Clive Brittain is finally off of the hook....

The Indomitable DrugS · #1 03-28-2009, 03:15 PM

Jan of 2006 - Well Armed had just scored a 3 length win over Godolphin's Testimony in an alw race at Nad Al Sheba.

The win was pretty irrelevant. Testimony was a cheaply bred horse who was lights out at OBS March and sold for 900K - but flopped in 3 of his 4 American starts. He did have a big 2yo MSW win going a mile at Belmont with a 90 Beyer .. but it came in the slop - and against a nothing field.

Getting the better of Testimony in decent fashion seemed like no great achievemet - but it was enough for 30+ year training vet Clive Brittain to declare about Well Armed...

Quote:

"We'll win the UAE Guineas, the UAE Derby and the Kentucky Derby," said [Trainer Clive Brittain]. "I've never been a man to mince my words.

After an 11th place finish - beaten a mere 26 lengths by Discreet Cat in the UAE Derby ... there never was a Ky Derby attempt. The quote seemed legendary stupid. The great superstar was gelded.

After Well Armed won the Dubai World Cup by 14 lengths today ... he's allowed off the hook. It was a disgracefully bad field. There were all kinds of smoke and mirrors (unpressured on a slow pace over a live rail) - but no matter how bad the field, and how amazingly dreamy the circumstances - you're not supposed to ever win a $6 million Grade 1 on fast dirt by 14 lengths. Ever.

Linny · #2 03-28-2009, 03:42 PM

WA was a gelding when he was in Dubai at 3. He was hurt after his "conditions" race over Testimony and his two subsequent races in Dubai stunk. When he came back to the US he was given plenty of time and though he has not exactly been a "superstar" he's been a solid campainer since getting to Harty.

If someone can explain why Casino Drive, who broke clear and was set to assume a lovely stalking position was WRESTLED back (causing a 2 horse chain reaction behind him) to about 10th?