Circular Quay: Just a Deep Closer or More?
 

A couple people whose opinions I respect think he's just a deep closer. I think he's more. I see him as more of a sustained middle move type. The races he's won have been over while still above the 1/16 pole. Starts his move at the 5/8 and keeps momentum going through the lane. He didn't beat a great group Saturday but he has been impressive, especially with his turn runs. We'll see if he lays a bit closer in the Wood (or wherever) or needs to show more speed early from an outer post.

well, whatever you decide to call him, he's still going to be the type who has to have clear sailing thru the lane-and that's generally easier said than done.

I'd like to seem him show a little more interest in the early part of the race. While he's certainly at least a contender for the Derby at this point, he doesn't make things easy for himself by having to pass the entire field every time he races. Some have called him a closing sprinter.. I think he's more than that. I also don't think the Louisiana Derby field was that weak.. at least comparing that race to the other 3yo stakes races run this year.. it was about as good as any other so far.

Too early to tell. I would lean the closing sprinter route, but even those horses can stretch occasionally. But 8.5 is not 10 panels...So I think the jury is out.

This is one of the best 3 yr olds in the country. How good remains to be seen. A 2nd in the Futurity...BC Juvenile and a 1st in the LA Derby suggest this horse is way, way more than a closing sprinter.

Like I said on saturday,I think he is the main bullet in the gun for Todd.He will be my board horse for the derby,just like stepeenwolfer was last year.I luv the fact that he LUVS Churchill Downs.

It cant hurt that he loves CD. We all know there are nice horses that go there and just hate the track. I dont think he has to be as far back as a stepp. or Jazil and hopefully he will make the Derby and get a good post... Well that is what they all hope.lol I really like the colt. Not to change the subject, but what is up with Principal Secret? I havent seen anything in awhile.

I have been on the band wagon and then I jumped ship.Im trying to get back on board. The nproblem with these deep closers are they have a bunch of built-in excuses that go with the style they run. Something to think about is if Pletcher gets 5 or more in the derby who will get this colt and thus be saddled with the problem of carving the trip if Gomez and JR opt for others. A new ridder could be very eventful. Has Pletcher already secured a a comitment for this horse if he makes it regardless of any others ? I know its early but the Jock could be the differance with CQ because of his running style

I was hanging out with a galloper for Pletcher the other night. She said Scat Daddy has Pletcher's heart (because he used to own him).

I think she thought that AGS was Pletchers main bullet but its pretty close between AGS and CQ (she told me he was a given right before the LA derby)

He was on the move well before the turn on Saturday and carried it from at least the half mile pole all the way in. I did notice that he seemed to relax when he made the lead, but was still able to finish the deal. Did he let up because he was on the lead, or because he was almost empty? That's the million dollar question regarding CQ.

The pace, in my opinion, was smoking hot in the LA Derby. CQ almost had to win by default.

Closer!!! Only way this horse does anything is if the pace is blistering and in this years 3yr old crop there is no TOP Speed

Would be a good mile horse with a rabbit

He got a 102 for his efforts the other day. Ketchikan a 99.

Thanks for posting this...

Ketchikan is a hell of a nice colt... if they can get him to calm down a bit, he's definitely one to watch.

The class of the 3yo crop may not be the need to lead types, but you can bet that there will be a couple of early speed types that pull wirejobs in the G3 preps that make for a hot pace in the Derby. If that happens, CQ is a player.

In all honesty I don't get the title of this thread. Of course he's a closer. He's always back in the pack. He's been 1st or 2nd every time he's stepped on the track other than when he got stopped cold in the Risen Star and I am quite certain he finishes 1st or 2nd there as well if ont for that incident. He is a very good 3 yr old closer...end of story. How good is the only debate and is he good enough to win the Derby. Of course he benefits from a fast pace as all closers do. HE always gives a good effort...even in the Risen Star it was a top notch deed gathering himself fro stopping and finishing 5th.

Quay is a darn good closer. He always has his neck stretched and his ears pinned back when he is asked to run. But like so many on here has pointed out, he has to pass 19 horses to win the Derby and that just doesnt happen. I think the horse can be successful at any distance. It is all about the trip with this one.

I'm not a big fan of this horse, and agree that the race had to fall apart--- which makes the 2nd place horse's performance all the more impressive.

Yet, I certainly thought that Zanjero and certainly Birdbirdistheword would get a jump on CQ. In other words, they'd move before CQ did.
Zanjero, up to the race, had been moving too soon, IMO, and I was interested in seeing what would happen if they timed his move a bit better,
and Bird...was moving with Street Sense (and thus, ahead of CQ) in the Keeneland stake.

As it shaped up, CQ did all the middle running and the other 2 could only try to pick up the pieces late ---it was all they could do to get by Liquidity, and never threatened the top 2.

And this is troubling, because CQ usually lets all the others run first and then simply picks up the pieces. This was an improved effort, IMO.