st marks basilica

just thinking as the owners , evs in the juddmonte is a poor bet , irish champion all day , and then see . i think they,ll go to the qe2 to check out speed and not too harder race and finish with the b.c mile or turf depending on what they see in the qe2 . i,m thinking 8-1 with ladbrokes for the qe2 is the value for this horse

just chewing the cudd on my thoughts . they may skip the dismal ascot ground and go straight to the b.c turf , now i think i,ve got it .

Trying to guess Aidan's plans for his horses seems to be a popular pastime on here.
But he has already proven that he has the speed to win at a mile (and 7f Group 1 as a 2yo).  Now that he has proven himself twice at 1m2f there doesn't seem much point in dropping him down to 1m in the QE2.  But you never know with this stable.

I think Coolmore do not have a silver arrow over 10f unless the horse is yet to make racecourse debut. Neither is Mother Earth nor Love; St Mark's Basilica is closest to one thus the Juddmonte and Irish Champion Stakes most likely.

I think connections will duck the British Champion Stakes (if successful in the above), and the QE2 is too short.

well i wouldnt be surprised it.ll be the arc

The Arc for SMB with Snowfall and Love present? Also, High Definition who's on a redemption mission? SMB is the highest rated horse in the world (probably achieved over 10f) thus unlikely to be risked a downward reassessment over 12f. It's not within Coolmore's business model  running their best colt over an untested trip against their established 12f fillies.

he wont go to the arc surely . i think its the juddmonte when he might be vulnerable as this looks like mishriffs big one till march . irish champion then a b.c . strange their isnt a 10f turf championship their yet . either a mile or 12f as far as i know . could he be double entered for draw reasons ??

I think tipping him not to win the Juddmonte was impressive by the OP. Fair play. Esp. with the price heavily traded at odds-on.

No chance he goes to the Arc, AOB knows he'd get trounced there.

A rematch against Mishriff at Ascot on Champions Day. He'll have my backing too.

AOB is optimistic about him making the Irish Champion Stakes on 11th Sept; 5/2 ain't bad (if he turns up). The Qipco Champion Stakes is 16th Oct.

AOB: "If he goes, there is every chance he'd be (our only runner), without that written in stone."

Still not a certainty...even when everything is going to plan? As such this is reflected on The Exchange. Chicken to the end?

A possible sign that Coolmore were desperate for him to win the Irish Champion was the riding of Ryan Moore.

Throughout the last 2 furlongs he set about blocking Tarnawa. It appeared to Weld that it was deliberate and he has 50 odd years experience.

It was probably unnecessary as the winner may very well have won on merit. But the rules of racing stink. It was a dirty ride and the winner should have been disqualified and Moore given a decent length holiday.

I think he's run his last race, and will be a no-show for Qipco Champions Day. His CV is laudable esp his performance in The Eclipse. Also, I do not think he'll run in a 8f race again or attempt a 12f for the 1st time either.

shame if they do retire him,Chmpn Stks & QEII Stks
look cracking races if the big guns show.I think
he'll run myself.Not as though he is unbeaten either.

Tarnawa cruised up to SMB in the latter stages of the race, only the shorter distance beat her.
SMB has the better turn of foot but only over a short distance. Tarnawa would have won cosily with another 50 yards and would absolutely laugh at SMB in the Arc.

It is possible she might have beaten him over 10 furlongs but Moore ensured she was blocked and carried across the track all the way up the straight, a dirty ride for which under proper rules horse and rider would have been disqualified.

zzzzzzzzzzzz

not been looking at the gzs for a while and am a little confused why smb isnt in the bc turf . surely thats his bag

SMB ain't venturing to the BC - too much at stake. The only race connections would like to win most (if he runs) is Qipco Champion Stakes. I think he'll turn up if Mishriff is an absentee otherwise stallion duty beckons.

uk champion stakes often doesnt get the field it deserves. hopefully SMB runs. cant see him staying in training.

A slight setback since Irish Champion race and yet to commence full work. Absolutely no chance with only 3 weeks to race esp if Mishriff is present; retirement almost a cert. Any betting?

he is 6.40 on the antepost exchange market, meaning he probably wont run. super horse. probably wont see him again. we will never know how good he is.

He's good. Is he as good as Roaring Lion or Almanzor? I doubt it. I think this year's 3 yr olds are pretty mediocre.

what has been said about him not going to the b.c 123 ?its his bag , why are you confident hes not going ? not saying your wrong just been busy and havent kept up .

Not BC, Qipco Champion Stakes. He'll be in his box "protecting" his status as the world's highest rated 3 yr old.

said in one of the papers on thurs st marks retired

yeh,retired.

"Aidan O'Brien describing him as possibly the best horse he's ever had at Ballydoyle"

has the man no shame?

should have run him in champion stakes. if he lost it would not have made a diff to his stud value. o'brien has had lots of very good g1 multiple winners but has never had a wonder horse like frankel, montjeu, sea the stars.........this might have been that horse.

The injury that caused him to miss the Juddmonte had returned apparently. And, with a fit Mishriff in the Champion Stakes SMB would not be certain to confirm Eclipse form.

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