Castellano is one lucky rider

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Please explain how you cite Ghostzapper as "not one of the greats" for not running enough and then wish for someone to campaign Bellamy Road just like Frankel did Ghostzapper?

Are you saying that you don't think BR could ever be sound enough for a regular-type campaign, and that Ghostzapper's type of campaign would be good for him?

Or are you both criticizing and praising Frankel for the same thing?

Not necessarily related to my above question, but do you really know that much about horse racing? Honestly?

Or do you just like to pet horses? I'm serious, and I promise I'm not picking on you... I just want to know.

I was saying that BR will never be sound enough to take any other campaign other than a GZ type campaign, and BR may not even be able to handle that. Frankel did a wonderful job with GZ. GZ was a fragile horse that needed extremely careful management. Frankel knew when he could race the horse and when he couldn't. I think that it was only Frankel that kept the horse around as long as GZ stayed around. I will never criticize a trainer by doing the right thing by their horse.

Because GZ was so fragile, I can't consider him an all-time great dirt horse like Secretariat, Man O' War, or Spectacular Bid. Although, as far as talent goes, GZ was right there with them. It is the same with Bellamy Road. He will never be considered an all-time great, but he is a very talented horse that may have a Grade I or two left in him if they can keep him sound long enough to get him there which will almost certainly require a GZ-type campaign.

However, while GZ is not on my top ten list, I do consider him a great horse...just not an all-time great. Even horses that aren't considered all time greats in my mind such as Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones will be remembered by me for their brillant performances.

And I know a great deal about horses in general. I am a real horseman, not just someone who plays the ponies and chats on a message board about it. I work with horses on a daily basis. I have learned most of my knowledge of horse racing in the last year and a half. BTW, even jockeys like Jose Santos and trainers like Micheal Matz like to pet the horses. I could ask the same question to you...Do you really know much about horse racing? Honestly?