Riding orders -- Invasor vs. Bernardini

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by todko

Do you think -- and this is a purely hypothetical question -- that Invasor may have riding orders not to win the JCGC?

After all, if Invasor wins, Bernardini's chances for Horse Of The Year may be out the window so to speak. Bernardini as HOTY would have a much bigger stud fee next year -- seems like it could be a smart business move on the part of the shieks to make sure Bernardini won. And the shieks are certainly smart business men.

They have avoided races this year where their top horses would have run against each other. Discreet Cat avoided Bernardini, Jazil avoided both DC and Bernardini, Invasor only ran against DC in Dubai. Look at the TC series -- Jazil runs the Derby alone, Bernardini the Preakness alone, Jazil comes back in the Belmont alone. Discreet Cat avoids all TC races.

i'm not sure they really care about stud fees.

[SniperSB23]

They seem to be much too sporting to pull something like that. The more interesting question is if Bernardini beats Invasor will they bother to supplement Invasor to the Classic?

[1st_Saturday_in_May]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

They seem to be much too sporting to pull something like that. The more interesting question is if Bernardini beats Invasor will they bother to supplement Invasor to the Classic?

Probably. The supplement fee is nothing to them - I think its 250k early (not sure when deadline is) or 750k late, meaning that Invasor would have to finish 1st or 2nd to make that back if the supplemented late. Even if loses to Bernardini theres still a great shot that he's the 'best of the rest'...

I read that Bernardini's connections see him as the sire who will give them their Derby winner. With that breeding, it makes sense. Stud fees mean nothing here. I think Invasor is a fine horse, but he is on the track and later at stud no Bernardini.

[DiscreetCat=Monster]

They have more money than the US treasury his boat cost 30 mill a year just to keep it running the boat was 300 mill and bigger than a football field