Gio Ponti: Back in '11, targets DWC..

[FATPIANO]

Will race again in 2011 as a 6yr old, and will target The Dubai World Cup, kudos to all involved in keeping a tue Champion around for another year.

[Indian Charlie]

True champion??

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

True champion??

[tjfla]

At least we know the Exacta for next years BC Mile

[hockey2315]

That's good and surprising news.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I'm not sure it's that surprising - he RNA'd for a modest sum at a 2yo in training sale .. I'm not so sure he isn't worth more on the track padding those earnings and accomplishments than in the breeding shed.

I doubt he will be an attractive stallion prospect.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I'm not sure it's that surprising - he RNA'd for a modest sum at a 2yo in training sale .. I'm not so sure he isn't worth more on the track padding those earnings and accomplishments than in the breeding shed.

I doubt he will be an attractive stallion prospect.

His owner basically said as much in the release. It's also obvious.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I'm not sure it's that surprising - he RNA'd for a modest sum at a 2yo in training sale .. I'm not so sure he isn't worth more on the track padding those earnings and accomplishments than in the breeding shed.

I doubt he will be an attractive stallion prospect.

I don't like him as a stallion prospect either - there was a really funny article before the BC where they interviewed two "experts" - one actually said, no lie, that he could probably stand for $75K.

It's surprising to me because there was so much talk of where to run him in the BC to increase his value from the connections. I guess the fact that they ran him in the mile should've been a sign that they had abandoned their optimism.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by FATPIANO

Will race again in 2011 as a 6yr old, and will target The Dubai World Cup, kudos to all involved in keeping a tue Champion around for another year.

A champion of what exactly? The fastest of the slowest turf divisions we have EVER HAD?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

A champion of what exactly? The fastest of the slowest turf divisions we have EVER HAD?

Good post.

I always thought he was kinda good by default.

That's about it.

[Dahoss]

He's no Interpatation, but I'm glad he's coming back next year. We need all of the good horses we can get...especially in the turf division.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Good post.

I always thought he was kinda good by default.

That's about it.

You could say this about many of the turf champions in this country. Gio Ponti ran some nice races in 2009. This year he was less good in what was even a weak year by our standards.

Regardless, as others have said, it's nice that he's coming back.

[Indian Charlie]

Hell, I'm just hoping they bring Uncle Mo back next year.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

He's no Interpatation, but I'm glad he's coming back next year. We need all of the good horses we can get...especially in the turf division.

Interpatation defines racing.

No, really!

You never know what to expect.

He disappoints and is so damned frustrating and then suddenly, out of nowhere, you see that fight in him.

You see this heart, this refusal to quit, this heart-stopping, breathtaking run and then

... and then...

... back to gut-wrenching disappointment but so what.

After a while, so what cause with him you know exactly what to expect.

The unexpected!

[ateamstupid]

He'd better get HOY in 2011 for all he's done for racing.

[Thunder Gulch]

I'm happy he's back, but a run at Dubai has knocked out better and younger horses than he. I'm skeptical of him making much of an impact on American Turf after returning from the desert.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

He'd better get HOY in 2011 for all he's done for racing.

Yeah!!

Has a six year old even run second in the BC Turf Mile before? It's probably unheard of!

[NTamm1215]

I have been a Gio Ponti fan since he was 2. Is he a historically great American turf horse? No, but he runs his race every time he goes to the post and has collected wins in basically all of the big American non-BC turf races (save the Joe Hirsch).

I'm glad he's coming back.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I have been a Gio Ponti fan since he was 2. Is he a historically great American turf horse? No, but he runs his race every time he goes to the post and has collected wins in basically all of the big American non-BC turf races (save the Joe Hirsch).

I'm glad he's coming back.

Gio Pionti = Ginger Punch... maybe
I guess he is really a miler that has been able to beat bad 10f horses most of the time. You want him vs. Kittens Joy Artie Schiller or even English Channel.. I guess its ok that he is coming back. In reality his record is more an indictment on US based turf racing then his overall quality..

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Gio Pionti = Ginger Punch... maybe
I guess he is really a miler that has been able to beat bad 10f horses most of the time. You want him vs. Kittens Joy Artie Schiller or even English Channel.. I guess its ok that he is coming back. In reality his record is more an indictment on US based turf racing then his overall quality..

I went out of my way to say he's not a historically good American turf horse and then you post this? He'd have no shot against Kitten's Joy or Artie when they were at their best. Unfortunately, Kitten's Joy really only had one big season, of course, it was a terrific season.

I don't think Gio Ponti would match up all that poorly with English Channel. In fact, I think they are somewhat similar save that BC Turf win from EC that was just a very strange race.