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Originally Posted by Hwjb
I understand the view, and missing the King George makes sense more than anything, a lesser race than it once was, but to swerve the Arc would be a great shame. They would spout the line that a soft-ground 12f wouldn't suit, whereas only 3 of the last 10 Arcs have come up on ground softer than good, and none in the last 5. In addition, Sea The Stars has proven himself over a stiff 12f already, admittedly not a well-run one, but his stamina for such a test can't, as yet, be questioned. He's already one of the best horses of recent times, still hasn't peaked, and an Arc win - the most important of races - would cap things off.
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I think the issue there is the ground description, would you think? When it is called "good" at Lonchamp, it's oftn more like what us Brits would call "good to soft" and sticky. I suppose it's a big risk. If they prepare him for that and discount the other big autumn races, and it were to come up very soft, then that would be about it for his season.
I get the impression they don't want to over race him this year, with a view of keeping him in training as a four year old, when we will probably see lots more of him before he is retired at the end of next year. That's what I'm hoping anyway.
I'd love to see him go to the Breeders' Cup this year, but I just can't see it. Oxx is too much of traditionalist, one of the 'old school' and I just don't think America appeals to him.