What if???

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Yeah - it's very possible it could have happened like that.

Zenyatta was just a $60,000 yearling ... anyone who thinks Shirreffs hasn't done a masterful job of managing her to a 15-for-15 with 13 Graded Stakes record is downright insane.

She cost only 60k because she had some sort of skin condition flaring up at the time of the sale.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

She cost only 60k because she had some sort of skin condition flaring up at the time of the sale.

I know - I've heard about that many times before. Her purchase price doesn't matter much .. at the time though, Shirreffs certainly wasn't getting a stock pile of riches in young horseflesh the way other huge name trainers get. He still isn't now either.

If you look at his other two big fillies .. Life Is Sweet didn't win a stakes race in her time with Bill Mott and instantly became better for Shirreffs.

Zardana only had one top three finish in 7 tries for Ron McAnally. With Shirreffs, she's won 4 of 9 starts and has certainly improved.

I realize that while both Bill Mott and Ron McAnally are in the Hall of Fame .. no one who pays any real attention to racing can argue that they're in Shirreffs leauge and still keep a straight face.