Crist on the Farcical World Cup

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by pweizer

I have great respect for Mr. Christ but I think he is way off base here. I am no fan of synthetic surfaces and if I had my way they would all be gone. But, I made good money on the world cup races without throwing darts at a board. Anyone reading Pat Cummings excellent work all week would have had to taken a hard look at the World Cup winner. Pat all week long wrote about how Gloria was a stand out in his works and on apprerance. Then factor in that he figured to be lone speed in the race and the fact that he has run well in this race before and it is hard to say he is impossible. The winner of the prior race ran third in the Breeder's Cup turf last November (in fact I used her that day) and has beaten the boys before in group races in Europe. Again, it hardly took a dart to land on her.

A $5 double on these two races returned $1557.

The 99-1 upset that came in the race prior was a turf race. I agree that one was tough to come up with but it wasn't a synthetic surface which produced that crazy result.

Again, I agree with the main argument that it would be better to go back to dirt and turf only. However, I think using the world cup results to make that case is a real reach.

Paul

I don't think you really read what he wrote too carefully Paul. You say how you agree with Crist, but really just seemed to go out of your way to tout the Dar Re Mi-Gloria De Campeao double you hit. Coming up with Gloria de Campeao wasn't the point. Certainly the venerable 7yo is a trouper and had already established his form and viability on the surface, as had Allybar, earlier during the circus. Would you be here crowing about the savvy that tabbed the winner if the completely ordinary Lizard's Desire had won the photo?

The point Crist makes was that the synthetics as usual produced an undefined, jumble finish that any of three utter mediocrities could have decisioned. For $10,000,000, you'd think we would want to see a real race that produces a truly worthy horse as an International star. Like it did at Nad al Sheba.

(And as to your coda about Well Armed, Crist addresses that point acknowledging you get your Giacomos and Mine That Birds. Again, I don't get the impression based on your response that you went to CristBlog and read what he wrote...)