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nocturnal
21 Jun 18 00:25
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Date Joined: 14 Jan 05
| Topic/replies: 5,350 | Blogger: nocturnal's blog
One of the highlights of the week,a true test of speed and stamina over 2m 4f.

Order Of St George......Sets the standard on the last two runnings,winning easily in 2016 on softer ground,touched off in last years renewal on quicker ground,not quite getting to the front runner B Orange.Much bigger fields both years, he was held up way off the pace,that should not be a problem tomorrow with just the nine going to post.With the stable having a fine record over a number of years,he commands the greatest of respect,he will be primed to the minute,very likeable horse.

Stradivarius........The new kid on the block,he steps onto the big stage with some excellent form over less demanding distances,showing a mixture of stamina and a turn of speed at the end of his races.Unbeaten with any firm in the going description,he will love the forecast ground,stable in form,vying for favouritism,classy sort.

Vazirabad..... French challenger with a string of 1st/2nd to his name,highlighting just how consistent this 6 yr old has been over the last couple seasons.Arguably shown his best form with cut,this looks like the quickest ground he will have encountered,deserves his place in the line up,danger to all.

Outside of the three principals,the others appear held on recent form.........or do they?

Desert Skyline......One of three 4 yr olds in the field,he will also be tackling this extreme distance for the first time.Beaten easily by both the market leaders before,his chance does not look that obvious.However,tomorrow he gets his ground,along with the Gosden horse,both should have no issues with fast ground.Everything about this horse suggests to me he wants a real test,even with the cheekpieces on he has been held up consistently toward the back,I,m not sure he can win tomorrow with those tactics.
Both the trainer and jockey are shrewd operators,I wonder if we might see him towards the front a lot sooner tomorrow,running the finnish out of his rivals up that lung bursting straight.

Tactics will no doubt play their part,if SDS can get him in front turning in,I think he will run to the line.Always a difficult call once the form book has been exhausted,that nagging feeling you get about a beast,I have always called it the 10% rule,where you go with something outside the obvious,time will tell.

So Desert Skyline for me, around 12/1 with some satchels,a little bigger on here.

This looks a cracker on paper,tremendous race in prospect.

GL to those playing
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Report Figgis June 21, 2018 10:28 AM BST
As I've said before about other horses from 3 to 4 it's a case of whether Stradivarius has improved in line with wfa or not. Even though he won well last time he was entitled to win the race in that style purely on his 3yo level and for me that wasn't proof he hasn't just stood still. In my view, Order of St George would now be seeking a hat-trick today only for a poorly judged ride by Moore last year. As admirable a horse as Big Orange is he only won because Moore allowed him too much rope off a slow early pace. His prep races have looked ideal this year as he hasn't been fully extended so he should be cherry ripe for the race that matters. If he's still the horse he's been for the last couple of years he'll be very difficult to beat and although I'm surprised Coolmore aren't running a pacemaker I'm assuming Moore will be wiser today about the possibility of a slow pace and ride him accordingly, so he's a bet.
Report nocturnal June 21, 2018 12:16 PM BST
Excellent point re pacemaker,the Harrington horse looks the most likely to set the pace,not beyond the realms that St George will be ridden a lot closer to the leaders than last year.

Warm day forecast,the O,Brien beast has sweated up a few times before races,I,m not sure that bend into the straight is ideal,he does need some winding up to hit top gear.Market has the two at the top closely matched,presumably based on the ground today,I still think St George is the one they all have to beat.

Race of the day for me,regardless outcome.
Report GoldCupWinner June 21, 2018 12:23 PM BST
Order of st George has the form in the book but stradivus looks like he is better on quicker ground and the way he stays on at the end of 2 miles suggest he could improve for the trip. Just a watching brief for me.
Report roadrunner46 June 21, 2018 4:26 PM BST
good to see a new young staying champion stradivarious
Report Figgis June 21, 2018 4:28 PM BST
OOSG finished, well done Stradivarius backers.
Report nocturnal June 21, 2018 4:36 PM BST
Tailed Off.......started at the back and stayed there Sad

Well played winners,great finnish.
Report harry callaghan June 21, 2018 4:42 PM BST
i know it wouldn't happen but would like to see stradivarius in a decent 1m 4f race, he isn't slow imo
Report lewisham ranger June 22, 2018 12:57 PM BST
six out of the last seven winners have been four year olds. that's a very strong trend. younger horses dominating.

that's why order of st george was trying to do the impossible imo. only one horse I can see has every regained the ascot gold cup, bit like the cheltenham gold cup. flat horses have a small window to show their best and it seems that horse has passed his.
Report Figgis June 22, 2018 2:42 PM BST
But in the previous seven years no horse younger than five had won, so it seems nothing more than a recent random run where the four year olds have been better. Plenty of 6yos have won the race in the past, Big Orange only last year. Just looks as though Order Of St George wants no more of the game, or at least he didn't yesterday anyway.
Report roadrunner46 July 31, 2018 8:41 PM BST

Jun 21, 2018 -- 4:26PM, roadrunner46 wrote:


good to see a new young staying champion stradivarious


havent seen the race yet, great to see the champion delivering again today ex 3.80

Report roadrunner46 July 30, 2019 3:46 PM BST

Jun 21, 2018 -- 4:26PM, roadrunner46 wrote:


good to see a new young staying champion stradivarious


thats win number 5 since last years victory, what a wonderful little horseLove

Report unclepuncle July 30, 2019 3:51 PM BST
Different gravy.

The three year olds were all stuffed out of sight despite the massive weight allowance - really is a shocking crop of middle distance / stayers.
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