Look Out, Quality Road

[CSC]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

As is the bad ride Dominguez gave him in this years Manhattan, and he was a jump away from repeating it in the Man of War.

That wasn't a bad ride, the race was paceless, you had a former claimer on an easy lead. Ramon recognized this, rode GP as he was the best horse and won without taking the horse out of his preferred style. This is precisely why I mentioned Better Talk Now, he was the one rider that understood how to get the most out of this horse, I've seen Douglas try to lay BTN closer to the pace and he wasn't as effective. Having Gio Ponti press the leaders or up on the pace would be counter productive to the horse's style.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by CSC

That wasn't a bad ride, the race was paceless, you had a former claimer on an easy lead. Ramon recognized this, rode GP as he was the best horse and won without taking the horse out of his preferred style. This is precisely why I mentioned Better Talk Now, he was the one rider that understood how to get the most out of this horse, I've seen Douglas try to lay BTN closer to the pace and he wasn't as effective. Having Gio Ponti press the leaders or up on the pace would be counter productive to the horse's style.

It was a risky ride. He doesn't need to be that far off the pace. If you're behind Grand Couturier early, you're doing something wrong.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

It was a risky ride. He doesn't need to be that far off the pace. If you're behind Grand Couturier early, you're doing something wrong.

If he had never ridden him before, yes I would agree. I think this was a case of a rider knowing his horse and the turn of foot he had.

Edit- The one thing I hate are riders that panic and improvise during races. Ie. early moves. It is one of Ramon's best qualities as a rider, he's cool as a cucumber and yes at times it may get him into trouble, however more times than not it pays off.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

It was a risky ride. He doesn't need to be that far off the pace. If you're behind Grand Couturier early, you're doing something wrong.

I agree, it was a risky ride. But I don't think it was nearly as bad as some are making it out to be. My take and it's possible I'm way off is Gio Ponti is better when he is allowed to make one sweeping wide run. If you notice, Dominguez had chances to draft up inside of Bearpath, but chose not to. He probably would have liked to get around Midnite Silver also, but he was moving too quick to.

All in all, I thought it was a perfect set up to whatever race they are aiming at, because he only ran for about one furlong.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

It was a risky ride. He doesn't need to be that far off the pace. If you're behind Grand Couturier early, you're doing something wrong.

This was a riding clinic by Dominguez. Dominguez by his riding shows that he has a HIGH LEVEL understanding of setups. (Listening to other jocks speak, as well as witnessing their rides, indicates that they don't). It's common to assume that a horse loose on the lead in very slow fractions just won't come back. This is true when this horse is bid at prematurely. When you try to get a horse like this late turn or early stretch, you'll fail, as, more often than not, this horse will have enough to come back again. We see this countless times in races. Try to get the same horse late stretch, and in most cases you'll succeed. Dominguez showed this, with confidence, last week. Anyone else on GP, panics, rushes him on the turn, and probably has the speed come back again. Dominguez goes by him in a hand ride.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by CSC

That wasn't a bad ride, the race was paceless, you had a former claimer on an easy lead. Ramon recognized this, rode GP as he was the best horse and won without taking the horse out of his preferred style. This is precisely why I mentioned Better Talk Now, he was the one rider that understood how to get the most out of this horse, I've seen Douglas try to lay BTN closer to the pace and he wasn't as effective. Having Gio Ponti press the leaders or up on the pace would be counter productive to the horse's style.

Strangling a horse off a 1.18 mile is recognizing the pace? It almost cost him losing to another longshot.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

Strangling a horse off a 1.18 mile is recognizing the pace? It almost cost him losing to another longshot.

The horse was not strangled, he was rating kindly, please watch the replay. It was also a comfortable win, and it would have been even more decisive had he not run up on Expansion's heels. Watch the end of that race, he was never in trouble or stretched to win.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

Strangling a horse off a 1.18 mile is recognizing the pace? It almost cost him losing to another longshot.

He didn't strangle him.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

He didn't strangle him.

WHat movie did you see yesterday? Twilight?