Do Australian Horses Suck?

[Dunstall_Jr]

Whats the deal? Like i follow the Spring Carnival and see how our horses beat some of these overseas ones etc, but how come all these great horses like octagonal, lonhro etc etc never race overseas or win this japanese cup.

I just saw fields of omagh come absolutly dead last. He may have just stayed in the barrier.

 

[Catman]

Firstly, Lonhro isn't good enough to race overseas especially in the Japan Cup.

Secondly, the travelling circumstances aren't often favourable for Australia, and trainers end up deciding it isn't worth the hassle.

Thirdly, the Japan Cup is at the end of our carnival and most horses are in the paddock because they are primed for our big races, not the big races overseas. The Japan Cup is an after-thought most of the time.

In the words of Dennis Cometti, the FOO connections were ambitious in going over for the Japan Cup. He's a nice horse, but no international star and he proved it today by running a long last. You need to be a true champion, ala Northerly, to run in races like the Japan Cup, not an honest battler like FOO.

 

[Pigskin]

Originally posted by Catman
Firstly, Lonhro isn't good enough to race overseas especially in the Japan Cup.

Secondly, the travelling circumstances aren't often favourable for Australia, and trainers end up deciding it isn't worth the hassle.

Thirdly, the Japan Cup is at the end of our carnival and most horses are in the paddock because they are primed for our big races, not the big races overseas. The Japan Cup is an after-thought most of the time.

In the words of Dennis Cometti, the FOO connections were ambitious in going over for the Japan Cup. He's a nice horse, but no international star and he proved it today by running a long last. You need to be a true champion, ala Northerly, to run in races like the Japan Cup, not an honest battler like FOO.

sorry Catman, but what a load of cods wallop you just posted

you know many high class trainers apparantly whom throw their hands in the air at the prospect of international races and say "not worth the hassle" ?

firstly, I'm one of Lonhro's biggest knockers, but he is more than good enough to compete on the world stage .... up to a mile .... the field for this years HK mile (in a couple of weeks) is not so flash and he would more than stack up

secondly, its very difficult for any horses (not just australian horses) to travel from one hemisphere to another, settle in in only a week or two and perform their best ... ala the Melb Cup .... if they target overseas races (like falvelon, choirsir - both sprinters) rather than go as an afterthought, we can be competitive up to a mile ... our staying ranks are nothing short of abysmal - Godolphin is obviously the best at interhemispheric (is there such a word?) travel, but they have satellite stables all over the place and about 4 million horses to pick from

Dennis Cometti is probably right, however i'm not sure when he suddenly became an expert on international horse racing, stick to AFL Dennis

but FOO is no battler - he is better than that, nor is he at his best at 2400m .... the japan cup was race 9 on a 10 race program after 150mm of rain in the last 24 hours .... the fence was no place to be, seems every other jockey knew it .... yes the Japan Cup was ambitious but he is on his way to HK for a 2000m race so why not ... you will note if that he wasn't knocked about in the straight, that is if there is no problem with him ... its not like he was caned with the whip all the way down the straight and finished 50 lengths from the winner ..... he is the best at 2000m wfa that we have this year

and finally, get real on Northerly being a "true champion" .... hasn't been one since Kingston Town .... he is a great horse in a very weak era and anybody would love to have him .... but you make it sound like the difference between FOO and Northerly to be like Gr1 to maiden company ... fair go, at their respective bests Northerly might be a length or two better

sorry, i just found the above post to be uneducated and in the main bordering on the ridiculous

Pigskin

 

[eastaugh36]

Lonhro is a better horse than FOO. The venue and distance had a lot to do with the cox plate result.

 

[Demon3]

Northerly is a champion Pigskin. A true champion. He would give Phar Lap a run for his money in his hay-day.

 

[Pigskin]

Originally posted by Demon3
Northerly is a champion Pigskin. A true champion. He would give Phar Lap a run for his money in his hay-day.

i'm tempted to curse and swear, but where would it get me

Oink !

 

[Pigskin]

fyi

COURTESY OF http://www.aapracingandsports.com.au

Monday, 1 December 2003: Fields Of Omagh (FOO) will at this stage be going to Hong Kong for the Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin racecourse on December 14, despite finishing last in the Japan Cup and all the fans will be pleased to know he is just fine.

FOO like most of the big overseas names just never handled the rain-affected footing on the newly laid Fuchu track and many just skated around for the final 1000m.

Rain had softened the track and although the winner led all the way and ran super time, the locals took first to fifth spot at the wire showing the real benefits of being able to handle the home conditions.

FOO had a good sit fourth or fifth and then when rider Steven King asked him to quicken across the top, the son of Rubiton slipped and was flat keeping his feet thereafter.

King was more concerned at keeping FOO on his feet and in one piece, with several other riders doing the exactly same thing.

FOO is a very smart racehorse and can do most things but he cannot skate, as he wears racing plates and not ice blades!

The two American runners Johar and Sarafan, each well-performed travellers and proven at the highest level, came home third last and second last respectively, which showed that you either copped the footing or did not.

The winner Tap Dance City led by a margin throughout to clock a staggering 2:28.7 on soft footing to score by daylight and simply went too fast on the slippery conditions for the overseas runners.

FOO ate up well last night and his suspensories are cold and no heat can be found in his joints, which is the best news, as some serious harm could have come about on the slippery Fuchu surface.

Sha Tin racecourse is a right-handed track with a Strathayr surface and that is what FOO handled with aplomb to win the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

FOO has never raced right-handed but trainer Tony McEvoy reports he works that way all the time at the Collingrove track and loves it.

McEvoy believes FOO can turn around the Japan Cup effort and warrants the chance to do so, as he is in fine fettle and will appreciate the surface at Sha Tin.

Thoroughbred horses can turnaround a last placing to spectacular success in a short space of time and good gallopers always deserve a chance at redemption, with plenty of examples springing to mind.

Jeune ran last in the 1994 Cox Plate but then came out to finish third in the Mackinnon Stakes and then win the Melbourne Cup at his next start for the stable.

Glastonbury ran last in the Chairmans Handicap (2400m) at Randwick and then nine days later won the G1 Metropolitan (2400m).

McEvoy and the connections however will not risk the welfare of FOO, which comes first every time and plans are in place to check, re-check and check again on his condition over the next two weeks.

FOO is set to go to Hong Kong on December 4 and will be stabled at the International barn at Sha Tin but blood tests will be done before he leaves and after he arrives.

There could also be some doubt on Johar, Sarafan and Ange Gabriel going onto the Vase, which would help the cause of FOO no end in Hong Kong and his progress will be followed as usual with great interest.

If FOO goes to Hong Kong it means he will not be back home at Lindsay Park until well into the New Year, so catching up with Santa is not going to happen this year.

The news from the camp however is good for Australian racing too, as the “Ambassador of Angaston” will be back competing at home next year.

The connections have decided to forget about the autumn with FOO and a nice spell is on the cards whenever he arrives home, with the long term aim to come back on a three or four start campaign next spring and defend his Cox Plate crown.

FOO is fiercely protective of his Cox Plate crown and if the young pretenders want to get the G1 WFA championship off him then they will need to bring their best game and earn it.

Meantime he has some unfinished business in Hong Kong and King knows Sha Tin rather well, so the quest for a Vase to go with the Plate is on.

Ends...

 

[Dunstall_Jr]

cheers mate