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#1
08-31-2007, 03:54 AM
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Arc07
Big trials in 2 weeks!. manduro tries 12f for the first time (though, i doubt they will learn anything as usually these trial races are absolutely farcical!!). Soldier of Fortune is a possible for the Prizx Niel where I assume he'll face Zambezi!!
from racingpost!! ANDRE FABRE said on Thursday that he was not worried about questions over Manduro's stamina in the Arc as he reported the world's top-rated miler on turf to be pleasing in his work at Chantilly in the countdown to a first attempt at the big-race distance of 1m4f in the Prix Foy. Meanwhile, Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune appears set to pursue options other than the Ladbrokes St Leger - for which the Irish Derby winner was a big drifter, out to 12-1 on Betfair on Thursday - with an Arc trial his likely aim. Manduro has been given a surprise entry in the Prix Moulin over 1m, and he is also in the Irish Champion Stakes over 1m2f, but the perennial champion trainer of France confirmed the Foy a fortnight on Sunday, and then the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for which he will need to be supplemented, remained the prime targets. Addressing the stamina issue, Fabre, a seven-time Arc winner, said: “While it is probably true that in the modern era a horse with the speed to win a Group 1 over a mile was unlikely to win an Arc, I regard Manduro as an old-fashioned type capable of winning over both distances. “As we've seen, he is very talented. His preparation is going very well and I'm pleased with him.” Fabre, when asked if, deep down, stamina would be his chief worry in the Prix Foy at Longchamp on September 16, added: “I'm not worried. If there is a time to worry it is after a race, not before.” To date, the furthest the five-year-old, second favourite for the Arc behind Authorized, has competedover was over the 1m2½f of the Prix Ganay in the spring of last year, where he started favourite and was beaten more than five lengths into third by Corres Caminos. Manduro has, however, shown marked improvement under Stephane Pasquier, who is unbeaten in five rides on him. Although the partnership will be severed in the Arc, where the jockey will be claimed by Khalid Abdullah for Grand Prix de Paris winner Zambezi Sun, Pasquier is likely to ride Manduro in the trial. “It is almost certain that Stephane will ride in the Prix Foy, and then we'll think about who is available for the Arc,” said Paul Harley, racing manager to the five-year-old owner, Baron Georg von Ullmann. Harley confirmed the Foy-Arc strategy, and added. “Baron von Ullmann has always wanted to win the Arc more than any other race. He has come close on a couple of occasion with horses like Shirocco and Tiger Hill. Mr Fabre told me at the beginning of the season that he wanted Manduro to be Horse of the Year.” On the St Leger front, Soldier Of Fortune's stablemate Honolulu continued to shorten as favourite, with trainer Aidan O'Brien nominating the four horses from his remaining seven entries most likely to take part. O'Brien said on Thursday: "While we are not completely shutting the door on Soldier Of Fortune running in the St Leger there are other options for him and we might look at one of the Arc trials in France for his next race." O'Brien indicated that it was not a case of Soldier Of Fortune, who has not run since his nine-length victory at the Curragh last month, being unready for the Doncaster Classic, but that other targets, including possibly the Arc, are being considered for the colt. "At this stage, I would say that our St Leger team will come from Honolulu, Mahler, Macarthur and Acapulco. How many of them will run won't be decided until much nearer the race," O'Brien said. All four of the Ballydoyle colts were in action at York last week when Honolulu finished second in the Ebor Handicap. Macarthur, who was returning from a three-month break, Acapulco and Mahler, winner of the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, finished third, fourth and fifth behind Lugarno in the Group 2 Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes. In other news, Marcus Tregoning reported that Derby third Aqaleem, who he had revealed to have been injured on Wednesday, was lame and "pretty certain" to miss the race. Eddie Ahern, who received a five-day ban at Kempton on Wednesday, misses the Leger in which he could have ridden the John Dunlop-trained Samuel. He is retained by the Sakhee colt's owner Normandie Stud.
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  #Grand 
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#2
08-31-2007, 04:50 AM
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I'm still not convinced about him getting the trip on what will most likely be soft ground on Arc day. Infact, i would say that as each day passes i am becoming less and less confident about him staying 12 furlongs.
I know he has a relaxed style of racing, and that will certainly help him, but he will be up against proven 12 furlong horses that have the ability to stay even further than this trip. Manduro (on form) is the one they have to beat and they know there is a doubt about him staying. They aren't going to make this a walk in the park for him. The others will make it a proper stamina test from start to finish, and i think that might prove too much for him. He is still the best turf performer in the world at the moment, in my opinion but i doubt if he will be the best turf performer in the world at 12 furlongs. If the ground is soft, any number of horses will have chances, but if it is Good on the day and Dylan Thomas is a confirmed runner, i think he will take plenty of beating.
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#3
08-31-2007, 04:52 AM
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As far at the St Leger is concerned. I still think Mahler is the bet here, he has proven stamina and is now looking like the class horse of the race. I cannot see Lucarno running in it (well, i hope they don't decide to run him over this kind of a trip)
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#4
08-31-2007, 06:54 AM
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Fabre is an absolute master at getting his horses spot on for the Arc. He knows what type of horse it takes and I believe him when he says that hes finally figured out how to train this guy. The one Id be wary of is Zambezi Sun. He's unbeaten at Longchamp, by the same connections who won last years Arc and is the same essential type as Rail Link. The Niel will tell us much much more about him. O'Brien has the usual strong guns to fire for the Arc but Im still to be absolutely convinced by Soldier Of Fortune and Dylan might find one or two too good for him. He couldnt win it with a superstar in High Chaparral (though there were thoughts that he didnt race as well right handed!) so I dont think he'll win this year!
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#Grand
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#5
08-31-2007, 09:24 AM
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With Manduro showing so much speed over a mile last time, it puts plenty of doubt in my mind about the Arc. Fabre loves to win this race, and is this the only reason he is running in it? The owner wants to win it, too. That isn't always the best way to look at it though, the owners and trainer's desire to win something often overlooks the horse..... and that might be happening with Manduro. They are so keen to win the Arc that they might just have convinced themselves that he will stay. They are some great races over 10 furlongs this Autumn, and honestly, i cannot understand why he isn't being pointed to the Champion or the Irish Champion. I love Manduro and i think he is a superstar, but i don't think he will win the Arc. Regarding Dylan Thomas. I think he has the ability to reverse form with any horse over his proper trip, which is 12 furlongs.
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#6
08-31-2007, 11:54 PM
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No mention of Vodka?
I need to smack both of you. 
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#7
09-01-2007, 02:52 AM
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Apparently some horse named Vodka is running, too???? There, is that better, mmsc 
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#9
09-01-2007, 09:15 AM
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#10
09-01-2007, 12:51 PM
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Meisho Samson (sp?) is actually very sick, poor thing. Vodka is still on target. Trying to find info from the JRA about her prep though? It's like trying to get me to bash a HK horsie..... ******* impossible! Too bad HK won't send a runner..... Maybe one of these years.
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#11
09-03-2007, 05:17 AM
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#12
09-03-2007, 10:51 AM
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The HK horses weep. * * * No prep for Authorized.....
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#13
09-03-2007, 02:12 PM
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Authorized.........pfft, he might finish the Arc a day later than the rest, if he's lucky 
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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