Quote:
Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
Apollo's career was steered by owner and DRF pedigree expert Leon Rasmussen, who planned the mating that produced the pony-sized horse. Using dosage and whatever else, he was convinced the horse could get 10f. Apollo was always a mere sprinter and not even a top class one after he starting facing open company.
Not sure what extraordinary talents Gary Jones was in command of, but nearly all of his top horses were major winners as older horses. A lot of his horses were secondhand projects (failed Euros, Argentinia imports, etc) as well.
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Apollo's breeding wasn't exactly that of a crack sprinter. By a son of Lyhpard that was out of a Sir Ivor mare, if I recall correctly.
That aside, I'm more than confident Jones wrecked, early on, what was going to be a magnificent horse.
And if you think his performance going two turns against Dinard and Best Pal wasn't awesome, I don't know what to say to you.
Jones, his strength, was with older imports that didn't have to survive his handling as a 2yo or early 3yo.
I was skeptical he retired, btw, due to health problems. Lot's of people with his 'condition' manage to work just fine, even in horse racing.
That much, I'll admit, is speculation on my part.