Sheikh Mo and Bernardini
 

I just read through the thread regarding the retirement of Bernadini and, whilst I found some of the views aired within the thread pretty repellent, I'm not getting into a socio-politics now, don't worry Steve!

I'd just like to defend the Maktoum family from how I see the situation.

First, irrespective of how much money they have to spend, Sheikh Mohammed et bros have suffered some appalling luck with their horses, and it comes as on surprise to me when they have one who acts on dirt that they want to do whatever they can to ensure that he retires to stud fit and healthy.
A few examples of Godolphin horses alone.
Dubai Millennium, the best Flat racehorse I've ever seen, dies during his first year at stud.
Electrocutionist, so rare in that he was capable of high-class form on turf and dirt.
Modern Dubai, Storm Silk, Henrik, Majority Vote, Blue Mirage, Blues And Royals, Royal Proposal. The list goes on and on and I know there are more.

So they retired one in the hope that it doesn't meet the same fate. So what, it's their horse. To call into question the sportsmanship of Sheikh Mo on the back of that is absurd in the extreme. But to wish ill on the horse or the man because of it is just plain wrong.

Blahhhh.
He doesn't need that stud money for Bern, he could have raced him at 4.

Blahhh is right.

I am tired of these bastards that have been raiding our yearling sales since the early 80s. They are a bunch of hypocrits who behave under the disguise of being sportsmen, when their only interest is their own glory and dominance of the sport.

I would never wish ill-will on the Sheikh, but he can no longer claim to be a sportsman and his decision stinks. The horse, to this point, is sound - he is potentially a great horse (I think we'll see his best effort in the Classic) and he could do wonderful things next year. Regardless of the split fandom on message boards, Bernardini is clearly very popular with fans at the track -he's very charismatic in addition to talented. It would have been wonderful to see just how good this colt could be; now it's another in a long line of "what might have beens". Obviously I don't doubt Bernardini like most of the people on this board, but I'm as angry or even angrier and I'm not going to enjoy the run up to the BC because all I can think of his a horse unnecessarily being retired before he even hits his peak. I just hope that there are a ton of editorials taking the Sheikh to task for his decision; obviously it won't change his mind, but at least John Ferguson, etc......will know just how angry people are.

" Dubai Millennium, the best Flat racehorse I've ever seen, dies during his first year at stud. "

Is this an example of why they should or shouldn't retire Bernardini?

They're public auctions for Christ's sake. What do you propose? Banning foreigners from attending?

It's an example of the cruel luck Godolphin have experienced in bundleloads, and a reason as to why they might want to retire Bernardini as a champion 3yo and subject him to as few risks as possible.

Obviously you are right, and that is just silly, as they have a right to spend their money as they like, and do as they wish with their horses. However, by the same token, we have the same rights to dislike their actions, and even them, if we so choose.

Sorry, people here are racing fans, and from most of our perspectives the possible retirement of Bernardini after this season is extremely disappointing and fustrating.

I guess I just don't think it's " cruel luck ". I'm more than a little cynical and don't find all occurances like this completely random. The Electrocutionist situation does not sit well with me at all.

And, frankly, I'm not sure they have had any more cruel luck, per se, than anyone else with such a substantial number of horses.

Call it karma. I am trying my damnedest not to be political, but regarding the people involved I find that impossible.

That's not the argument I'm making. I may not have done it too well, but the points are separate.

1) Godolphin have suffered plenty of ill-fortune in the past, often because of their sporting approach, and keeping valuable stud prospects in training, but not always.

2) The likelihood of a horse staying well and injury free is, as you know, immeasurably greater when he is not racing. If a horse dies of colic or chronic laminitis, whatever, outside of racing, that is bad luck. But the chances of breaking down are far greater when subjected to the rigors of training/racing.

I am trying my damnedest not to be political when on this message board, but regarding the people involved (Americans) I find that very difficult. I do pretty well most of the time though.


I'm no Buddhist but I'm fairly sure there aint nothing Karmic about animals suffering for the supposed sins of their masters.

It's simply a numbers thing....they have a ton of horses so it's not surprising they have a fairly high number of " tragedies ".

Obviously if Bernardini is retired after this year it is to protect him against a fatal racing related injury...so what's next...." We have the best 2YO ever, he's far too valuable to risk racing so we are going to retire him now ".

I can hardly wait.

They should make a Kentucky derby and Triple Crown part II for 4yo's to keep the good ones around!

I really don't have a problem with Sheikh Mohammed retiring Bernardini. I have a problem with him being praised for anything. And that has everything to do with human rights. I find it nearly impossible to not include politics into discussion when Dubai treats most of their population like indentured servants.


All the best to the horse. It's a shame he isn't owned by someone with a soul.

Thank you PP. Exactly my sentiments.

God forbid we actually keep a horse in training that we might be able to market the sport around next year. But of course, the Sheikhs don't care about that and because of that I don't care for them or their horses. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until they retire Bernardini but that will be my attitude if they do.

Hwjb, I don't think there is anything wrong with hoping Bernardini loses the BC Classic. Why should I hope otherwise? I hope he is soundly beaten. I'll root against any horse that is scheduled to be retired as a healthy 3-yr-old, no matter who owns him and no matter how rich they are. (even owners for whom a deal would be mean life-changing money can find ways to protect a good chunk of the potential money.) The sport needs stars much more than it needs yet another high-priced stallion.

I certainly am not wishing any harm on the horse, though if he's beaten I'm pretty sure they will find some physical excuse to hang it on.

btw, all of this is being said under the assumption that the initial report was true. I still haven't seen a confirmation that Bernardini will be retired. But I'll root against him just in case! I'm willing to take bets that Lava Man will not go to stud this year. ;>)

--Dunbar

I dont know why all the animosity towards the Godolphin crew, they singlehandedly saved horse racing and the breeding industry in the US

There's one small, itsy-bitsy little fact ... which has been left out so far ...

All of the Maktoum money is stolen.

They are kleptocrats who run an iron-fisted dictatorship wrapped in a velvet glove. Try going to Dubai and organizing a political party which believes in free elections and the sale of all state-held property to private bidders ... and see what happens to you.

Other than that ... they're really cool guys.

BS. It is a group having fun playing with their lunch money while making already rich people richer.

Make that "other people's lunch money."

We are all going to seem foolish if Bernardini runs next year.:D

They did not make their money the "Old Fashioned way, by earning it". The Family sits on a huge commodity. Taking Bernardini off the track is off course their decision. But as far as Racing goes, and I mean people that like to watch great athletes perform, this absolutely sucks. So do they really help the popularity of the sport by pulling what may a great horse... Do they give a sh it. If they dont. Then they are worthless to someone like me.

And no BS they have ever right to do what they want, we know that. Im asking does this help the sport? Does the actually running really matter to them? Sports involve entertainment. Horses will always break down. If we have not come to that realization, quit supporting the sport. Its apart of the game.

Well said. They are responsible for putting a ton of money into the business and helping employ many americans.

There is no reason to continue racing this horse. He will start at $250K and he will have no problem filling his book. This is the horse they will depend on for their derby horses for years to come.

Remember, they have Discreet Cat for their big race.

What big race would Bernardini being going after next year. He can't run in the derby, so what would be the point? Once you win the BC Classic there isn't much to target.

The pedigree on this horse is the best there has ever been. He will have a huge impact on the breed.

He was being sarcastic. Thanks for the laugh.

Spoken like somebody who has never been to Dubai. Don't talk about something that you know little about. You sound ignorant. Dubai is not Saudi Arabia. I have been there numerous times and it is not anything like you are trying to make it out to be.

You are basically disguising your racist comments, in a polite way. To say somebody does not have a soul is disgusting. Have you ever met the owners? Let me guess, probably not.

I wasn't aware that he had won the Breeders Cup Classic. I musta slept longer than I thought I did. Is it November 4th already?

It is inevitable. He is significantly better than any horse running today. Track surface will mean nothing either. He can win in anything. Many in breeding business in KY believe he is the best horse and the best stallion prospect they have ever seen. I tend to agree. As a son of AP Indy, he is peaking right when he was expected to peak. This BC Classic will not be competitive. It will be no more competitive than any of his races, even if George Washington and David Junior take to the dirt.

You guys who dislike the trainer and the owners need to learn that horses don't know who their trainers and owners are. They are animals and the fastest ones win.

Didn't you say that about Showing Up a few months back about winning the Breeders Cup Turf?
Look, its a horse race. And hes not going to get away with a cushy trip and slow fractions. You act as if he cannot possibly lose this race. Rock of Gibraltar lost a BC race. Things arent so easy on Cup day.

I still find it rather strange that this story broke a couple of days ago that Bernardini would stand stud next year but yet there has been No stories in any of our Major Thoughbred Racing Publications. Why is that????????

Wow, great observation. Funny how Secretariat lost, though. I'm sure all his wins were inevitable, too.

--Dunbar

Jerry, as much as I love racing, I'd be fine if it went down the tubes tomorrow if it meant that people persecuted, tortured and murdered throughout the world were saved! The reason that there is hostility toward supposed "sportsmen" who flaunt their ill-begotten riches and claim to be humanitarians??? Well, let me think.....!!! I hope the horse outlives them all!!!

Never thought Showing Up would win the Breeders Cup turf. His breeding suggests he couldn't run that far with the ideal trip. Showing Up is a nice horse but the European horses are much better than any horse in America. The group 2 horses could beat the American grade 1's at 12f.

The Rock is not Bernardini. And I loved the Rock. Bernardini has a ton more than we have seen. A ton more. When they cut him open we are going to see a heart similar to Secretariats.

So George...how long did you live there? I ask cause I did, not visit and stay in a hotel and see what folks wanted me to see...live among the people???? If you've done that then one of us must be delusional at best cause I don't remember it that way!!!

Secretariat lost when he was not 100%. They don't run them today unless they are 100%. Today they run them 8x a year and the scratch them if there is the slightest chink in their armor.

A few people I have spoken to think Bernardini is going to break Secretariat's track record too. Is he better, not yet, but maybe.

Because they have to worry about their credibility. We don't. They can't write any stories about it until it has been made official by the connections which won't happen until after the BC. Whether or not it is true the major publications aren't in a position to write about it.

Secretariat set his record in May of his three year old year. And how do these "experts" that you know figure he can go that fast when he just went 2:01 at a track where the track record is 1:58:1? Belmont's 10 f races are run at a turn and a half as opposed to two turn, which makes it faster by at least a second. So you figure hes got about 14 lengths improvement in him? yeah, ok, sure.

If Bernardini is to run all out he will shatter Secretariat's record, its just a damn shame he wont be able to break the record for 12f