zelda kratchanova 2 501 Report post Posted February 15, 2020 Like Mh370 n0? @ 1.45 any tickets pictures . Memphis2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT"s 310 Report post Posted February 15, 2020 Well well well. What a spectacle that turned out to be! Catalyst carries a kilo more, sprints from the barrier to sit outside the leader covering more ground and only just goes down by the bob of the head to AB who got the cosy run dictating out front. Plenty to like about his first run over here. Back to set weights next time as Matt Hill said in his call “Bring on the Guineas!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trump 2,741 Report post Posted February 15, 2020 2 hours ago, Gruff said: It went to the wire , could of gone either way ...If the Gator gets a cosy run closer to the lead over a mile and is as good as ‘the wise people ‘ say how do you expect Catalyst to be ridden more patiently and win The horses are obviously well matched but we have James in the Guineas Well Gruff, I have a theory which is pretty reliable. Horses like Kiwi, Bernborough, Rough Habit, Sedecrem, to name a few, raced better when allowed to settle back. I think Catalyst is one of those. Yes, he may race well on the pace but I think he is better back. JMac rode to Alligator’s strength. JMHO. I don’t think a horse should be ridden to suit the opposition. Alligator will run the 1600m no sweat and very strong and from a handy position. If they take him on he can take a sit. If Catalyst had been ridden the same way as Chenier, He may have finished over the top of AB. As P4P said so eloquently, it’s hard to go at both ends after also sitting outside for the entire journey. On the day, the Alligator lived up to his form and reputation and was too good. Very strong through the line, showing fight all the way up the long straight - and not flogged! Breeder, Leggy and Baz (NZ) 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pakari 24 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 On 2/13/2020 at 11:12 AM, poundforpound said: Alligator Blood is vulnerable on a big track with a long straight, and beyond 1400m. Look at the Caulfield Guineas, he walked the last 100m ....other than that his form is Queensland / Gold Coast and nothing good comes out of Queensland, except you Ernie....Queensland is just a sunny place for shady people to hide in, amongst the reptiles, snakes and lizards Catalyst will give AB a virus as he breezes by the last 200m....... this has aged well..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
weasel57 429 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 21 hours ago, Pegasus 9 said: And just to make a bad day even worse for James, he has been suspended for a breach of whip rules on Catalyst. LOL..clearly didnt learn the lesson from his recent Ellerslie incident...must need a better advocate, one who'd teach him that it's not a good thing to break the law... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,759 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 7 hours ago, pogo(aus) said: Nature strip flew .... For about 800m...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trump 2,741 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 4 minutes ago, Ohokaman said: For about 800m...... Two or three things that made Nature Strip a very bad bet yesterday. Firstly, he was a very short odds-on, secondly, he ran his race at trackwork (don’t you hate it when they “sizzle” in trackwork?) and thirdly, going to the outside fence in such a small field. Enough reasons for him to fail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz (NZ) 1,719 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 10 hours ago, pogo(aus) said: Nature strip flew .... ...to bits Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Clydesdale 229 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 Why do you change the riding tactics of a horse that tends to race midfield or further back and finish with a 33 and hangs to try to eyeball the main opposition? If you think you have a way better horse maybe, or you are arrogant in the extreme. Error in the decision process and the poor bugger did the best he could as a result. Just my humble opinion. Lesson learned............hopefully Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,778 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 2 hours ago, John Clydesdale said: Why do you change the riding tactics of a horse that tends to race midfield or further back and finish with a 33 and hangs to try to eyeball the main opposition? If you think you have a way better horse maybe, or you are arrogant in the extreme. Error in the decision process and the poor bugger did the best he could as a result. Just my humble opinion. Lesson learned............hopefully What other choice did he haveJohn ? You cant ride to your strength when your main opposition is an on pace runner in a race devoid of speed over a distance more suited can you? The wise people knew the Blood was winning and the stipes were notified they were going forward,Sitting off at least a 49.3 opening 800 means Catalyst needs a sub 33 600m and that wasnt even achieved in Nature Strips sprint field(33.16) ....may of gone close 100 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trump 2,741 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 7 hours ago, Gruff said: What other choice did he haveJohn ? You cant ride to your strength when your main opposition is an on pace runner in a race devoid of speed over a distance more suited can you? The wise people knew the Blood was winning and the stipes were notified they were going forward,Sitting off at least a 49.3 opening 800 means Catalyst needs a sub 33 600m and that wasnt even achieved in Nature Strips sprint field(33.16) ....may of gone close Imho, match racing usually brings someone unstuck. There’s a few scribes, including the one that wrote today’s NZ Herald article re the race, that think Catalyst did all the hard work. What a load of tripe! What about the Gator? He had to lead for 1400m and fight all the way down the Flemington straight to fight off the rest of them, who coming around the turn looked like they were going to swamp him! But unlike Nature Strip, the Gator fought them all off and was going as good as anything through the line. It was a champion performance, a bit like the Winx/Hartnell clashes. Poor old Hartnell, as good as he was, just couldn’t get past Winx. I think the Alligator Blood/Catalyst clashes may be a reincarnation! The Gator camp are pretty certain that he should be unbeaten - and that’s pretty rare for a 3yo racing at this level - unless of course a horse has the X factor. The only way I can see Catalyst A chance of turning the tables on AB is for someone like Dwayne Dunn being offered the ride and letting him ride to his horse’s best racing style - buried. It’s going to take an exceptional performance to beat the Gator. He’s got a will to win. He’s the new “Conor McGregor” Of racing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Rum 1,833 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 29 minutes ago, Trump said: Imho, match racing usually brings someone unstuck. There’s a few scribes, including the one that wrote today’s NZ Herald article re the race, that think Catalyst did all the hard work. What a load of tripe! What about the Gator? He had to lead for 1400m and fight all the way down the Flemington straight to fight off the rest of them, who coming around the turn looked like they were going to swamp him! But unlike Nature Strip, the Gator fought them all off and was going as good as anything through the line. It was a champion performance, a bit like the Winx/Hartnell clashes. Poor old Hartnell, as good as he was, just couldn’t get past Winx. I think the Alligator Blood/Catalyst clashes may be a reincarnation! The Gator camp are pretty certain that he should be unbeaten - and that’s pretty rare for a 3yo racing at this level - unless of course a horse has the X factor. The only way I can see Catalyst A chance of turning the tables on AB is for someone like Dwayne Dunn being offered the ride and letting him ride to his horse’s best racing style - buried. It’s going to take an exceptional performance to beat the Gator. He’s got a will to win. He’s the new “Conor McGregor” Of racing! It's going to be a great race in few weeks , do you think anything can do both of them , in fighting terms do a Ruiz job on them . Alabama Express ? Castlevecchio what's he up to ? . Chenier will be fitter , wiser . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,759 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 Super Seth waiting in the wings too...... Alligator Blood and Catalyst stole the show despite it being a Group I race day, but there were a number of horses who set themselves up for a big Autumn. The track wasn’t at it’s usual best with the rain that fell throughout the day playing a big part. There was an inside section that was protected at the twilight meeting last Sunday, and it was clearly faster with water holding a lot longer in the grass once you got out beyond around five horses off the rails. Forgive anything that tried to make ground out wide, especially in the first half of the card. The day started off ok for punters with the first two favourites saluting, but after that it was clearly a victory for the bookmakers, with four blowout results including the last three legs of the quaddie. STAR OF THE DAY – THE CS HAYES STAKES So many times, when a race is hyped up as much as this, they don’t live up to expectations, but this delivered in spades. Built up as a match race with a strong support cast, it quickly turned out that way with James McDonald putting Catalyst outside Alligator Blood early to ensure he didn’t get a bludge in front. Head to head over the last 400m with Catalyst running the fastest last 400m split of the entire meeting, it was Alligator Blood first under pressure but he found and held the slightest margin despite Ryan Maloney not being able to get at him fully with the whip. Chenier added to the depth of three-year-olds hitting the line in almost identical splits off a long spell and Soul Patch put his hand up for longer races running the fastest last 200m split of the entire meeting in 11.57. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trump 2,741 Report post Posted February 16, 2020 We have to wait and see the field, barriers, track conditions, Jockeys etc. should be a cracker - I’ll be there hopefully! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
weasel57 429 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 Racing does well from these sorts of rivalries. Let's hope there are several more between these two top 3yos. While I admired Catalyst's gutsy performance with the extra weight ad from the wide draw, I didn't like JMac's punishment of him with the whip. In fact, it just makes AB's win even more meritorious. Look closely the last few strides and see AB stretch his neck as far forward as he can. What a professional! What a will to win. Set weights on a better track in a fortnight ...can't wait. Feb 29 is going to be one helluva day's racing. Baz (NZ) 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Rum 1,833 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 21 minutes ago, weasel57 said: Racing does well from these sorts of rivalries. Let's hope there are several more between these two top 3yos. While I admired Catalyst's gutsy performance with the extra weight ad from the wide draw, I didn't like JMac's punishment of him with the whip. In fact, it just makes AB's win even more meritorious. Look closely the last few strides and see AB stretch his neck as far forward as he can. What a professional! What a will to win. Set weights on a better track in a fortnight ...can't wait. Feb 29 is going to be one helluva day's racing. Some these jockeys need to amp up with Imagine Dragon, " whip whip run me like a racehorse " . Might have to blank out those lyrics when whips banned . In fact just play the song to horse pre race or with earphones in, in final furlong it's a defo extra 5 per cent song when under pump physically . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,759 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 Super Seth to run in the Futurity this week, then Randwick Guineas. Melody Belle and Kolding the obvious dangers. Alabama Express won’t start in Futurity, going to the Australian Guineas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trump 2,741 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 45 minutes ago, Ohokaman said: Super Seth to run in the Futurity this week, then Randwick Guineas. Melody Belle and Kolding the obvious dangers. Alabama Express won’t start in Futurity, going to the Australian Guineas. Super Seth might be trying to avoid “Gator Country”! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,778 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 4 minutes ago, Trump said: Super Seth might be trying to avoid “Gator Country”! After seeing the CS Hayes they shouldnt be plenty of scope for the swooper in a two horse war, Dandy Andy crew would concur Baz (NZ) 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,778 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 https://youtu.be/HXyg5rP9W2Q Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,778 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 https://youtu.be/Ux7qZ9uhck8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,778 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 https://youtu.be/1_u6GYXPZes You have to love this. Red Rum and Baz (NZ) 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Rum 1,833 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 44 minutes ago, Gruff said: https://youtu.be/1_u6GYXPZes You have to love this. I know it gets there but it's in such a tailed off useless hopeless position I still have me doubts it's gonna get there and I know the result .I would have tossed the ticket a furlong from the bend . Baz (NZ) and weasel57 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,759 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 14 hours ago, Trump said: Super Seth might be trying to avoid “Gator Country”! It will probably not have escaped you Trumpy that Chenier is from the same stable.....astute trainer that Freedman. Anything he lines up worth a look.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trump 2,741 Report post Posted February 17, 2020 23 minutes ago, Ohokaman said: It will probably not have escaped you Trumpy that Chenier is from the same stable.....astute trainer that Freedman. Anything he lines up worth a look.. Personally, I think that Chenier is the main danger to Alligator Blood in the Aust Guineas. This is his race to come over the top of the Gator. He’s bred to do it and you’d expect that D Oliver, the FLEMINGTON specialist, will have his mount in the right spot at the turn to come at AB. Being out of a Zabeel mare is also a plus!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...