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Author: Ormonde
Timestamp:- 28/9/2002 8:22:35 AM
Subject: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
Interesting comment by John Hawkes - says the one thing in Lonhro's favour for the George Main is the fact that Sunline doesn't have the best of records at the track. Possibly the first time in history that a horse who has won five Group Ones on a track has that same track labelled as a weakness! What a race though, just can't wait. We've got the Kelt here this afternoon, always a great day. Should shed some light on the Cup chances of Distinctly Secret and Prized Gem - and the track is rock hard, so even that fussy old bugger Kaapstad Way gets his chance! Another highlight in NZ today is the debut of Diamond Like, the sister to Viking Ruler. She has an enormous reputation, so worth keeping an eye on.
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 Author: Doncaster
Timestamp:- 1/10/2002 11:31:57 PM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
Tonto, I totally agree. I am fed up with these races where intelligent jockeys think the best way to win is to slow down an hope everyone forgets that a race is primarily about covering the distance in the best time overall and not just the "sprint home". I can recall countless "class" races where horses that have run track records last week are beaten today by the "champion" in a time much slower because nobody had the sense to set an accurate pace and make it an honest race for fear of wearing themselves.
Cheers
Don
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 Author: Tontonan
Timestamp:- 1/10/2002 7:50:51 PM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
I?ll tell you want was clever about Munce?s ride.
Both jockeys were issued with instructions by their trainers. Darren followed his (lest he accused of slaughtering the horse) Munce did not. In all the pre race discussion not once did I hear anyone say that Excellerator and Hey Pronto would drop out and Defier would be the one to sit off the mare. But 20 minutes before the race Jim Cassidy was on the telly telling everyone that he would prefer to drop out and didn?t want to be on the pace. As it happened nobody wanted to sit off the mare and Munce assessed the situation quickly and took Defier forward. He was high in the saddle, he wasn?t racing Sunline for the lead, he just wanted to sit off her. Not behind her, using her as a windbreak and saving every inch of ground as LONHRO!?s rider was apparently told , but off her, for from there he could effectively control the race. If LONHRO!, was to get past him he was going to have to come around him (goodness ! not three wide ! What are trying to do, slaughter the horse !) , or take a split between Sunline and the fence or between Defier and Sunline.
That?s not what he was told to do, that?s what he chose to do as the race unfolded contrary to everybody?s expectations including McKee?s. Sunline walked for half a mile and Defier walked along in the Duke of Edinburgh position, about a length back on her outside, befitting the Queen of the Turf. To sit behind her , well that would have been asking for trouble as Beadman found out. Because the pace had been so slow the field was bunched and LONHRO! was in a hole. Beadman went to take a split between Sunline and Defier, but Munce was not about to let that happen, and he shut the door. As I backed the winner I reckon shutting the principal opposition out of the race was very clever riding. And then Darren had nowhere to go as the others were close handy and they weren?t about to make room for LONRHO! either.
Clearly Munce has every confidence in his horse, and Walter seems to have every confidence in Munce. He is prepared to let a top class jockey take matters into his own hands as the situation requires. The same cannot be said for Hawkes.
I said it before And I?ll say it again. That race was a farce and an embarrassment to Australian racing. It most certainly wasn?t what I regard as a Group One race. It was not truly run and on the expansive Randwick track to have them race so tightly and so slowly is plainly unnecessary and bordering on the ridiculous.
A Group One mile race is supposed to represent the cream of the crop, it is supposed to identify the outstanding miler in the country from a field of outstanding milers. But it appears Sunline needed the run, it appears the muchly hyped LONHRO! ?s connections are so nervous about their horse they they want him covered up on the rail out of the breeze in a six horse field. And it appears that a mile run in 98+ seconds (on a good track) represents the best and fairest mile race we can muster. This was not championship quality. It was another typically stupid Australian WFA race where the jockeys play funny buggers and drongos like me, ended up waffling on about strategy and tactics. I do not want to see jockeys play funny buggers, I want to see the horses race.
Let the horses run
End of Rant
Thank You and Goodnight
Tonto.
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 Author: stan
Timestamp:- 1/10/2002 1:48:49 PM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
Speedy, you'll probably find that many of Defier's wins this year have come either in small fields or where there's been a slow pace. This lets him settle closer without much effort.
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 Author: Speedy Gonzalez
Timestamp:- 1/10/2002 12:23:35 PM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
Stan,
I agree that he raced without luck last season and was viewed as a backmarker who needed luck, however he's most definately improved since then and appears to be much more adaptable - or maybe he was poorly ridden last season and finally he is being riden in a position where he doesn't need much luck to win. Either way on current form he's the best in the land at the moment.
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Author: stan
Timestamp:- 1/10/2002 12:03:05 AM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
I can't believe I'm reading excuses for Shogun Lodge. It's all very well to talk about him being crowded, but if was going any good, how did Excellerator catch up with him in the first place? I don't think he's going anywhere near as well as he was in the autumn, and wonder whether that heart complaint he had in the Queen Elizabeth has something to do with it. On the other hand, I don't think Defier has improved as much as people believe. Last season, he tended to race without luck - getting out of his ground and or covering ground - and he can race without luck again.
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Author: Speedy Gonzalez
Timestamp:- 30/9/2002 3:12:57 PM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
She's got several archilles heals this season -NORTHERLY, DEFIER, LONHRO, MAGICAL MISS & FIELDS OF OMAGH.
Without interference and bad luck they will all beat her this spring.
She had several years racing against plodders like TTK, Sky heights etc, now it's time to race against decent opposition.
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 Author: Gary Still
Timestamp:- 29/9/2002 9:56:03 PM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
Tonto, you and I go a long way back (almost a month).
How clever would Chris Munce have to be to ride Defier like he did in that 6 horse race. That was clever?
Oh wait, I get it. You must be comparing him to the other jock in that race who was being damm stoopid. By that measurement, er yes I guess he was being clever:-)
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 Author: Sunline
Timestamp:- 29/9/2002 7:52:46 PM
Subject: 64 G1s in Oz
Message:
Tontonan, don't forget that France, the UK and the rest of Europe all fit into Australia. Horses over there regularly win G1s in different countries. It's just like our horses winning in Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
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 Author: Racing Carrot
Timestamp:- 29/9/2002 9:34:45 AM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
Tontonan, Your right about the Kelt it was a great race and nice to see it truly run, you can always rely on Greene Street to make races interesting. Great runs by the first two considering its only their second starts this campaign.
But looking to the future I dunno whether you could rate Hail's chances in Aussie. He's had two trips across to race in Queensland and Sydney and hasn't run a place so I doubt he can be competitive in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Plus the first two were clear of the rest and they would have to be the two top NZers for the Caulfield Cup. I'd still be inclined to back Cyclades agfainst them in the Melbourne Cup, but they have won in Australia and he hasn't, which is a big disadvantage.
Anyaway great money for Prized Gem, she's got a superb sprint and even with Northerly in the Caulfield Cup she should be hard to hold out.
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Author: Spartacus
Timestamp:- 29/9/2002 9:14:19 AM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
One thing to come out of this race is the improvement Defier has made in 6 months. Sunline and Shogun can count themselves lucky that Defier was still on the up in the Doncaster. This certainly looks to be the strongest spring in years in terms of high-class wfa races. Can Northerly beat the Sydneysiders-I cant wait for the clash!
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Author: Tontonan
Timestamp:- 29/9/2002 6:28:24 AM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
At the risk of being deported, I reckon the Kelt was a much better race than that farce at Randwick. I am really enjoying the NZ racing on Sky, and the Kelt was a genuine ripper. Big field, truly run, great finish. Prized Gem must be right in contention for the Cups on the strength of her Brisbane Cup win and the Kelt. 52 kg at Flemington, just a kilo more than she had in Brisbane, out of a Noble Bijou mare, Waikato fed, looks the goods. Distinctly Secret and Hail could be right in it too. The Kiwis are coming !!
As for the George Main, what a joke. This Group One race attracted a field of 6. Despite the supposed advantage that 3yo's have under the WFA scale was no three year old in the field. None were game.
It was run at a snails pace, as is the fashion of Australian weight for age racing. On a good track they didn't break 98 seconds for the mile. The 7yo mare lead the way as none of the other contestants were game to take her on. The great dame lead the procession into the spacious Randwick straight. However the horse most favored to beat the old mare couldn't get a run...in a field of six ! He had sat back despite the total lack of speed, seeking cover on the rail, not game to face the breeze less he be spent before the 'critical' dash in last couple of furlongs. The gushing race caller did his best to talk it up, but I have routinely seen better contests in mid week maidens.
As a race it was a farce, and proved nothing except that Chris Munce is a very clever rider, with enough confidence in his horse to take the initiative, and to hold his ground. And I am not talking through my kick. I backed the winner.
This race should not be considered a Group One event. Group One is becoming an increasingly meaningless term in Australian racing.
In the UK they run 25 Group One races.
In France they run 22 Group One races.
In Ireland they run 9 Group One races.
In New Zealand they run 22 Group One races.
In Australia we run 64 Group One races !!!!
Don't you think we are over doing it just a tad ?
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 Author: Horlicks
Timestamp:- 29/9/2002 5:13:17 AM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
Sunline was outsprinted but she will improve lengths for the Yalumba. Hard luck stories -Lonhro was pocketed yes BUT he got clear with around 75m to go and didn't make up a whole lot of ground. Shogun Lodge was flattened by Excellerator forget that run, should he back up in the epsom I think he will be a major chance.
Diamond Like very impressive today Ormonde!
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Author: ourmaizcay
Timestamp:- 28/9/2002 11:53:43 AM
Subject: Re: Sunline's Archilles Heel
Message:
It's all relative I guess. Technically he may be correct - but at the end of the day it's better than most.
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