Vineyard Haven Sold...

[King Glorious]

As I said, I don't deny at all that it hasn't worked. I only say that it hasn't worked YET. I don't deny that they have spent a lot of money foolishly. I don't deny that there have been a lot of horses that never came back to run anywhere near the level that their purchase prices would suggest they run at. I just think that sometimes the expectations that we put on them are based on how much they cost and I don't know if that's an accurate way of judging them when we are talking about people with this much money. I also wonder what people will say if they win it this year with Vineyard Haven or Midshipman. All it takes is one. Will people still say it can't be done after it's been done? That's my question. Nobody is denying the failures of the past but rather we are debating whether or not it can be successful in the future. I think that when they get the right horse, it can.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

As I said, I don't deny at all that it hasn't worked. I only say that it hasn't worked YET. I don't deny that they have spent a lot of money foolishly. I don't deny that there have been a lot of horses that never came back to run anywhere near the level that their purchase prices would suggest they run at. I just think that sometimes the expectations that we put on them are based on how much they cost and I don't know if that's an accurate way of judging them when we are talking about people with this much money. I also wonder what people will say if they win it this year with Vineyard Haven or Midshipman. All it takes is one. Will people still say it can't be done after it's been done? That's my question. Nobody is denying the failures of the past but rather we are debating whether or not it can be successful in the future. I think that when they get the right horse, it can.

I dont think anyone said that it can "never" be done. Even if it gets done by some supremely talented horse, does that suddenly their plan "good"?

They have bought some very talented horses. I also think one will eventually "hit". I think the results thus far will tell us that when/if one does "hit" it will be in spite of the way they are handled by the sheikhs.

Street Cry was an extremely talented horse with a lightning turn of foot.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

As I said, I don't deny at all that it hasn't worked. I only say that it hasn't worked YET. I don't deny that they have spent a lot of money foolishly. I don't deny that there have been a lot of horses that never came back to run anywhere near the level that their purchase prices would suggest they run at. I just think that sometimes the expectations that we put on them are based on how much they cost and I don't know if that's an accurate way of judging them when we are talking about people with this much money. I also wonder what people will say if they win it this year with Vineyard Haven or Midshipman. All it takes is one. Will people still say it can't be done after it's been done? That's my question. Nobody is denying the failures of the past but rather we are debating whether or not it can be successful in the future. I think that when they get the right horse, it can.

Sending horses to Dubai for the winter has already proven to be a failed experiment. If they happen to win one KY Derby it will not erase all the mistakes they have made in the past. Their blunders are what is impressive about their organization ( as it relates to American racing ). Not running Ruler's Court in the BC Juvenile ( when did he next race? ) should go in the HOF. Who knows what Street Cry might have done had he remained in training in the US. Worldly Manner may well have only been a miler, but he hardly disgraced himself in the Derby, and who knows what he might have done had he been handled differently. And this is with no research, and off the top of my head, thus I am sure there are others.

Yes, much of it has to do with poor purchases ( Linny's reminder of Comeonmom was the coup de gras ), but their tactics certainly haven't helped. Remember something else, they haven't even come close to succeeding in our TC contests with their plan.