Top 5 best two-surface horses of the last 20 years

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

So who was better, Point Given or Bernardini? This is a hard one for me, because they are 2 of the top 10 I have ever watched race. If I had to pick I would say Bernardini.

Another one with no right or wrong answer... and probably unanswerable.

[slotdirt]

I'm trying to find the famine in Formal Gold's post-Dubai World Cup 1997 season.

http://community.drf.com/formblog/files/formal_gold.pdf

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'm trying to find the famine in Formal Gold's post-Dubai World Cup 1997 season.

http://community.drf.com/formblog/files/formal_gold.pdf

Post World Cup was the feast part... especially the end.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'm trying to find the famine in Formal Gold's post-Dubai World Cup 1997 season.

http://community.drf.com/formblog/files/formal_gold.pdf

I didnt realize he was a Canadian bred

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I didnt realize he was a Canadian bred

One of Europe's all time greatest horses Nijinsky II was a Canadian bred also, Formal Gold? That one was new to me also.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

How about the group Singspiel beat in the '97 World Cup overall?

* 2nd place finisher Siphon won the Big Cap by 3 lengths with a 120 Beyer his prior start. Returned to America with Beyers of 115 and 117 in his next two starts after the defeat.

* 3rd place finisher Sandpit was a champion 3-year-old in Brazil with 4 South American Grade 1 wins and 5 United States Grade 1 wins. He won or placed in major stakes from ages 2 to 8 and he ran a 116 Beyer on dirt in his start before the World Cup loss to Singspeil.


* 4th place finisher Key Of Luck helped introduce the world to Kiaran McLaughlin juice.



On March 27th 1996 he won the Dubai Duty Free in a 14 horse field by a mere 20 lengths. His final time of 2:03 3/5ths was a tick faster than Cigar's 2:03 4/5ths on the same day at the same distance ... meaning he would have got a higher Beyer than Cigar got that day. Those pesky detention barns at Pimlico probably cost him the Pimlico Special.

Here's Cigar's PP's again if you want to see the final time comparison for that day ...





* 5th place finisher Formal Gold returned to America and set the world on fire.


Singspiel beat that group making his first start off of a long layoff and running on dirt for the only time in his career.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

On March 27th 1996 he won the Dubai Duty Free in a 14 horse field by a mere 20 lengths. His final time of 2:03 3/5ths was a tick faster than Cigar's 2:03 4/5ths on the same day at the same distance ... meaning he would have got a higher Beyer than Cigar got that day. Those pesky detention barns at Pimlico probably cost him the Pimlico Special.

Here's Cigar's PP's again if you want to see the final time comparison for that day ...

There is some validity in comparing times for certain races on the same day and they are interesting for comparative's sake, but in my opinion they are never conclusive when it comes to the actual racing part of the equation. Saying that admittidley The Dubai race probably wasn't Cigar's best(numbers wise), I think everyone knew at the time he had a stone bruise and missed some training leading up to that race, most owner's would have probably scratched a horse of this caliber at the slightest mishap, but not Allen Paulson. He made promises and he was a man to his word. Still I compare that race much to the Holy Bull Travers, or Seattle Slew losing to Exceller race as one that Cigar should have lost, 9/10 a big move like the one Soul of The Matter made in that race would have netted a win, but to me this just illustrated Cigar's determination to win with adversity, to me this race and his Hollywood Gold Cup were his 2 finest moments as a racehorse.

Edit: His last race was pretty good also, on a golden rail track he never saw the rail to only miss by a head. I know some will probably say Alphabet Soup was just 1 lane inside of him, but to truly appreciate how Cigar raced that day watch his entire trip and all of the dirt races that day and he really ran a hell of a race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxpcfqakobY&feature=fvsr

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by CSC

One of Europe's all time greatest horses Nijinsky II was a Canadian bred also, Formal Gold? That one was new to me also.

Speaking of great Canadian breds and outstanding two surface horses ... the dam of Singspiel was Candian Bred and Eclipse champion Glorious Song.

Spectacular Bid was 24-for-24 between the distances of 7fs to 10fs.

One race after The Bid won the Washington Park Handicap by 10 lengths with a Ragozin figure that wouldn't be bettered until Congaree's first Cigar Mile win 20+ years later .. and one race before Spectacular Bid made his final career start in a walkover ... Glorious Song ran 2nd beaten 2 lengths to The Bid at Monmouth.

Glorious Song was also from the same dam as Devil's Bag and Saint Ballado. Besides Singspiel she was also the dam of Rahy. Great family of horses.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Speaking of great Canadian breds and outstanding two surface horses ... the dam of Singspiel was Candian Bred and Eclipse champion Glorious Song.

Spectacular Bid was 24-for-24 between the distances of 7fs to 10fs.

One race after The Bid won the Washington Park Handicap by 10 lengths with a Ragozin figure that wouldn't be bettered until Congaree's first Cigar Mile win 20+ years later .. and one race before Spectacular Bid made his final career start in a walkover ... Glorious Song ran 2nd beaten 2 lengths to The Bid at Monmouth.

Glorious Song was also from the same dam as Devil's Bag and Saint Ballado. Besides Singspiel she was also the dam of Rahy. Great family of horses.

Yes, I vaguely remember her but I do remember Stronach talking about her very fondly when he was reflecting on all the great horses he once owned.

[RolloTomasi]

Redattore, Twilight Agenda, Ibero.