Riding orders -- Invasor vs. Bernardini
 

Do you think -- and this is a purely hypothetical question -- that Invasor may have riding orders not to win the JCGC?

After all, if Invasor wins, Bernardini's chances for Horse Of The Year may be out the window so to speak. Bernardini as HOTY would have a much bigger stud fee next year -- seems like it could be a smart business move on the part of the shieks to make sure Bernardini won. And the shieks are certainly smart business men.

They have avoided races this year where their top horses would have run against each other. Discreet Cat avoided Bernardini, Jazil avoided both DC and Bernardini, Invasor only ran against DC in Dubai. Look at the TC series -- Jazil runs the Derby alone, Bernardini the Preakness alone, Jazil comes back in the Belmont alone. Discreet Cat avoids all TC races.

Other trainers used to gripe about running against the Wayne Lukas juggernaut or the Todd Pletcher steamroller. They may have bigger issues running against the well funded Maktoum machine (you'll never hear the breeders complain).

i'm not sure they really care about stud fees.

They seem to be much too sporting to pull something like that. The more interesting question is if Bernardini beats Invasor will they bother to supplement Invasor to the Classic?

They never duck each other's horses. The Preakness was a perfect race for Bernardini following the Withers and Jazil was better suited to be given some extra time for the Belmont. I don't see it as a matter of avoiding each other, but each of their horses were ready at different times. We all should be so lucky. :) Either Bernie or DC would have been in the Derby if they were ready, they want to win the Derby and if they could have, they probably would have sent all 3.

One thought that crossed my mind though is Invasor isn't nominated to the BC, which could be why they are testing him against Bernie in the JCGC...if he doesn't run well, hold off for the Donn & DWC....not that $250,000 means anything to them.

Probably. The supplement fee is nothing to them - I think its 250k early (not sure when deadline is) or 750k late, meaning that Invasor would have to finish 1st or 2nd to make that back if the supplemented late. Even if loses to Bernardini theres still a great shot that he's the 'best of the rest'...

I read that Bernardini's connections see him as the sire who will give them their Derby winner. With that breeding, it makes sense. Stud fees mean nothing here. I think Invasor is a fine horse, but he is on the track and later at stud no Bernardini.

They have more money than the US treasury :D his boat cost 30 mill a year just to keep it running the boat was 300 mill and bigger than a football field

Coolmore Vs Sheikh Mohammed
 

I hope they don't bring this non sense to the breeders cup

Coolmore and Sheikh Mohammed continued their ongoing battle in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot Saturday when Coolmore's Ivan Denisovich, who had finished a fast-closing second in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT), came out and gave Godolphin's Librettist a smack with his rear-end as the field turned into the stretch. Coolmore's big horse, George Washington, who had been patiently sitting in behind horses, swung out and burst to the lead in the final furlong to win going away, while Librettist, who was caught wide the entire trip, lacked any kind of punch and tired to finish sixth. The stewards immediately reviewed the tape and suspended Ivan Denisovich's rider, Seamus Heffernan, for 14 days.

Librettist's jockey, Frankie Dettori, added fuel to the fire after the race by jawing at O'Brien, who the following day called Dettori a "spoiled child." George Washington and Librettist could hook up again in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT). And, of course, don't forget about the Maktoum-Coolmore confrontation in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. This could get quite interesting.

Actually I hope they do bring their confontation to the Breeders Cup because right about now the BC looks pretty dull.

Well they were born with a big headstart

I would hope not. I would think since it is an "all in the family" situation that there would be some fun "sibling" rivalry. The whole " hey, lets see who has the better horse" for bragging rights amoung the whole Darley/Godolphin outfit.

I would hope they would nominate Invasor no matter what happens. Too good of a year to just let it go to waste after one loss. If he loses the JCGC but then comes back to win The BCC , he would still be HOY and the same for Bernardini.

lmfao......still waiting for the shiek s to get crunk and get some platinum grills for the winners circle..how ya livin mo-hammad....dini gets a new set after the bc....