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10 Oct 16
17:08
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Date Joined:
05 Jun 08
What on earth is happening with today's racing?
There seems to be little or no sustained competition for the might of Coolmore? Can it simply be that a combination of Ballydoyle, Galileo and their pre-eminent American bloodlines that renders the opposition impotent. Add in the fact that Coolmore are also very active in the sales ring and you are left scratching your head in wonder?
Read any half-honest article on training and it's admitted that training a horse to run around a gallop is not exactly brain surgery. My own belief in Aidan is that his best skill is getting horses to peak for the big days - drilled to within an inch of their life perhaps - but even off-peak they're usually far too good for Godolphin, Juddmonte, Aga Khan, Weld, Bolger, Newmarket etc.
The obvious conclusion is that the light blue operation is hopeless yet it defies belief that they could be THAT bad for nigh on 15 years now?
There seems to be little or no sustained competition for the might of Coolmore? Can it simply be that a combination of Ballydoyle, Galileo and their pre-eminent American bloodlines that renders the opposition impotent. Add in the fact that Coolmore are also very active in the sales ring and you are left scratching your head in wonder?
Read any half-honest article on training and it's admitted that training a horse to run around a gallop is not exactly brain surgery. My own belief in Aidan is that his best skill is getting horses to peak for the big days - drilled to within an inch of their life perhaps - but even off-peak they're usually far too good for Godolphin, Juddmonte, Aga Khan, Weld, Bolger, Newmarket etc.
The obvious conclusion is that the light blue operation is hopeless yet it defies belief that they could be THAT bad for nigh on 15 years now?
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An incredible year for Ballydoyle/ Coolmore even by their own standards but I wouldn't expect this year's dominance to become the norm.
The influence of Galileo can't be overstated. Take him out of the picture and there's no dominance( just 2 group 1 winners, Caravaggio by Scat Daddy and Brave Anna by War Front). The Ballydoyle stock by Fastnet Rock, Zoffany,Holy Roman Emperor,Footstepsinthesand, Rock Of Gibraltar etc are just not in the same league. Of course Coolmore have a near monopoly on Galileo offspring and he could be around for a few years yet.
This year we have seen lots of yards knocked out with virus. In Ireland Wachman,Stack, Halford,Lynam, Oliver have all had nightmare seasons. John Oxx may be turning the corner but has gone through hell for years.
In the UK the Godolphin yards seem to be permanently sick while this year Hannon, Stoute and Gosden in particular (after a few great years) are very short on top quality.
Ballydoyle, on the other hand, never seems to get hit by a virus of any significance even going back to Vincent's days, probably due to how he built the place.
The influence of Galileo can't be overstated. Take him out of the picture and there's no dominance( just 2 group 1 winners, Caravaggio by Scat Daddy and Brave Anna by War Front). The Ballydoyle stock by Fastnet Rock, Zoffany,Holy Roman Emperor,Footstepsinthesand, Rock Of Gibraltar etc are just not in the same league. Of course Coolmore have a near monopoly on Galileo offspring and he could be around for a few years yet.
This year we have seen lots of yards knocked out with virus. In Ireland Wachman,Stack, Halford,Lynam, Oliver have all had nightmare seasons. John Oxx may be turning the corner but has gone through hell for years.
In the UK the Godolphin yards seem to be permanently sick while this year Hannon, Stoute and Gosden in particular (after a few great years) are very short on top quality.
Ballydoyle, on the other hand, never seems to get hit by a virus of any significance even going back to Vincent's days, probably due to how he built the place.
Godolphin are a laughing stock and have been with years, and id be surprised if O Brien even knows that Hannon exists.
As for the Irish trainers you mention, bar the odd miracle they are not any kind of threat to Coolmore. Lynam and Oliver and indeed Stack havent trained 20 winners between them this year.
Vincent must have built Willie Mullins place as well because he doesnt seem to get the virus either, its actually funny how the great trainers manage to escape the virus.
As for the Irish trainers you mention, bar the odd miracle they are not any kind of threat to Coolmore. Lynam and Oliver and indeed Stack havent trained 20 winners between them this year.
Vincent must have built Willie Mullins place as well because he doesnt seem to get the virus either, its actually funny how the great trainers manage to escape the virus.
Galileo will be a huge loss when he goes. However they also have the best broodmare band in the world. Depends on what proportion of their best he is getting. He was always favoured over Montjeu, but you'd like to see what they have replaced him with (the stallions who now get the mares he and Danehill Dancer used to get) doing better alright.
I'd love to see them using Dubawi, but that will never happen.
Churchill is the first time they've had a top-class Galileo that was properly precocious, (Royal Ascot 2yo). The Gurkha is probably the first time they've had a Galileo that was top-class and an out and out miler. He also may have been precosious only for his colic issues at 2.
Caravaggio is a stunning looking horse and a top-class 2yo who will be a top sprinter next season. He's by top-class deceased US stallion Scat Daddy which will give them outcross options.
War Front who they seem to love isn'[t everybody's cup of tea, but he is a top-class sire of 2yos.
I think they're in a great position, and what is more, they're greatest competitor is inept!
I'd love to see them using Dubawi, but that will never happen.
Churchill is the first time they've had a top-class Galileo that was properly precocious, (Royal Ascot 2yo). The Gurkha is probably the first time they've had a Galileo that was top-class and an out and out miler. He also may have been precosious only for his colic issues at 2.
Caravaggio is a stunning looking horse and a top-class 2yo who will be a top sprinter next season. He's by top-class deceased US stallion Scat Daddy which will give them outcross options.
War Front who they seem to love isn'[t everybody's cup of tea, but he is a top-class sire of 2yos.
I think they're in a great position, and what is more, they're greatest competitor is inept!
The great trainers escape the virus? Cecil,Stoute,Oxx,Nicholls for starters
I don't think the Gurkha was top top class. Let's face it it hasn't been a vintage year for the 3 year olds at any distance. The derby form is pants.
Coolmore are the best run operation there is.
There is a contradiction in the opening post when he says training is easy but then goes on to say Godolphin can't do it ( presumably they find it difficult )
Coolmore do however make the odd mistake,they are now in a brawl over the ownership of Ballydoyle,Charles suing.
There is a contradiction in the opening post when he says training is easy but then goes on to say Godolphin can't do it ( presumably they find it difficult )
Coolmore do however make the odd mistake,they are now in a brawl over the ownership of Ballydoyle,Charles suing.
Its funny how you seem to know the full goings on inside the gates of Coolmore, yet you seem to be unaware of the most impending sea change there in over 30 years.
I'm not aware of the goings on in Coolmore.
I've taken a mare down to their studs an odd time,that's all.
I am aware of an impending sad event could that be the sea change you are referring to ?
I've taken a mare down to their studs an odd time,that's all.
I am aware of an impending sad event could that be the sea change you are referring to ?
I have no idea if training is easy or not Wildman but you take your usual blinkered view on my posts but, oh!, never mind, it's almost the postscript I put in to my opening post.
It's clear Godolphin have simply got it wrong for many years and whether this is down to stable bugs or incompetency I know where my money would be. Line up a died-in-the-wool Irish "horse trader" against the best the world has to offer and you'd hardly fancy the toffs that the Arabs have surrounded themselves with over an Irish guy bred to the game - all facets of it.
It still doesn't explain or excuse how bad they are extracting ability from a "money no object" policy capable of ruining most promising horses they buy, making fantastic female lines virtually morbid and waging stupid wars that deny them access to the best stallions available. Once they admitted defeat in this neck of the woods I'm not impressed with their bid for global domination elsewhere. Conversely, although Coolmore are less dominant in Europe today they are the pre-eminent players in Kentucky and the Hunter Valley.
The succession drama in Coolmore will be the big unknown: who is to follow the peerless John Magnier? Can Galileo be replaced after they managed to find Sadler's Wells successor? Will Ballydoyle prosper into the future without the vision of the great man and presumably a scrap for the mantle of the new King?
Racing and breeding dynasties come and go and the Widenstein Goffs' dispersal is this writ large. What I wouldn't give to have a bloodline that mentions Pawneese, All Along, Ode, Peintre Celebre, Lupe, Virginia Waters etc.
It's clear Godolphin have simply got it wrong for many years and whether this is down to stable bugs or incompetency I know where my money would be. Line up a died-in-the-wool Irish "horse trader" against the best the world has to offer and you'd hardly fancy the toffs that the Arabs have surrounded themselves with over an Irish guy bred to the game - all facets of it.
It still doesn't explain or excuse how bad they are extracting ability from a "money no object" policy capable of ruining most promising horses they buy, making fantastic female lines virtually morbid and waging stupid wars that deny them access to the best stallions available. Once they admitted defeat in this neck of the woods I'm not impressed with their bid for global domination elsewhere. Conversely, although Coolmore are less dominant in Europe today they are the pre-eminent players in Kentucky and the Hunter Valley.
The succession drama in Coolmore will be the big unknown: who is to follow the peerless John Magnier? Can Galileo be replaced after they managed to find Sadler's Wells successor? Will Ballydoyle prosper into the future without the vision of the great man and presumably a scrap for the mantle of the new King?
Racing and breeding dynasties come and go and the Widenstein Goffs' dispersal is this writ large. What I wouldn't give to have a bloodline that mentions Pawneese, All Along, Ode, Peintre Celebre, Lupe, Virginia Waters etc.
I liked your opening post and think your final paragraph sums It up perfectly.
I also like and admire Coolmore but see problems ahead.
Galileo is 18 and coming to the end of his career,they have no replacement yet.
Its the same with the main man,they have no replacement.
The sons are definitely not the answer.
Tabor is Trumplike in his boorishness.
I hope Aidan OBrien rises in that operation as he seems to do everything right.
I also like and admire Coolmore but see problems ahead.
Galileo is 18 and coming to the end of his career,they have no replacement yet.
Its the same with the main man,they have no replacement.
The sons are definitely not the answer.
Tabor is Trumplike in his boorishness.
I hope Aidan OBrien rises in that operation as he seems to do everything right.
Apologies for being too thin-skinned in that case
Wachman is ascending to the top of the empire apparently.
I just thought there might be a reason for him packing in the training. Could be telltheKing
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