Wesley Ward's Strike the Tiger wins at 33-1

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Let's not get too excited. It was a $70k listed Stake, not a Group 1.

It's a pretty amazing achievement.

[PPerfectfan]

Yes it was only a 70k stake but from what everyone has said, he was an idiot to go and all his horses would run up the track, so I think its nice he got a win even if it is a 70k stake.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

Yes it was only a 70k stake but from what everyone has said, he was an idiot to go and all his horses would run up the track, so I think its nice he got a win even if it is a 70k stake.

He's already made more money than they'd have made sitting in his barn back in the US. He's right that there is nowhere here for winners to run at this point in the year and if he felt these were the sort of horses that would no longer be ahead of the curve come August then it was the right move.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by PPerfectfan

Yes it was only a 70k stake but from what everyone has said, he was an idiot to go and all his horses would run up the track, so I think its nice he got a win even if it is a 70k stake.

You're right and Cannonball also didn't run poorly. He ran on late for sixth beaten just over 5 lengths after trailing early.

Ken Ramsey was supposedly seen eating a heaping helping of bangers and mash.

NT

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Shouldn't Americans have the edge over Euro's in an early season 2yo 5f turf race?

I didn't look at the race at all on paper - and maybe the horse deserved to be his price .. but I'll be impressed when something goes over there and wins at a classic distance. Getting young 2yo's to run impressive burts over short distances is like our greatest strength in relation to elsewhere.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Shouldn't Americans have the edge over Euro's in an early season 2yo 5f turf race?

I didn't look at the race at all on paper - and maybe the horse deserved to be his price .. but I'll be impressed when something goes over there and wins at a classic distance. Getting young 2yo's to run impressive burts over short distances is like our greatest strength in relation to elsewhere.

Maybe Wesley Ward's 2YOs should have an advantage (his previous success being known), but the rest of the field was much more experienced in terms of live racing.

The second place horse, Fratellino, was making his eighth career start. Only one other horse in the field of 21 opponents was making his/her second career start and that was the 8th place finisher, Angel's Pursuit.

Strike The Tiger won carrying 129 pounds and with no Lasix, it was a 19 pound impost from his maiden win at 110 pounds.

Historically, the performance was quite impressive.

[PatCummings]

John McCririck pronounced immediately after the race that this was a great moment for international racing and moved John Velazquez into elite company (US-based jocks winning at Royal Ascot). He also said that in the grand scheme of Royal Ascot, the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) is one of the weaker races of the meet.

That being said, there are 30 races at the meet and 16 are group events...so any non group race would be naturally weaker.

And THAT being said, Wesley Ward said that Strike The Tiger was thought to be one of his lesser tries while there.

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

John McCririck pronounced immediately after the race that this was a great moment for international racing and moved John Velazquez into elite company (US-based jocks winning at Royal Ascot). He also said that in the grand scheme of Royal Ascot, the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) is one of the weaker races of the meet.

That being said, there are 30 races at the meet and 16 are group events...so any non group race would be naturally weaker.

And THAT being said, Wesley Ward said that Strike The Tiger was thought to be one of his lesser tries while there.

The Windsor has typically been the weakest of the 2year old races, but looking over the past 2 years, it has produced some pretty good horses. On the other hand the Chesham has been awful.

Also, John McCririck talks some amount of rubbish (but he makes a little sense here)

[Travis Stone]

No matter how you skin this cat, it's pretty cool.

[PatCummings]

Agree, Travis.

For what it's worth...here are the US pool payouts

Race: 6 Win Place Show
1st 18 STRIKE THE TIGER (USA) 39.20 9.60
2nd 7 FRATELLINO 20.40
3rd 6 DI STEFANO 16.80
$2 Exacta 18-7 2589.00
$2 Trifecta 18-7-6 11232.20