1
Quality Road 8/1
Super Saver/Lucky 10/1
Europeans 14/1

Anywhere close?

impressive?

Last night?
He was ok. Not overly impressive. Took up the lead going into the final turn and looked like he was going to go away from them. There was a moment of worry though as Musket Man came back at him, he really just stayed on strongly after than rather than pulled away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR_XlTNNCd8&playnext_from=TL&videos=0wu6JrZo0XM&feature=sub
Or if that doesn't work youtube 2010 Metropolitan Mile Handicap.

thanks TJ.

Decent enough test against Blame tonight, and he has to give Musket Man another 2 lbs from the last time they races.

If only he went in the stalls at last year's BC........... :(

Not sure QR would have been as effective on synthetic in BC last year as he clearly is on dirt , he has a stiff enough task tonight at the weights which for once do actually resemble a handicap !

I'm not sure either Stellar, but me Viva would have liked to found out in Classic


Should be a good race tonight if all bing thier A game.


All the best.

Jockey Jockey Jockey

Didn't stay though

not sure he didnt stay...set some of the slowest fractions of his career.

you should youtube Blame's win in the Stephen Forster G1.

same style of win. powerful kick through the stretch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enQ9P8q2gjE

Serious piece of form that race imo, Musket Man very consistent yardstick in these races. Blame off levels could still beat QR with his off the pace style, particularly as the pace wasn't great so it was all the better from him.

Looks a relatively straight forward task tonight.
With 8 weeks to go before the Classic will probably have to get one more run before it.

The time to judge will be in the jockey club gold cup.

easy win tonight.

interesting first time blinks for MineThatBird but he's racing off levels tonight and not getting the 8lbs he got in the Whitney last time when QR thrashed him....so another thrashing in prospect.

Won but he wasnt all that impressive...I'm with Steve Miller...horse would be better at a mile.

Pretty underwhelming that I thought, hopefully they've left plenty of work on

maybe we're overplaying it....I mean Velasquez did mess up last time looking round again and again...maybe he just didnt want to look like a douche for a 2nd time especially against this lot.

or maybe not :-)