Cannonball
 

Wesley Ward has a pretty ambitious set of races planned out for him.

"He's going to leave Friday for Hong Kong," said Ward Sunday at Santa Anita of the international globetrotter, who will make his next start in the Hong Kong Sprint the second week of December.

The well-traveled 4yo gelding was shipped to the Royal Ascot meet in England in June, finishing second in the Group 1 Jubilee Stakes.

"After Hong Kong, he will go to Australia to run in the Coolmore Lightning Stakes on Jan. 30," added Ward. "Then it will be back to Royal Ascot next year."

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...down-on-horses

NT

Is either race restricted to NY-breds?

I thought Chuck was a KY bred...

your attempt at humor aside, he'd crush NY breds. I applaud the int'l effort. He's not the best turf sprinter around but he's damn good.

His only wins in the last 2 seasons (and that's a grand total of 2), were against fellow NY-breds.

Both victories were photo finishes.

Very cool. Hope he runs well overseas.

That is indisputable but his race in the Golden Jubilee kind of overshadows that, right? I mean based on race flow, the pace situation and the condition of the turf course there was basically no way he was beating California Flag yesterday.

That being said, I imagine he'll get absolutely smoked in Australia.

NT

I guess losing photos in the Shakertown, Turf Sprint @ CD, and G1 Jubilee at Ascot must mean he sucks.

Yes. But he is certainly very versatile with regards to losing races of various importance.

If he is going to lose, it might as well be on the international stage.

The horse is a piece of crap NYB turf sprinter who hangs against anybody but fellow NY breds. Sound better?

I never said he was a hanger.

So Cannonball, a 4-18 New York-bred with each and every one of those wins coming against New York-breds, is going to take his 0 for 14 record against open company and attempt to beat the best turf sprinters in the world. Mind you that 6th in the King's Stand Stakes makes him look that much more appealing. This is a horse who barely beat Ahvee's Destiny and Silver Timber. Let's get Chad Brown and Linda Rice on board with going overseas then. Quite frankly other than the Golden Jubilee Stakes where's his good races? He sat a perfect trip at Saratoga and was all out to beat a former 25K claimer and a filly and he got very good setups at Churchill and Keeneland where races fell apart. I fail to see how he's competitive against the best turf sprinters in the world.

What I would say about him is that he's a nice NY-bred turf runner who really doesn't have a perfect distance for him. He fits very well with the top NY-bred turf sprinters, as well as most of ours, but then again we aren't exactly a breeding home for turf sprinters. Many turf sprinters are turned into that by trainers because the horses don't show a whole heck of a lot on dirt. Maybe his globe trotting can be as profitable as his 2008 season and if it is I would say Ward has done a great job.

... and so it goes...

http://formguide.cyberhorse.com.au/i...caulfield.html

Scenic Blast is on his way home...

Maybe these two should just switch places and be done with it.

(For anyone who doesn't understand how good Scenic Blast was before coming here...)

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225768145347

I don't get this. They were 5.5-furlong turf sprints. Do you routinely see horses win by 5-6 lengths in those? It's the kind of race where timing is of utmost importance and jockeys will wait a little longer and go for the final move rather than send early to go for a blowout win and risk getting nailed.

He acquitted himself extremely well at Ascot. Better than any American horse has there in a while. I see no reason why he shouldn't get another shot overseas.

Horse racing fans are ridiculous. We complain all the time about the sissy campaigns our horses run, but then when someone like Ward or McPeek actually tries something unconventional, we shoot it to pieces.

He just came in 2nd this evening and paid a nice chunk (no I didn't have it).

Here's his record as of late.

Not exactly a sight to behold.

http://horseform.racingandsports.com...157893D55E8D22