Rumours are flying here about whether Starcraft will/won't be in the BC - but which race??
Seb Vance, from Racing Post, has this to say:
IT could be one of the great rematches as connections on Sunday signalled that both Starcraft and Dubawi, who fought out the finish to a controversial Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday, could renew hostilities in next month’s $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.
As the debate raged on as to who was the moral winner of Saturday’s thriller, both camps were eyeing Belmont Park on October 29 as their next stop.
Dubawi’s Godolphin camp are convinced they should have won the mile showpiece at Newmarket and, in particular, rider Frankie Dettori, who has blamed himself for the loss.
Last year’s champion failed to follow pre-race instructions in racing up the middle of the track before joining Starcraft on the stands’ rail and felt that the ground lost cost him the Group 1 prize, often the signpost to champion miler honours.
Curiously, information supplied on Sunday by Turftrax showed that Starcraft had actually travelled nearly three-quarters of a yard further than the runner-up during the race. That reading comes as no surprise to Starcraft’s owner Paul Makin, who is ready to take on the runner-up again – and it doesn’t matter where or when.
“I do not think Dubawi could beat us over any trip, ground or time,” Makin said. “He came over to join us in the race and actually hung into us, but then when our boy realised there was still a race, he pulled away. Dubawi had his chance and had his ground. If Frankie can persuade the boss into a sporting wager, maybe we can get a match on. It doesn’t matter where it is or what the distance is, we’ll just turn up on the day. It would give me a lot of satisfaction.”
The son of Soviet Star is “three-quarters of the way” to being the champion miler of the world, according to trainer Luca Cumani, and victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile would surely seal that accolade.
However, Makin also has the ten-furlong Classic on dirt to consider, despite a $800,000 supplementary entry fee - twice that for the Mile. Leroidesanimaux is the 7-4 favourite with Coral for the Mile and, perhaps tellingly, is a horse Makin is keen to take on.
“Money doesn’t come into it with this horse [Starcraft] and we’ll have to go where our convictions take us but I don’t think it will be the Champion Stakes at Newmarket,” he said. “We brought him over here to race against the best in the world, not to take on pussycats. Leroidesanimaux is one we’d like to beat.”
Trainer Luca Cumani was delighted that his new star “had not had a hard race” on seeing his strapping chestnut on Sunday morning and is looking ahead to emulating Falbrav, who won the 2003 Hong Kong Cup for the Newmarket trainer.
“He’s taken it all really well as he was not overly extended in the race,” said Cumani.
“He’s only had four races this year and is relatively fresh. He’ll finish the year in Hong Kong, but where he goes before is up to the owner.”
On a bid for the $4m Classic, Cumani told At The Races that preparing for that race is difficult in Newmarket, but he added: "The Classic is a challenge I would relish.
“It's a jump into the unknown running on dirt but the owner is quite sporting and he's quite keen on new challenges. I wouldn't be averse to it.”
Dubawi’s trainer Saeed Bin Suroor was looking forward to putting Saturday’s race firmly behind him now.
Bin Suroor told BBC Sport: "We were disappointed with the result but the horse has come back very well and sound, healthy and happy. Now we will look towards the Breeders' Cup Mile."
Rakti, who was only fourth in his bid to win back-to-back QEIIs, may give the Breeders' Cup a miss.
His trainer Michael Jarvis is mindful of the strong possibility of cut in the ground at Belmont next month.
He said: "Nothing has ever been set in stone and the point about the Breeders' Cup is the ground at Belmont at the end of October can be very soft.
"So it could be that he will end his career in Hong Kong where you nearly always get quick conditions.”
He'll serve it up to them at a mile or at 10f or at 12f.. Just quietly his 7f record is pretty hot as well.
Look I tipped against him, must have had a blonde day or something..lol.. But all this "I should have won rubbish" is best served on the bottom of my cat's litter tray.
The best horse on the day won at Newmarket and as metioned he may well be the best Miler in the world.
Personally I think Starcraft will run in the BC Mile.. Paul Makin is a great showman, full of bravado and a hell of a lot of bluff..H'mmmm remind's me of a certain Irish trainer who always says his horses are not coming for the Melbourne Cup.... Get On...
What a fabulous weekend of International racing we have at the end of October.... VRC Derby/McKinnon Stks/Breeders Cup/Melbourne Cup...
"What a fabulous weekend of International racing we have at the end of October.... VRC Derby/McKinnon Stks/Breeders Cup/Melbourne Cup"..
What happened, my little ray of sunshine to the Cox Plate on October 22nd??? Mmmmmm???
For the benefit of the Up In Class people:
Moonee Valley, which sees the running of the time honoured Cox Plate, is touted as 'the place where legends are made'.
In 2004 a total $A43.8 million was bet on the race and that, children, isn't chicken poop.
Cox Plate is the only race in the Southern Hemisphere in the World Series Racing Championship and, that includes 13 races, 11 countries and 4 continents.
This year's Cox Plate is worth $A3 million.
There's been a book written about it, called The Valley Of The Kings (Rhett Kirkwood & Brian Meldrum).
You can read all about it (Jeez, Darren, I sound like I'm on Flinder Street corner selling The Herald) on www.mvrc.net.au
All the races mentioned by Darren are awesome, famous and help make the Spring Racing Carnival the continuing success it is. They're definitely 'Woohooo' material but for sheer spine-tingling magic and atmosphere the biggest Woohooo, for me, is Cox Plate day. Lord, but I'd love to be there for this one.
This message has been edited by Infamousirish on Sep 28, 2005 3:44 AM
.. doubt it's worth the effort to have a tipping comp on the Arc. Not enough to begin. Never mind, another time.
Starcraft. I believe Paul means to finish Starcraft in Hong Kong before heading to stud but he seems intent on the USA leg. Having said that, there's no certainties in racing.
Darren dearest: it is Friday night so forgive me if I'm in the wrong thread but you mention in a post on here you had a doubt (I think that was the word) re Northerly. Did you not think he deserved his Cox Plate victories?? Or did you doubt his ability?? Not that you need to explain yourself to me blossom, I'm merely curious - and didn't that kill the bloody cat!!.
Irish.
Clint Newton (Login catfishpanky) UpInClass Member
Clint: re The Arc & Starcraft
September 30 2005, 6:30 AM
Hi Iris,
Not worries always next year for an ARC Competition.
I cannot separate Hurricane Run and Warrsan for this years ARC. These are the two i would have put up as my picks if their was a comp in 2005.
I'm off to check on the Kiwi Net what Horses my favourite jockey is riding at Matamata on Saturday . D'Cash Flys Free might be a wise wager in race four .
