|
|
         
|
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 MASTEROFTHEHORSE BETTER PROSPECT THAN SEA THE STARS As a producer of speed ratings I hate slow run races with a passion because they make it hard to figure out how good a winner is. In addition tactics can give a horse a serious edge in a slow run race and make it appear better than it actually is. Slow run races are so common with two year olds that I've adopted a new policy this season of making a speed rating for the last three furlongs, adding it to the rating for the full distance and dividing by two. This usually gives a pretty good idea of how fast a race would have been. And it suggests the Beresford Stakes was one of the better two year old races we've seen this season. MOURAYAN (37) was the horse that benefited most from the way the race was run as he stole a march on his rivals by kicking first three furlongs out. It's tough to peg back a horse that grabs a decent lead and first run in a sprint finish, so the fact that his stablemate SEA THE STARS (38) was able to catch him and win the race suggests he may well be quite a bit better. Both Sea The Stars and Mourayan look good prospects for middle distance races next term. But I'd be surprised if the third placed MASTEROFTHEHORSE (37) didn't turn out better than either of them. He was caught flat footed when the sprint began but was picking up best of all towards the finish. In a more strongly run race or over a longer trip I'm convinced he'd have won this nicely. Masterofthehorse looks likely to need every inch of a mile and a half next year. I suspect he'll get beat over ten furlongs, just as his sister Alexandrova was. But over the Derby trip he looks quite some prospect.
CHINTZ A FUTURE MIDDLE DISTANCE PROSPECT CHINTZ (36) is a great big strapping sort that's built for middle distances. She's been very consistent this season over trips that are clearly on the short side for her. But the strong early pace and yielding ground finally brought her stamina into play in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh. She was always prominent and picked up strongly in the closing stages to win clearly and full of run. Chintz is a bit big too be handling Epsom. But her entry in the Irish Oaks looks more than justified on this showing.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ARCHIVED PAST WEEKLY REPORTS
|
|
|