Horse Antepost
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The thread title is a quote from the RP. Apparently Timeform rated his QE2 win the fastest time performance of the year and associates said it could be considered the best performance of the season.
It's easy to see how taking the result at face value would lead to that conclusion. Likewise, race 'standardisation' bollocks would also lead there. Not the first time Timeform have gone overboard about a soft ground performance. My take on it is that Big Rock merely replicated his best previous effort, the 5 length thrashing of Horizon Dore. The rest might as well have stayed in their boxes for all the running they did. I'd take Paddington, Nashwa and even Tahiyra to dismiss Big Rock at the peak of their powers. Will be interesting to see BR next season.
That was my opinion after the QE2 and I still stand by it. For me, the winning performance wasn't even up to the usual standard. Big Rock didn't suddenly improve into a top notcher at Ascot, he just ran to his previous best and the opposition did no running. Maybe I'll change my opinion on him after the Lockinge, but I'm curious as to how many other backers agree with the general consensus or believe that the ratings firms got a bit too excited?
It's easy to see how taking the result at face value would lead to that conclusion. Likewise, race 'standardisation' bollocks would also lead there. Not the first time Timeform have gone overboard about a soft ground performance. My take on it is that Big Rock merely replicated his best previous effort, the 5 length thrashing of Horizon Dore. The rest might as well have stayed in their boxes for all the running they did. I'd take Paddington, Nashwa and even Tahiyra to dismiss Big Rock at the peak of their powers. Will be interesting to see BR next season.
That was my opinion after the QE2 and I still stand by it. For me, the winning performance wasn't even up to the usual standard. Big Rock didn't suddenly improve into a top notcher at Ascot, he just ran to his previous best and the opposition did no running. Maybe I'll change my opinion on him after the Lockinge, but I'm curious as to how many other backers agree with the general consensus or believe that the ratings firms got a bit too excited?
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I am backing Inspiral today. Even though I'm sure they'll have done enough to have her fit for this it obviously remains to be seen how she'll perform first time out at the age of 5. It's also possible that Big Rock could improve again as a 4yo. Nevertheless, I'm confident that the improved version of Inspiral we saw towards the end of last season beats anything Big Rock has shown so far.
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gone to a trainer i know little about been with him for a month ground and a few other negatves but its a hard race to call !
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small ew bet on hi royale ran well in eng and irish gns last season form tailed off in good company but could outrun his odds here !
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She's fit enough,she should win this.Stable had Middle Earth forward
enough to do his job earlier. GL ALL |
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He had 1 fit enough,his other rnr.
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Big Rock poor but nothing to crow about as Inspiral was terrible. I didn't like anything I saw from the mare there, hanging her head from side to side and found virtually nothing. They're talking her up for next time but I wouldn't be surprised if they retire her after that.
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Do we remember Crystal Ocean? Top rated in the World 2019. Now an extremely busy NH sire @ The Beeches stud. Ignore ratings = Profit.
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performances on champions day which is often a mudfest bear little relevance to the rest of the season
i doubt Inspiral will be retired yet she's put in stinkers before but bounced back |
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Can't say it would be total shock if she bounced back as we know what she's capable of, but I couldn't back her next time after watching that. On her other two really poor showings, one was at the end of the season after a couple of Gp1 wins, the other was trying to give weight to Paddington in very soft ground. I see those two efforts as more excusable. Even though she finished ahead of Big Rock on Saturday I regard it as a worse effort than his. He was trying to compete early on with horses running at a fast pace. It's no surprise if a horse drops away tamely after those exertions if it isn't really 100%. Whereas Inspiral was dropped out early on and barely made inroads when most of the pace setters collapsed.
I have it as marginally the worst figure of her entire career, which even accounting for it being her first appearance this season is pretty dismal, especially considering the way the race was run and the tactics employed should have seen her to great effect. Gosden seemed to think that she was at least fit enough to run a decent race beforehand, but afterwards came up with the excuse about her being more wily now she's older and probably takes more getting ready. Whatever, I find it hard to believe a trainer as skilled as him would leave her that short to run as badly as that. |
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Inspiral and Auguste Rodin are very good horses, but unreliable to be backed with confidence every time they run. These two horses are unlike Minding or Almanzor who've delivered on big occasions consistently.
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He's running in the Foret tomorrow. He's 14 here, and he's his soft ground too.
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