Goldikova: Lost a step or as good as ever?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

One example of why I disagree...

Ascot Result
14 Jun 2011
2:30 » Queen Anne Stakes (British Champions' Series) (Group 1)

« 1 6 Canford Cliffs (IRE) 11/8 4 9-0 Richard Hannon 127 * * »
b c Tagula (IRE) - Mrs Marsh (Marju) Richard Hughes
Steadied after start, took keen hold early, held up in last trio, headway to track leaders entering final 2f, ridden to challenge entering final furlong, led final 100yds, ran on well (tchd 6-5 and 6-4 in places)


« 2 1 1 Goldikova (IRE) 5/4F 6 8-132 F Head 125 * * »
b m Anabaa (USA) - Born Gold (USA) (Blushing Groom) Olivier Peslier
Tracked leaders, headway to press leader going well over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hard pressed entering final furlong, driven and battled on gamely until headed and no extra final 100yds, eased near finish (op 6-4 tchd 13-8 in places)


« 3 3 1¾ Cityscape 14/1 5 9-0 Roger Charlton 119 * * »
ch h Selkirk (USA) - Tantina (USA) (Distant View) Ryan Moore
Held up in touch in rear, ridden and effort to chase leaders well over 1f out, driven and pressed leading pair 1f out, no extra and outpaced final 100yds (op 12-1 tchd 16-1 in places)


« 4 7 2¼ Rio De La Plata (USA) 25/1 6 9-0 Saeed Bin Suroor 120 * * »
ch h Rahy (USA) - Express Way (ARG) (Ahmad) Frankie Dettori
Steadied start, took keen hold early, held up in last trio, smooth headway to lead over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, driven entering final furlong, weakened final 150yds (op 20-1)


« 5 5 6 Ransom Note 50/1 4 9-0 B W Hills 114 * * »
b c Red Ransom (USA) - Zacheta (Polish Precedent) Michael Hills
Chased leaders, niggled along after 2f, ridden and struggling entering final 2f, weakened over 1f out (op 66-1 tchd 80-1 in a place)


« 6 4 5 Cape Blanco (IRE) 8/1 4 9-0 A P O'Brien 122 * * »
ch c Galileo (IRE) - Laurel Delight (Presidium) Jamie Spencer
Led until driven and headed entering final 3f, soon dropped out under pressure, well behind over 1f out (tchd 9-1 and 10-1 in places)


« 7 2 6 Flash Dance (IRE) 100/1 5 8-11 F Head 104 * * »
ch m Zamindar (USA) - Resquilleuse (USA) (Dehere) Mickael Barzalona
Chased leader until led entering

You don't think this year's BC Mile field is better? Sure, there might not be a better horse than Canford Cliffs but the rest of that field was hardly stellar when you consider Cape Blanco was going 2-3 furlongs short of his best and needed Lasix.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

You don't think this year's BC Mile field is better? Sure, there might not be a better horse than Canford Cliffs but the rest of that field was hardly stellar when you consider Cape Blanco was going 2-3 furlongs short of his best and needed Lasix.

Respectfully I think the MIle looks pretty damned dreadful this year, sorry to say.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

You don't think this year's BC Mile field is better? Sure, there might not be a better horse than Canford Cliffs but the rest of that field was hardly stellar when you consider Cape Blanco was going 2-3 furlongs short of his best and needed Lasix.

I don't care about the depth of the field, because she's not going to lose to the "field". I think it takes one special horse that gets the jump on her next week, or she wins again. I don't see a Canford Cliffs or even Paco Boy here. Sorry, but she's already easily bested Courageous Cat and Gio Ponti at their best. There's some Grade 1 cred here, but who among the field has won an open Grade 1 race in 2011 at a mile? That would be the 3 who previously tried the BC Mile and weren't in the same ballpark.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

I don't care about the depth of the field, because she's not going to lose to the "field". I think it takes one special horse that gets the jump on her next week, or she wins again. I don't see a Canford Cliffs or even Paco Boy here. Sorry, but she's already easily bested Courageous Cat and Gio Ponti at their best. There's some Grade 1 cred here, but who among the field has won an open Grade 1 race in 2011 at a mile? That would be the 3 who previously tried the BC Mile and weren't in the same ballpark.

Turallure has won an open GI race at a mile this year.

To say that Courageous Cat wasn't in her ballpark 2 years ago is a bit rash. He is also a much better horse now than he was then.