Round Pond/Edgar Prado

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I asked Matz about Round Pond today on ATRAB and he said that he lost a week or so of training coming into the Beldame with a foot bruise.. And in his opinion, it was significant time lost based on how she ran...

He said he thinks he can make up those 7 beaten lengths between now and the Distaff. She will be third off the layoff Nov. 4, and 24 days is a fair amount of time for a guy like Matz to put in whatever condition he needs. She's a very interesting alternative to the obvious ones come Distaff with the explosive turn of foot of which she's capable..

With said, I'm sure missing the week of training that close to a Grade 1, had he had his preference, they would have skipped the Beldame and instead pointed towards the Distaff. Because any good horseman in their right mind would not throw their horse into a grade 1 out of shape unless they had pressure from the person writing the checks...jmo

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Samarta

With said, I'm sure missing the week of training that close to a Grade 1, had he had his preference, they would have skipped the Beldame and instead pointed towards the Distaff. Because any good horseman in their right mind would not throw their horse into a grade 1 out of shape unless they had pressure from the person writing the checks...jmo

One race is worth 5 workouts.. And Matz didn't run her "out of shape"... She just wasn't exactly where he would have liked to have her or where he'll have her Cup Day...

Originally Posted by Samarta

With said, I'm sure missing the week of training that close to a Grade 1, had he had his preference, they would have skipped the Beldame and instead pointed towards the Distaff. Because any good horseman in their right mind would not throw their horse into a grade 1 out of shape unless they had pressure from the person writing the checks...jmo

There isn't anything wrong with running a horse a work or two short if it gets you to the next level and where you wanna be. Horsemen have been doing it for years. Do I think a horseman does this in the summer? No. Do I think a horseman does this in a last prep for the Derby or a BC race? yes, and I see nothing wrong with it.
One thing you should remember, Matz answers to the owner and its his responsibility to get the horse to the Cup with the best possible chance to win. This was a good race to get a lot out of. I'm sure she came back blowing and will be tougher next time.

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by oracle80

There isn't anything wrong with running a horse a work or two short if it gets you to the next level and where you wanna be. Horsemen have been doing it for years. Do I think a horseman does this in the summer? No. Do I think a horseman does this in a last prep for the Derby or a BC race? yes, and I see nothing wrong with it.
One thing you should remember, Matz answers to the owner and its his responsibility to get the horse to the Cup with the best possible chance to win. This was a good race to get a lot out of. I'm sure she came back blowing and will be tougher next time.

I understand that and really don't disagree with anything you said, there's just more to it....and I really hope you're right, you and I shared opinions about this filly on the previous board and I've always liked her.