Derby Trail Forums - Wilko pointing to World Cup

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Wilko pointing to World Cup

(The Dubai World Cup, not the soccer tournament although that's what I realize the title implies to some people--clearly this isn't a soccer board so oh well) Here's the DRF quote since it's part of a lot of stuff and I didn't want to just make you go find it. Frankly I'd be excited if he just won the prep race but I gotta say I enjoy Wilko so I hope he comes away with something in either race. He did well in the DWC last year and his first race of this year (after last year having colic surgery) was a 4th on turf which I seem to recall thinking was good considering he obviously would've rather been somewhere else, a turf mile wasn't apparently something he looked forward to, but he still tried.

Quote:

Thinking World Cup again with Wilko

Wilko, winless in 14 starts since the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, will start in the $75,000 Santana Mile on Sunday as a possible prep for the $6omillion Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba on March 31, trainer Craig Dollase said on Wednesday.

Wilko finished third in the 2006 Dubai World Cup and was promoted to second after runner-up Brass Hat failed a postrace drug test.

Owned by Paul Reddam and Susan Roy, Wilko has made one start this year, finishing fourth in an allowance race over a mile on turf on Feb. 10. The race was his first start since last summer. Wilko underwent colic surgery last fall.

At one point earlier this year, Wilko was a candidate for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, which was run last Saturday, but he was pointed for the Santana Mile instead.

"We're hoping to get an invite to Dubai and this fits our plans," Dollase said of Sunday's race. "He wasn't ready for the Big Cap. He ran so well over that track in Dubai last year. We need to get a race into him. He'll be going in a fresh horse."

The field for the Santana Mile is expected to include C'Mon Tiger, Preachinatthebar, Raise the Bluff, and Yes He's a Pistol. C'Mon Tiger, a half-brother to 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow, will be making his stakes debut. He has won a maiden race and an allowance race since joining trainer Bob Baffert's stable last fall.

Dangerous in that spot

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

More the Rugby World Cup. Wilko or Johnny Wilkinson is England's main player and kicker.. They are a completely different team without him...Nice to see he's still pointing to the World Cup later on this year!

He should be pointing to an optional claiming race at Turf Paradise, not the world cup. I still can't believe the fascination with this horse.

He's a 5-year old who hasn't won a race since he was 2.

Sumwonlovesyou could beat this horse.

The first thing I thought of when I saw this thread was that they added a claiming race to the card.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

He should be pointing to an optional claiming race at Turf Paradise, not the world cup. I still can't believe the fascination with this horse.

He's a 5-year old who hasn't won a race since he was 2.

I thought all the horses going to Dubai prep in the Santana mile.:D

I'm sure the Invasor connections are reeling from this news.

They are shaking in their shoes!!:D

Honestly, all the money the Sheik has frittered away by overpaying for yearlings pales in comparison to the money being wasted to foot the expenses for Wilko and his connections to come to Dubai.

Hell, they should bring Andromeda's Hero out of retirement.

Wilko has made more than enough to pay his way since his 2yo season. Check the records. He may not be great, heck even very good, but he earns nice checks all over the place.

The reason he wasn't retired the BCJ is that he is a tiny horse. He is not the most attractive stallion prospect for this reason. His pedigree is as fine as many stallions, his race record, better than most, but he is not a very impressive to look at.

But, please stop bashing a horse that raced on after winning the BCJ. You all bitch when a horse is retired and apparently bitch when they continue to race. I don't get it.

What's funny is if you just saw this:

2004: 1st BC Juvenile(G1,8.5F), 2nd Vintage S.(G2,7FT), Washington Singer S.(GB,L,7FT), 3rd Superlative S.(G3,7FT), Royal Lodge S.(G2,8FT), Chesham S.(GB,L,7FT), Hollywood Futurity (G1,8.5F)
2005: 3rd Santa Anita Derby(G1,9F), Larkspur S.(GG,6F)

2006: 2nd Dubai World Cup(G1,10F), 3rd San Antonio H.(G2,9F), Santa Anita H.(G1,10F)

and didn't know the horse's name or competition you'd think he was a pretty good horse. One things for sure though, he's a tough little guy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

Here here. And I totally agree with Sightseek too. If you saw Wilko's record and somehow didn't have the knowledge of it being Wilko you'd go 'who's this horse? He's sounds pretty good. Not great but a tough guy with some talent.' What do you want? He can't win if he retires after age 3, he can't win if he races at age 5.

The horse can't win, that's what's wrong.
I'm all for keeping horses in training, but be realistic about it.
If he didn't barely win the BCJ race, he would probably be running in non-graded stakes races and optional claimers, with moderate success.
He's had plenty of opportunities to prove himself and win, and he hasn't been able to do so.

And just so you know, I didn't lose money on him on Breeders Cup Day.
I had my only big winner of the day thanks to him.
$1 pick 3.
Speightstown/Ouija Board/All

An $8 bet paid over $500 for the pick 3.

I will say this... is Frankie Dettori riding him?

He does his best when Dettori rides him. I hate it when Not-a-jockey rides... he just doesn't do as well.

But with all the bein said... he doesn't have much of a chance regardless