Ravel, How good is he ?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

He's way overhyped. Just look at who was third in his last race. Maybe he improves, but right now he's nowhere, and everyone I know out West feels the same way...for whatever that's worth.

I got roasted on the other forum for saying he did nothing to impress me. He does have room to improve, as do all young horses, but what I saw from him didn't impress me one bit. Yet, the people were going crazy over him. I don't see it. Sniper was suggesting that the connections wouldn't run Rags to Riches in the SA Derby because they already have Ravel for that race. I think that's stupid. If they really want to win the race, why wouldn't they take their best shot? Their best shot is not Ravel.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I got roasted on the other forum for saying he did nothing to impress me. He does have room to improve, as do all young horses, but what I saw from him didn't impress me one bit. Yet, the people were going crazy over him. I don't see it. Sniper was suggesting that the connections wouldn't run Rags to Riches in the SA Derby because they already have Ravel for that race. I think that's stupid. If they really want to win the race, why wouldn't they take their best shot? Their best shot is not Ravel.

It would be a disaster for them in many ways if Ravel finished second to Rags to Riches, and even if that chance is slight, the risk cannot be worth the negative rewards.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

It would be a disaster for them in many ways if Ravel finished second to Rags to Riches, and even if that chance is slight, the risk cannot be worth the negative rewards.

That much I agree with. What I was thinking was that they ship Ravel somewhere else and take a shot at that race with their best horse.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

That much I agree with. What I was thinking was that they ship Ravel somewhere else and take a shot at that race with their best horse.

But where? The preps are pretty loaded right now. Wood, FL Derby, Bluegrass...

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

That much I agree with. What I was thinking was that they ship Ravel somewhere else and take a shot at that race with their best horse.

Because the Santa Anita Derby is going to be the G1 that Ravel has the best chance to win.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Because the Santa Anita Derby is going to be the G1 that Ravel has the best chance to win.

I don't know about that. I don't know what the Wood and the Blue Grass fields will look like. Sightseek says they are loaded but I just don't see that at all.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I don't know about that. I don't know what the Wood and the Blue Grass fields will look like. Sightseek says they are loaded but I just don't see that at all.

The Wood won't be fantastic but they are already looking to get another G1 for Circular Quay in that one to be able to add "Grade 1 winner at 2 and 3" to the stallion ad plus there is Nobiz to Shobiz that is still scaring some trainers off. The Blue Grass is loaded including Street Sense, Great Hunter, Ketchikan, Belgravia, Any Given Saturday, and Twilight Meteor. All but Ketchikan are proven on the poly as well while Ravel isn't.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

The Wood won't be fantastic but they are already looking to get another G1 for Circular Quay in that one to be able to add "Grade 1 winner at 2 and 3" to the stallion ad plus there is Nobiz to Shobiz that is still scaring some trainers off. The Blue Grass is loaded including Street Sense, Great Hunter, Ketchikan, Belgravia, Any Given Saturday, and Twilight Meteor. All but Ketchikan are proven on the poly as well while Ravel isn't.

Twilight Meteor is doing both the Lane's End & Bluegrass?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I don't know about that. I don't know what the Wood and the Blue Grass fields will look like. Sightseek says they are loaded but I just don't see that at all.

You've got Circular Quay in the Wood (and Nobiz if the blinks help) and Street Sense & Any Given Saturday in the Bluegrass, do you think he can beat them?

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

You've got Circular Quay in the Wood (and Nobiz if the blinks help) and Street Sense & Any Given Saturday in the Bluegrass, do you think he can beat them?

I don't think he can beat CQ. I do think that Street Sense and AGS are ripe for the taking in their next though. Ketchikan is not a threat, Belgravia hasn't run since he was born and I've never heard of Twilight Meteor. But with the change in surface, perhaps it is best to keep him here and run in the SA Derby. It probably will be the easiest of the races. It's just going to be a shame when they hold Rags out and run Ravel and he loses and they don't win the race at all.

[blackthroatedwind]

She gains very little for them by winning the Santa Anita Derby. Plus, it looks like the weakest prep, so therefore it suits their plans for Ravel quite well. If he were to somehow win that race he has already done enough for them in all likelihood.

Remember, they just retired their best 3YO in Europe.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I got roasted on the other forum for saying he did nothing to impress me. He does have room to improve, as do all young horses, but what I saw from him didn't impress me one bit. Yet, the people were going crazy over him. I don't see it. Sniper was suggesting that the connections wouldn't run Rags to Riches in the SA Derby because they already have Ravel for that race. I think that's stupid. If they really want to win the race, why wouldn't they take their best shot? Their best shot is not Ravel.

As I explained over there getting a G1 on Ravel's stallion resume is worth way more to them than having the best chance of winning the race. If Ravel ran second to Rags in the SA Derby they would have made a huge mistake in terms of his stallion resume which is all Coolmore cares about. I don't particularly like Ravel either, I just thought the idea that he was going to have to step up to beat Rags because he was only a G3 winner and she was a G1 winner was ridiculous. I think she would have to improve to have a shot in the SA Derby which she is surely capable of but is far from a given.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

As I explained over there getting a G1 on Ravel's stallion resume is worth way more to them than having the best chance of winning the race. If Ravel ran second to Rags in the SA Derby they would have made a huge mistake in terms of his stallion resume which is all Coolmore cares about. I don't particularly like Ravel either, I just thought the idea that he was going to have to step up to beat Rags because he was only a G3 winner and she was a G1 winner was ridiculous. I think she would have to improve to have a shot in the SA Derby which she is surely capable of but is far from a given.

If the choice was running the two of them against each other, I would agree with u. But if they are only going to run one, run the best one. Send Ravel somewhere else.

I agree with u that it's ridiculous to say he'd have to step up because he's only a grade three winner and she's a grade one winner. He'd be a grade one winner if he could have faced the fields she faced too. I think he'd have to step up and improve simply because he's not as good as her. I don't think she'd have to improve to win the SA Derby though.