Now I Have Zero Respect Left for Shirreffs

[King Glorious]

“I think because Zenyatta is undefeated and beat such a strong field, she should strongly be considered for Horse of the Year,” Shirreffs said.

Asked if Zenyatta should have been in the Classic in order to vie for Horse of the Year against the best in the world, Shirreffs referenced the breakdown of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby.

“On the heels of some of the things that happened earlier in the year, it was in the best interest of Zenyatta, and in the best interest of racing, to run in the Ladies’ Classic against the best fillies in the world, and they all showed up,” Shirreffs said.

“It’s always in your mind when filles cross over, not just Eight Belles,” he said. “I just didn’t feel it was the right thing to do. I felt it was important for her to win a Breeders’ Cup race and be a champion. That was more important than racing in the Classic.”
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Complete and absolute bullshit. He could have run her in the Classic and made his case. As was talked about in another thread, if you want to run in the Distaff, feel free. But don't do your campaigning in the media afterwards when you had the opportunity to do it on the track. And then to reference Eight Belles in his reasoning for not taking on males? Is he ****ing serious? Did he not see Zarkava win her race? What about Goldikova win hers? Do female horses only break down when they face males? He's got to be kidding right? So, if he had a horse that won the Derby again, would he then skip the Preakness because of what happened to Barbaro? What about if he won the Derby and Preakness, would he skip the Belmont because of what happened to Charismatic? For that matter, why did he even run in the Distaff? Didn't he see what happened Go for Wand?

I heard his defenders talking about how he's brought her along slowly and because she's only run 9f once, taking her to a 10f race against the best in the world wasn't practical. Then we watched two 3yo's who had never been past a mile and were trying a new surface for the first time and shipping across the ocean to do it run 1-2.

Shirreffs just wanted to take the easiest path. He didn't want to take any chances with her and that's his right. But again, don't go campaigning in the media when you had your chances on the track. That's completely bushleague.