Dubai Carnival Contest V

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Fair play Pat, he ran too bad to be true. 104 still looks like a very good mark in my opinion. He just ran so flat, as did Red Gulch and Mendip. Just makes me wonder.

I still have no idea what Paul Hanagan was doing on Glen's Diamond today. Slowly run race, he pulled hard but was positioned well in third, but Hanagan thought the correct move was to smother him and drop him back to seventh at the most crucial stage of the race and then didn't have the pace to match the front two. I doubt the form of that race will hold up at all, and I'll be prepared to have a good go on Glen's Diamond if they meet again over the same distance.

I'm with you...I backed Jedi and thought he'd be tracking someone else, and was initially fearful when I saw him on the lead, but then laughed hysterically when I heard the fractions and thought it would be possible. The Euro-jockey holdup syndrome is something else...see also, Mirco Demuro taking 12 of them to the woodshed last year.

[clyde]

Me too.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

I'm with you...I backed Jedi and thought he'd be tracking someone else, and was initially fearful when I saw him on the lead, but then laughed hysterically when I heard the fractions and thought it would be possible. The Euro-jockey holdup syndrome is something else...see also, Mirco Demuro taking 12 of them to the woodshed last year.

I didn't understand the pace of the races today, none were run at the usual gallop we can see in Dubai. It definitley paid to be on the speed today, with very few horses coming from far off the pace, apart from possibly Kinglet, who I think was probably the most eyecatching run of the day. For a horse who looked in need of every yard of a mile as a 2yo, dropping to seven furlongs on his 3yo debut on a new surface where the pace wasn't overly strong. Another few strides and he's won the race. The guineas is the obvious option, but I feel he'd be more suited to the UAE Derby, albeit that will be a stronger contest.

I was swearing at Hanagan during that race. I knew his chance had gone at halfway. Never given a chance. For a horse who connections have long said will stay well, why didn't they make it a good test of stamina. Especially when the fav (and winner) had never tried twelve furlongs before. I know, nor had Glen's, but he looked certain to improve with this extra distance. In the end the winner has had nothing more than a track gallop and the form shouldn't be trusted.

Mendip, well you can only say that was very very disappointing. He didn;t break with his usual fluency and was never travelling well enough to be ever called the likely winner. He might be set for a quiet year.

Alkimos........ I'm still scratching my head there. Surely, he's better than a 104 rated horse? on my figures I thought he was well worth a mark of 109-111.

[ADJMK]

Mendip, well you can only say that was very very disappointing. He didn;t break with his usual fluency and was never travelling well enough to be ever called the likely winner. He might be set for a quiet year.



Mendip was really hyper today in the paddock. I think he ran his race before getting in the gate. If he is calmer next time may be worth a bet back.

[NoChanceToDance]

He has always been an edgy individual, so I'm unsure if that made much of a difference. Given that Musir usually comes on for the run and Mendip is usually best when fresh. It'd be hard to see him reverse the placings this carnival.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

He has always been an edgy individual, so I'm unsure if that made much of a difference. Given that Musir usually comes on for the run and Mendip is usually best when fresh. It'd be hard to see him reverse the placings this carnival.

I think the biggest "we'll see" of the Carnival comes when Musir runs next. I trust de Kock's analysis immensely, so when he says...he needs one, he normally does. Honestly, that's why I didn't tip him up. So to see him win handy like that, I know the barn was surprised a bit. The interest comes next time and figuring out if he can put it together and show some degree of progression, because he really didn't last season in the UAE.

I thought Twice Over was impossible in the Maktoum Challenge R3 last year and he bolts home, only to do nothing close to that next time. Pop and stop, or slowly progress? We'll see.