Odds Bernardini Races As A 4 Year Old?

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I don't think that makes much sense - isn't the World Cup in March? They'd spend all that time preparing him for one race and then, after it's over, Bernardini would need time to let down...........not much time for him to acclimate to a completely new lifestyle before taking up stud duties. I don't like it.

I see absolutely no benefit to the Sheikh retiring Bernardini after this year; he really shouldn't be afraid of his colt suffering injuries on the track. Of course it can happen, but look what happened to St. Liam. Horses are fragile no matter whether they are on the track or at stud. If he's the sportsman I think, he'll run Bernardini next year - this could be a truly great horse. I'd like to think that the Sheikh would want to see his own homebred acclaimed an all-time champion......how proud he is already, can you imagine what it would be like next year? Fans would flock to the track to see Bernardini; he's already immensely popular. If for no other reason than ego, the Sheikh should run his colt.

I would say that what happened to St. Liam was more rare than an injury on the track. We have come to expect injuries on the track, but I don't think that anyone would have ever thought they would see something like that happen to St. Liam. I agree with you though about Bernardini racing as a 4 year old. I think that if he is sound, they'll run him.

[slotdirt]

Seems like it's been a crazy year even in the stallion biz, right? The altercation with the two stallions up in NY, and heck, Jambalaya Jazz was killed by lightning earlier this year!

[jpops757]

If I remember right . The Jacksons mentioned that if Barbaro was succsful in the TC, the Arc was a posibility. Wonder if Euro racing fits into any plans of the Sheik as far as producing a truely "super horse" with super accomplishments?

I thought Bernardini would run in the Belmont, but he did not. Now I think he will run as a four-year-old. I hope I am right this time.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I would say that what happened to St. Liam was more rare than an injury on the track. We have come to expect injuries on the track, but I don't think that anyone would have ever thought they would see something like that happen to St. Liam. I agree with you though about Bernardini racing as a 4 year old. I think that if he is sound, they'll run him.

Well, that's true, Cajungator. Still, the Sheikh strikes me (as he does most of us, I think) as someone who understands the risks involved in racing but is willing to take them to enjoy the great rewards that come with owning a horse like Bernardini.

One thing I found funny in Steve Davidowitz' article in DRF: he thinks that Invasor and Bernardini are heading for a showdown in the Gold Cup so that the Sheikhs can decide who to point for the Classic. IMO, that's nonsense. They are both East Coast horses and this race is the logical stepping stone; both horses, if healthy, will be running in the Classic.