THE SUSSEX STAKES , wednesday 29th july

Kameko's top price  is 7/2,(3s generally)

penzance, 6s plus on here

ps i wouldnt rule out wichita completly

looks like a good renewal to me - Guineas winner vs Irish equivalent - not sure what people are expecting. Siskin for me unless the ground is soft

Elisjohn, I have to disagree. Yes there have been some absolutely terrible standards of Gp1s, bound to be with more of them around. I'd say there have been some really good ones though. It depends on what you call a really good standard?

What A_T said.

Elisjohn, I think it all depends on what you consider a great standard. Some people want to see a race full of great depth, but in my experience there are very, very few races where more than two really top notch horses run right up to their best at the same time. I've seen plenty of high standard winning performances where the runners behind might not have run to a great level on the day. I believe Love ran to an outstanding level when winning the Oaks. When Enable won her Oaks I had her 6lbs higher than any previous Oaks winning performance as far back as 1985, and she didn't do too badly afterwards. It's unlikely Love will have as great a career as Enable but if she stays sound I'll be very surprised if she's beaten this year. Whether this year's Oaks can be considered a great race is another matter, as those behind were hardly top class. I know all races aren't fast run, but personally I like to see a horse put up a very fast performance before I consider it truly top class. Other people will judge using other factors, which is fair enough.

As to that York race, I don't want to get into debates about horses before I got into racing, 1985, but since then it was clearly the fastest race I've ever rated, bar one, which was Frankel's Queen Anne win, which I have a couple of pounds higher. Despite that I would say I've seen Gp1s with more depth, as while St Nicholas Abbey was obviously a very good horse with a long career I would argue that he wasn't quite top notch. I would also say that Farhh was a few pounds better over a mile than 10f. What did you think of the race?

Elisjohn, I remember all those apart from Teenoso, who I only saw and read about later. I agree that there was a different feel about racing back then, and in a way it was more enjoyable. I think partly because there was a handful or more of different yards and jockeys who all had a shout in the big races. These days, apart from the odd exception, the best races are generally being carved up between two yards, one more dominant than the other in quantity, if not always quality.

Speaking for myself, though, another major reason was just because it was all new and fresh to me. Plus, without yet suffering all the knocks that come from being a hardened punter, I was inclined to be far more fearless in those days, which made for entertaining big ups and downs. So those days were special to me but I couldn't honestly say the horses were always better. I remember thinking how lucky I was to get into racing the year that a triple crown winning filly was around, Oh So Sharp. I still rank it as a great achievement. However, analysing those races years later I wouldn't say any particular performance on its own was exceptional. A scrambled home win in a decent Guineas, an admittedly impressive win in the Oaks, which was up there with the better performances I'd seen in an Oaks until Enable came along. Beaten by Petoski and then Commanche Run when in receipt of a more favourable allowance back then. Then won the St Leger by 3/4 length from Phardante, if I remember rightly.

So I'm certainly not knocking what was still a great achievement but it's easy to confuse that with the form being better than that of today's horses. It's not all about ratings, as you know. I could be wrong about Love, although in this case I'm almost certain I'm right. Nevertheless, just because a horse ran fast last time it doesn't mean it will do it again. Hopefully Love will, and even if her next outing is against moderate opposition she should get the chance a race later to show how good she is in the Arc.

Put up your money please for 10/1, I will take as much as you put up, cheers.

Figgis it bothers me, I don't know why, but all this about Frankel's Queen Anne win being fast is beyond me. The Queen Anne Stakes in 2012 was run on a newly laid surface installed 7 years before his race.
In the 20 years before the new development only one horse achieved better than average time yet in the 7 years since the development 3 horses bettered average time and Frankel's was the third fastest of those. Up until today 9 horses have now beaten average time from 15 races on this newly laid course.
Enough already.
Back to the Sussex Stakes.

I think this lies between Wichita and Kameko.

Circus Maximus win at Ascot where he beat Terebellum (beaten since), Maries Diamond (beaten since) and Roseman (beaten since) isn't great. Mohaather may have been unlucky but he would still have beaten these horse so I think he needs to improve. I wouldn't mind him winning, too much, for the trainer.

I don't think Siskin's form is good enough but he is unbeaten and there may be more to come but at the moment it isn't good enough.

That leaves Wichita and Kameko. Frankie is back on Wichita who I think was mugged by Kameko in the Guineas after taking on Pinatubo and Pinatubo has come out and won since. I think Tyan tree to be clever at Ascot last time going slowly but this time I think there will be a good pace and so Wichita is my choice with Kameko a huge danger.

Good luck guys

I should have added Frankel's time is only the 6th fastest of those 9 runnings. Sorry guys only I never brought it up but I will definitely leave I there.

Just to remind you that Brigadier Gerard won this race in 1971 (49 years ago) on soft ground beating Faraway Son by 5 lengths. I remember standing in the security guards hut early that morning, where the only available telephone was, and having my biggest ever bet at 6/4. I still remember the guard's face when I placed my bet. Happy days.

Aftertiming Brigust.

It was a good race too Felt. Faraway Son had just beaten My Swallow 6 lengths in France on the soft ground he loved, he had won the French 2000 Guineas the year before, Joshua was next in, he had been narrowly beaten in the Lockinge and had just won two in France, in the last he beat Dictus who next won the Prix Jacques le Marios. The Irish 2000 Guineas winner had since won the Cork & Orrery at Royal Ascot (now the Diamond Jubilee) and was beaten 17 lengths of the five. The meeting was at risk because of rain and the going was definitely soft but 6/4 in the morning was a steal.

It's alright Felt I have spent the money and still have the girlfriend. Is there no end to my luck?

Back to the race, I do think Wichita has the best form and has been overlooked.

One and the same. They take it in turns.

Cracking race in store. Couldn't make up my mind for the single play??
So a few ££ on the reverse fc 2 & 5 @ 5.3

well done figgis

*did

Not sure what else Frankie could do without completely screwing up his chance. I think Kameko should have won but that can be the best way to the poor house.

Mohaather backers
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