Forums

Horse Antepost

Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
Figgis
15 Jun 14 12:13
Joined:
Date Joined: 28 Sep 04
| Topic/replies: 9,690 | Blogger: Figgis's blog
The favourite Shamkala has been comfortably winning races run at a crawl, whether she'll be as good in a truly run race I have no idea but wouldn't even entertain the idea of backing her at current odds to find out. Connections say she doesn't show too much at home, is that because she saves her best for the track or has she simply had her own way on the racecourse so far against mediocre opposition? She could be the real deal but she could also be another Flintshire, who was also overrated after winning off early crawls.

I don't believe Avenir Certain was a good French Guineas winner and don't fancy her here.

I reckon Miss France was well up to standard as the winner of the Guineas but the way the race was run concealed her true superiority over the field. Apart from meaning she'll be underrated it hopefully should also mean she wouldn't have had too hard a race there and she's been well rested anyway for this. Soft ground would be an unknown but Fabre doesn't seem too worried and with any luck it will be like most French descriptions where soft ground is overstated. I don't really know for sure if she'll stay the extra distance but the trainer thinks so and at the price it's definitely worth the risk. Even with the stamina doubt she'd be favourite in my book and if she does stay I can't see her out of the frame.
Pause Switch to Standard View Prix de Diane Longines
Show More
Loading...
Report unclepuncle June 15, 2014 12:39 PM BST
While you have to respect the connections of Shamlaka (especially when it comes the the Diane) I agree that she shouldn't be favourite taking on two Guineas winners. Both Guineas winners have slight doubts though so it's a watching brief for me.
Report sintonian June 15, 2014 1:16 PM BST
From a TTF point of view I hope Shamkala wins, but I agree that 11/8 looks a short price based on the reasons aboove. I originally thought Miss France was more of an Oaks horse so don't really see why an extra 2 furlongs should be a problem. At 11/2 she could look a big price later but i'll just be watching this one!
Report roadrunner46 June 15, 2014 1:40 PM BST
dont know much about the french form, avenir certain hast done anything wrong so far, miss france not sure what that horses fav ground is? like you say fav is short on what it has achieved, quickened nicely and eased LTO, presume that was somekind of trial race for todays race. do like miss france and certainly lived up to expectations in the 1000 guineas. gl all
Report sintonian June 15, 2014 2:49 PM BST
Avenir Certain now a double classic winner. No excuses for Shamkala in 4th or Miss France. Just not good enough.
Report sintonian June 15, 2014 2:56 PM BST
Maybe Shamkala is much better on softer ground being by Pivotal?
Report sintonian June 15, 2014 2:59 PM BST
The horse she beat very easily last time out, Amour A Papa, turned the form around today. Possible ground excuses imo.
Report roadrunner46 June 15, 2014 3:10 PM BST
havent watched any of those french races, the winner had the best form in the book, miss france had more to prove in those conditions.
you was right about the fav being too short figgis.
Report Figgis June 15, 2014 3:17 PM BST
Apart from getting the race wrong I don't really know what to make of that result on first impressions. The winner is obviously better than I thought but the bunched finish behind raises questions about the quality of the result given it looked a good pace. Miss France was travelling well enough then got squeezed out at a vital stage, not that she would've won, but I'm not sure stamina was the reason as she seemed to be running on again at the finish. Maybe she's just not as good as I thought but even so it's a surprise that so many moderate fillies finished so close.
Report brandyontherocks June 15, 2014 3:25 PM BST
This filly continues to surprise and impress. She has a fine turn of foot.
Not sure how to rate the race as like said above they've all finished in a heap behind.
She maybe is just better than a very ordinary bunch of fillies.
I was hoping the favourite would continue her upward curve but she was very disappointing.
Report Millerracing67 June 15, 2014 3:42 PM BST
Winner looks a smart filly, but the heaped finish behind makes the form difficult to pin down. Fav looks on the face of it to be over rated unless something comes to light for her run, interesting to hear the views of Sumi on that.
Miss France granted better luck in running would have finished 2nd imo, she got hemmed in at a crucial point of the race, jockey waited just a split second to long to make his move on her, but she was running on well in the final furlong.
Report EastLower Gooner June 16, 2014 12:02 AM BST
the pricewise pick...lavender lane...has a race in here.
Report Sandown June 16, 2014 10:23 AM BST
Didn't play but thought beforehand that Shamkala was worse value than Australia had been but so much confidence in the market that she had to be there., especially as the ground given in the paper was soft which wouldn't suit either MF or AC. As usual in France, we were put away on the ground and it rode good to firm imo. 

AC was a taking winner and I wouldn't be too concerned about the bunched finish as the bare distances don't do justice to her superiority. Couln't see any excuse for MF other than the trip. Shamkala has to be given another chance on softer ground over 12f.Think ground is key and she might still figure for the Arc.
Report Figgis June 16, 2014 10:52 AM BST
It just looked to me that Shamkala couldn't handle a faster pace than she'd been used to before. If her form beforehand on soft ground amounted to much I'd be willing to forgive her the run but I think she's just another French runner that looks good off a slow early pace.
Report unclepuncle June 16, 2014 11:26 AM BST
Couldn't have her on my mind for the Arc at all.
Report Sandown June 16, 2014 12:28 PM BST
Couldn't have her on my mind for the Arc at all.


A term which implies certainty whereas the evidence is that she has speed (previous run) handles/needs soft(previous run which on balance she will get),and is bred to be better at 12f than 10f, and was well-supported despite being well behind on ratings suggesting stable confidence. All of which adds up imo to her being better than her run yesterday. Deserves another chance imo.
Report sintonian June 16, 2014 12:29 PM BST
Jockey was at his reigns on her after 2 furlongs. Wouldn't be surprised if she prefers it softer.
Report brandyontherocks June 16, 2014 6:39 PM BST
Maybe the favourite would have preferred some cut in the ground, but a few of her relatives have group 1 form on a fast surface.
True enough she will be better over a bit further but her lack of speed yesterday was/is a concern. You need to be able to quicken in the Arc and that would put me off. Like you say she deserves another chance but at the moment I couldn't entertain her.
Report roadrunner46 August 19, 2014 2:15 PM BST
avenir certain thats won 6 in a row now, suppose dropping down to group 2 made its task lot easier, there has been lot of group 3 winners coming from those races.
Report brigust1 August 19, 2014 3:05 PM BST
It will be very interesting if she meets Treve in the Prix Vermeille.
Report Figgis August 19, 2014 3:20 PM BST
Going straight for the Arc apparently.
Report brigust1 August 19, 2014 3:55 PM BST
I can't blame them. Keep the dream alive. A three year old filly, unbeaten so has an obvious chance. I'm not sure I would back her as the race stands but there are a lot of other unknowns.
Report roadrunner46 August 19, 2014 3:58 PM BST
should make the ARC more interesting this year with AC in the race unbeaten. could be a good race year if all the high profile horses turn up.
Report brigust1 August 19, 2014 4:17 PM BST
To complete a U turn I have just had a punt at 16s with 356. Still available if anyone interested?
Post Your Reply
<CTRL+Enter> to submit
Please login to post a reply.

Wonder

Instance ID: 13539
www.betfair.com