Lord Derby

[Hwjb]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Ouija Board is the best horse on the planet.
Her one North American win is enough to give her the Eclipse.

As much as I love Ouija Board, that's a ridiculous statement with no basis in fact. Truth is she's not even the best mare in the world. That accolade goes to Pride.


With regard continuing to race her, for people to suggest that she should retire now because of the risk of her reputation being dented in defeat is to ignore the fact that it is through her being adventurously campaigned that she has built up her reputation in the first place. Whilst the Japan Cup is a tough race to win - a top 3 finish there will be a fine effort - the Hong Kong races are often relatively easy pickings - she didn't need to run close to her best to win the Vase there last year. If all is well with her it would be senseless not to run her.

[Hwjb]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Any horse who can win Grade/Group Ones on multiple continents -- and beat the males while she is at it -- is the best horse on the planet to me. Pride? Did I miss her in the Breeders' Cup? Is she travelling to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai... anywhere?

And I'll repeat: whilst she has won only one race in North America, she should win the Eclipse Award for best Turf Female.

Woah there, are you suggesting that a horse can only be considered the best in the world if they go to the Breeders' Cup or compete on more than one continent...cos if you are, as you are well aware, that's just being fatuous. Only reason Pride didn't turn up at Churchill Downs was because she needed supplementing...they considered doing so for the Turf, but went for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket instead, where she won readily. Pride has run against only her sex in just two of her last 15 races, she won both readily.

Pride also ran in Hong Kong last year, but went for the more competitive HK Cup rather than the Vase, and ran to a better level than Ouija Board in finishing second. However and more importantly, she has run in races sidestepped by connections of Ouija Board, notably the Arc, where she was the best horse at the weights, and as I've mentioned above the Champion.

Its just a great shame that the two look destined not to meet in Hong Kong, as I'd be buying my plane tickets right now to get over there and watch!


For the sake of interest Pride is rated 128, Ouija Board 125.

[Hwjb]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Harry,
Firstly, I did not offer my statement as one of "fact," as if I were stating that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Mine was an opinion based upon performances from a wide geographical range, and one of OB's wins occurred in America this year. Bonus points are given for travel, yes indeed!

Relatedly, the only reason a North American dirt horse can claim the title of "world champ" is because dirt racing is so scarce elsewhere. Now, with the Dubai World Cup entrenched as a top-notch event and measuring stick, even this claim is now subject to closer inspection. I am using that scenario to reaffirm my position that horses who can win on multiple continents deserve higher praise than one who remained in one area. Twenty years ago, I would not have said the same thing, but with the enhanced ability to ship across the globe, why not reserve status for international "road warriors" when they routinely win?

I understand your point and its fair enough. However, for me, when evaluating either a world champ or what's going to win the seller at Market Rasen, you can only go on form. The form of the horse largely; what it has achieved. You can't judge it on connections' intentions, I hate the phrase, but you can't blame the horse if it isn't as aggressively campaigned as another. Their respective ability remains exactly the same, and you can only jusge a horse's ability by what it does on the racecourse, any racecourse.
For example, and sorry for just using one, but few would argue that Ghostzapper was the best in the world in 2004. But you can't take that away from him because he didn't leave North America.

Either way, I respect your opinion!