Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by TierceSurprise

Didnt get to see the race at all, but can anyone tell me what happened to Miss Andretti? Was it she just couldnt handle that way of going or did she look sore? etc.
Thanks guys!

She had a bad gate draw, and really raced to keenly to get towards to lead before the turn. Around the turn she was about four wide.

She soon tired.

It was always going to be difficult for her from that draw. She is a great horse and i'd just forget about this run because everything went wrong for her.

We all know how good she is, she had nothing to prove.

[my miss storm cat]

Apache sistah...

Here's the incident report.....


MARCHAND DR and GREEN BIRDIE were slow to begin. On jumping, SUNNY POWER got its head up and lost ground. In the early stages, MISS ANDRETTI, which was racing wide and without cover, proved difficult to settle and got its head up. N Callow (WHY BE) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that making the turn at the 800 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of MISS ANDRETTI, causing that horse to be carried in and caused crowding on its inside to DESERT LORD which as a result was carried in across the rightful running of ABSOLUTE CHAMPION, causing that horse to be checked. SACRED KINGDOM and MARCHAND DR, which were following, were hampered in consequence. In the circumstances of this case, the Stewards believed the appropriate penalty was for N Callow licence to ride in races to be suspended for a period to expire on Monday 24 December 2007 on which day he may resume race riding (4 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension commences with immediate effect. Prior to straightening, GREEN BIRDIE was steadied and shifted to the outside of TIZA. B Prebble (ABSOLUTE CHAMPION) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of DESERT LORD, causing that horse to be carried in across the rightful running of BENBAUN which was checked. In this incident, SUNNY SING became unbalanced as a result of being bumped on the hindquarters by BENBAUN. B Prebble was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 27 December 2007 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Saturday 15 December 2007. In addition, B Prebble was fined $40,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. In the Straight, MARCHAND DR hung in. Throughout the race, WHY BE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the poor performance of MISS ANDRETTI, C Newitt explained from a wide barrier with the intention of going forward, he was required to make use of his mount in the early stages. He said as a consequence of this MISS ANDRETTI then proved difficult to settle and raced ungenerously. He said making the turn after the 800 Metres MISS ANDRETTI failed to change leads and raced on the wrong leg. He said MISS ANDRETTI did travel wide throughout the race, obtained cover for a short distance prior to straightening, but then failed to finish the race off. He said in his opinion the main reason for the performance of MISS ANDRETTI was racing on the wrong leg at its first start racing on a right handed track. MISS ANDRETTI was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of MISS ANDRETTI after the race did not show any significant findings. SACRED KINGDOM and ABSOLUTE CHAMPION were sent for sampling.


All the replays.....

http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/r...eno=8&venue=ST

[brockguy]

I have to say that it was a thoroughly enjoyable early morning of racing. Sacred Kingdom was awesome in the sprint. the HK sprinters have always been very strong and this one is another off the conveyor belt. Absoute Champion was brilliant in it last year and was readily put in his place (both last night and in the trials!) It was a pity that Miss Andretti didnt run her race to get a relative rating, but she'll have other days..

yeah have to 100% agree with NoChance regarding Dylan. seeing him in the ring, you wouldnt put your worst enemy's money on him.. he was never going to win and ran accordingly. Pleased for Doctor Dino though. He's a nice horse. Hes actually been on the go in G1 company since April (when losing to Dylan), but crucially, he got a 2 month break during the summer which allowed him to continue on in form for these later months. Oh and I must congratulate connections of Arch Rebel , tremendous in 4th.


Similar enough comments apply to Creachadoir as Doctor Dino as he got a lengthy break after his many races early spring and he has indeed surprised me a bit since joining Godolphin. But well done to Good BaBa. very disappointing for Excellant Art.

I was dleighted for Ramonti who is turning into a real superstar for the boys in blue. Aanother fab performance and another top quality ride from Frankie (he seems to keep them for Ramonti). He was where he should have been the whole time and smartly kept Kinane at bay. Cant wait to see him next year where he might develop into a dirt performer. He is so tough that you wouldnt be surpirsed at all if he does. Anyone know how many Martin Alonso's have tried dirt? Anyone know any other decent horse by Martin Alonso??

Ahh yes racing on the wrong lead will do that. And a bad gate. Sad though, cause Freedman made sure she trained the wrong way while in quarantine at Sandown, and she handled it fine. Its actually her preferred leg to lead on. Maybe the going forward upset her as well, i mean froggy said she never settled. Oh well.. heres to next time.

[Scurlogue Champ]

I think she just got beat by faster horses.

[magic_idol]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

I think she just got beat by faster horses.

yep Thats racing you never know what it's going to throw up
If it did i would be a rich man by now .
I dont even think they can use the wrong way rule because even tho victoria runs in the opposite direction,NSW & Qld Don't.

[my miss storm cat]

Sunny Sing (the former Sacred Nuts) retired.

I think he was hurt.....

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

She had a bad gate draw, and really raced to keenly to get towards to lead before the turn. Around the turn she was about four wide.

She soon tired.

It was always going to be difficult for her from that draw. She is a great horse and i'd just forget about this run because everything went wrong for her.

We all know how good she is, she had nothing to prove.

From the DRF before the race:
The four big races on the Sha Tin card are billed as the World Thoroughbred Turf Championships, but only the $1.5 million, six-furlong Hong Kong Sprint will crown a definitive world champ. That could be Australian rocket Miss Andretti. The winner of three Group 1 sprints Down Under this year, she has also won the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and is coming off a sharp Group 2 score at home. Her draw of post 12 in a field of 13 should not be a disadvantage in this one-turn contest, but the International Sprint Trial winner, Sacred Kingdom, and defending title-holder Absolute Champion pose very serious threats. So do British invader Benbaun and the dangerous Marchand d'Or, a two-time Freddie Head-trained Group 1 winner who could be the day's value play at 14-1.

I agree that the post was no excuse after watching the race. She was just in tough and got it handed to her.

As for the other races, I totally expected to see Dylan Thomas and Excellent Art get their asses kicked. I guess nobody has paid any attention to the post BC results of several of the horses that have run back that put in big efforts in the BC races. Nobiz Like Shobiz, Host, Midnight Lute and Cosmonaut all have come back to get handled at short odds. I don't think people realize what it means to train a horse to be at his absolute best at the end of a long season for a specific race and then ask them to come back and repeat that effort again on a relatively quick turnaround. Dylan's connections did him wrong twice. I've long said that there is a reason why no Arc winner has come over to win the BC Turf and Dylan continued that tradition this year. Many people wanted to write off his loss as a result of the course but he proved here that it wasn't the course, it was bad training decisions. The horse was clearly at the end of his rope in the Arc, when barely outlasting a rival that he had destroyed a few months earlier and when zig-zagging all over Paris to get it done. Not only did they try to squeeze the lemon again but they tried to do it twice. For good measure, they did it both times after shipping very long distances. Brilliant. The same doesn't quite hold true for Excellent Art but very near. He ran a bang up race in the QE II Stakes to be second to Ramonti before running another one in the BC Mile. I think his effort in the BC Mile was extraordinary coming on the heels of the race at Ascot and I left that race with the impression that he was clearly the best horse in that race but was unlucky. Instead of leaving well enough alone though, his connections also decided to try and squeeze that lemon again. Up the track drubbing. The results of Dylan and Excellent Art were as predictable as the sun rising in the East. Meanwhile, on the flip side, u have Ramonti, Doctor Dino and Darjina. All three of them skipped the BC races to make sure they had something left in the tank. All three of their connections were rewarded with outstanding performances.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

As for the other races, I totally expected to see Dylan Thomas and Excellent Art get their asses kicked. I guess nobody has paid any attention to the post BC results of several of the horses that have run back that put in big efforts in the BC races. Nobiz Like Shobiz, Host, Midnight Lute and Cosmonaut all have come back to get handled at short odds. I don't think people realize what it means to train a horse to be at his absolute best at the end of a long season for a specific race and then ask them to come back and repeat that effort again on a relatively quick turnaround. Dylan's connections did him wrong twice. I've long said that there is a reason why no Arc winner has come over to win the BC Turf and Dylan continued that tradition this year. Many people wanted to write off his loss as a result of the course but he proved here that it wasn't the course, it was bad training decisions. The horse was clearly at the end of his rope in the Arc, when barely outlasting a rival that he had destroyed a few months earlier and when zig-zagging all over Paris to get it done. Not only did they try to squeeze the lemon again but they tried to do it twice. For good measure, they did it both times after shipping very long distances.

I agree kingie but you're kinda making it like people here picked those two when in reality most of us were just excited about the races. I don't think anyone here expected either to win.

There have been quite a few threads where Dylan was discussed..... just to be fair, i don't remember anyone here saying anything other than it's been a long season for him, too long.

EA never had a chance.

Now Good Ba Ba..... (!!!!!)

[my miss storm cat]

I meant to ask you King, what did you think of the locals?

Just wondering cause of the Silent Witness (applause! ) debate days..... you kinda said he won cause he beat the same horses over and over.

What did you think? Were you impressed?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I meant to ask you King, what did you think of the locals?

Just wondering cause of the Silent Witness (applause! ) debate days..... you kinda said he won cause he beat the same horses over and over.

What did you think? Were you impressed?

I didn't think too much of them. They ran ok races but I didn't see anything that I was too turned on by. The Good Ba Ba win was probably the best one because I thought it was one that came over a decent field of horses. But he was all out to beat what I felt was a second rate Euro 3yo and I didn't think Darjina got a chance to show her best although the more I watch it, the more I think that even with a clear run, she wasn't getting there. Overall, I think they gave a good account of themselves. Certainly no embarrassment.

And I still think that Silent Witness was one of the most overrated horses I've ever seen.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I didn't think too much of them. They ran ok races but I didn't see anything that I was too turned on by. The Good Ba Ba win was probably the best one because I thought it was one that came over a decent field of horses. But he was all out to beat what I felt was a second rate Euro 3yo and I didn't think Darjina got a chance to show her best although the more I watch it, the more I think that even with a clear run, she wasn't getting there. Overall, I think they gave a good account of themselves. Certainly no embarrassment.

And I still think that Silent Witness was one of the most overrated horses I've ever seen.

Instead of having this debate again about the great and gallant champion of the world, the incomparable, the brilliant Silent Witness... c'mon King, sing it with me. His theme song. Makes me all teary-eyed and i'm not kidding.

http://www.silentwitness.com.hk/engl...5_showcase.asp

[brockguy]

isnt sacred kingdom rated at least as high as Silent Witness??