good team of American horses for Dubai World Cup card

[HorseVoice]

For 10 million, I would use the best jockey available. I would rank Chantal maybe Top 25 or 30 in the US......So probably 50th Worldwide.......It might be that horse is quirky and responds to a softer touch (many do) but on the surface there are much better jockeys available, but fair enough maybe not for this horse, maybe he takes some getting used to.....I would also prefer someone with more experience over that track (though I know its very new)......I wouldnt want a 10 million dollar ride from my jockey to be her first tour of the surface

I didn't hear a peep out of anyone here when the connections of Well Armed decided to stick with Aaron Gryder for the 2009 Dubai World Cup...and he's decidedly average, no better or worse than Chantal.

[HarnessFanDE]

I didn't hear a peep out of anyone here when the connections of Well Armed decided to stick with Aaron Gryder for the 2009 Dubai World Cup...and he's decidedly average, no better or worse than Chantal.

I wouldnt have used Gryder either......though he is pure and simply the nicest guy ever.......and the race is worth double what it was then......though 5 million/10 million whats a few million among friends

[HorseVoice]

I wouldnt have used Gryder either......though he is pure and simply the nicest guy ever.......and the race is worth double what it was then......though 5 million/10 million whats a few million among friends

Well, then you might have made a mistake back then, because Gryder gave Well Armed a brilliant ride in what was the world's richest race at the time, with a $6 million purse.

The folks that win big money in big races don't do so by accident, IMO; Eoin Harty stuck with Aaron Gryder when far "bigger" names were available...and I repeat: not a PEEP out of anyone here. IMO, if it was "Charles Sutherland" named to ride instead of Chantal Sutherland, we'd be observing the exact same silence on Baffert's choice. Maybe she works for 71 cents on the dollar, and Baffert couldn't pass up the potential savings.

[pezz97]

Royal Delta Drew post 7, Game On Dude Post 14 for the Dubai World Cup


The Factor Post 7 for the Golden Shaheen

[HarnessFanDE]

Well, then you might have made a mistake back then, because Gryder gave Well Armed a brilliant ride in what was the world's richest race at the time, with a $6 million purse.

The folks that win big money in big races don't do so by accident, IMO; Eoin Harty stuck with Aaron Gryder when far "bigger" names were available...and I repeat: not a PEEP out of anyone here. IMO, if it was "Charles Sutherland" named to ride instead of Chantal Sutherland, we'd be observing the exact same silence on Baffert's choice. Maybe she works for 71 cents on the dollar, and Baffert couldn't pass up the potential savings.

Wow Im glad Chantal isn't African-American you would have two crutches to lean on....The fact I wouldn't use her has nothing to do with the fact that she is a female....It's that she isnt a top 50 rider in the World.....Probably not a top 100....And with 14 horses in the gate that makes my choice pretty simple

[honest & balanced terry]

The Factor = No Factor.

 

[honest & balanced terry]

Boy these American horses are really exposing themselves as one-dimensional dirt track specialists, aren't they? I'm kind of disappointed I thought they would do better, but truly good horses don't need to take their track with them.  

PS - I bet Baffert will come back to America, badmouth artificial surfaces yet again, and threaten or promise to take no more horses to Dubai. 

[tapetea]

Boy these American horses are really exposing themselves as one-dimensional dirt track specialists, aren't they? I'm kind of disappointed I thought they would do better, but truly good horses don't need to take their track with them.  

PS - I bet Baffert will come back to America, badmouth artificial surfaces yet again, and threaten or promise to take no more horses to Dubai.

Well, Terry, they're dirt horses. I don't see the turf/synth horses transfering their form on dirt. I guess they must not be truly good, either. In other words ... they're exposed

[Trainer Rusty]

Gryder won on their old course with moisture in it.  And speed was holding all day.  Many on this board and myself called that horse that day.  Regardless of the jockey.  But Chantal is overrated.  Inez is a better jockey.  I would rank Chantal #200.

[honest & balanced terry]

Well, Terry, they're dirt horses.

Yes, that's what I said. Nothing but dirt specialists. Same exact criticism normally leveled at "synthetic specialists", as if that makes them somehow inferior.

I don't see the turf/synth horses transfering their form on dirt. I guess they must not be truly good, either.

Well, the great Zenyatta did, of course. The great John Henry won the SA Hcp over dirt.  And the Euros have run a number of their turf horses in BC Dirt races, and some have done pretty well.

But the ones that don't, no they aren't.

[honest & balanced terry]

Man, another breakdown (at least one) in that last re-scheduled race. 

They must not be giving those horses enough drugs.   

[honest & balanced terry]

Gryder won on their old course with moisture in it.  And speed was holding all day.  Many on this board and myself called that horse that day.  Regardless of the jockey.  But Chantal is overrated.  Inez is a better jockey.  I would rank Chantal #200.

It didn't matter who was riding today. The horse was short.

[tapetea]

I think you're missing the point, Terry. Synthetic track were supposed to be a better alternative for dirt horses. How can they be a better option when they can't handle the track? Turf horses transfer their form better on synth than dirt horses. That's the beef, Terry.

The Cup winner will now be rested for the remainder of the year to mimic last years two race campaign. 

[tapetea]

So what's the breakdown scorecard look like? I just woke up 30 minutes ago and missed all the action. Were they on dirt synth, or turf?

[honest & balanced terry]

I think you're missing the point, Terry. Synthetic track were supposed to be a better alternative for dirt horses.

They were supposed to be SAFER. And the latest stats seem to support that.

How can they be a better option when they can't handle the track?

Apparently the common ones can't, and need that artificial speed bias that dirt provides.

Turf horses transfer their form better on synth than dirt horses. That's the beef, Terry.

What kind of a "beef" is that? It's neither right, nor wrong, it just "is". Dubai is a European-circuit track. What sort of horse "should" it be kinder to - the horses that run in all the rest of the world, or those U.S. horses that run on dirt? No one was forced to send horses to Dubai.

The Cup winner will now be rested for the remainder of the year to mimic last years two race campaign.

I think they learned that from dirt and BC star Tiznow, and some of Sheppard's.

[honest & balanced terry]

So what's the breakdown scorecard look like? I just woke up 30 minutes ago and missed all the action. Were they on dirt synth, or turf?

I don't think it was close to the wreck-a-thon of that last BC over the dirt at Gulfstream. That's got to stand as a world record.

[tapetea]

They were supposed to be SAFER. And the latest stats seem to support that.

There no place for political correctness in racing, Terry. It is what it is. Take it, or leave it.

[tapetea]

What kind of a "beef" is that? It's neither right, nor wrong, it just "is". Dubai is a European-circuit track. What sort of horse "should" it be kinder to - the horses that run in all the rest of the world, or those U.S. horses that run on dirt? No one was forced to send horses to Dubai.

Ok, well, what about the American synth tracks? Are we catering to the rest of the world, or our own? You're backing the wrong horse, Terry. Synthetics are a joke.

[honest & balanced terry]

There no place for political correctness in racing, Terry. It is what it is. Take it, or leave it.

Right. No one cares. HV said so.

[tapetea]

Right. No one cares. HV said so.

No one cares about what? Breakdowns? I never said that.

[honest & balanced terry]

Ok, well, what about the American synth tracks? Are we catering to the rest of the world, or our own?

They were put in to cater to safety. Lots of horses do quite well over them, and even thrive. Some don't. Doesn't make them wrong, or right, any more than the difference between turf and dirt. They're just different, and different horses take to them differently.

You're backing the wrong horse, Terry. Synthetics are a joke.

Well, that's certainly your opinion. I'm not backing either surface, only pointing out that the "one true racing surface" arguments against synth and in favor of dirt are the true joke. There are plenty of tracks that still run dirt. People can run their horses there. Same goes for bettors. No one is forcing you to bet synth races.

[honest & balanced terry]

No one cares about what?

Political correctness in racing.

[tapetea]

Political correctness in racing.

America is the home of political correctness. Something to be proud of, i'm sure.   

[honest & balanced terry]

America is the home of political correctness. Something to be proud of, i'm sure.   

As far as racing goes, the rest of the country makes the laws, so it's probably just good business to pay some attention to a few things, like the greater public's changing view on the treatment of horses. If anyone in racing really cares about the future of the sport, that is.

[honest & balanced terry]

You know what, Game on Dude has actually done fairly well over artificial surfaces in the past, coming 2nd in the Hollywood Gold Cup, and 4th in the Pacific Classic.

Likewise, The Factor managed to win the Pat O'Brien over the fake stuff at Dmr.

Maybe we just have to chalk today up to a plain old "fail" against world class horses.   Or maybe it was the long trips. Or bad posts. Or Baffert's heart attack.