Stevie Belmont
11-06-2006, 11:25 PM
The Breeder’s Cup Classic was supposed to be the coronation of a new thoroughbred king. The great Bernardini was going to show us what everyone deep down thought, if not knew. He was the best dirt horse in the world. The big effortless stride from the sire A.P. Indy would close the show on the Breeder’s Cup finale with a sparkling victory. People lined up at the windows in anticipation of cashing. The headlines would be big on Sunday. The Great Bernardini does it! Or so we thought.
A great Champion did emerge on BC Day. It was Invasor who proved best in America’s richest race. They won the richest race with their other horse. As most people know Shadwell Stud and Darley Stable are both owned and operated by brothers of the same family. Darley Stable is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, while Shadwell Stud is owned by his brother Sheikh Hamdan. They have built a powerful empire in the racing world. There are other family members that also own strong stables as well.
So what really went down at Churchill Downs on Saturday November 4, 2006? That’s a great question. If we take a look back at what happened in the spring, we might find that answer. There was a plan put in action a long time ago by these rich, smart Arabian horsemen. When Bernardini was starting his career, Team Darley knew they had a good one, a real good one. Good enough to run in the Kentucky Derby and win it. However the Kentucky Derby was not at that time deemed a goal, or feasible target for their colt.
Oddly enough Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Brother Sheikh Hamdan of Shadwell Stable had a horse running in the Kentucky Derby, Jazil. Jazil was the rapidly closing runner up in the Wood Memorial. Maybe there was no real urgency on their part to have him 100% ready to make a run for the roses, considering Jazil will be running in it anyway, and figuring he had a legitimate chance to win it. Why run Bernardini?
Jazil ran a solid 4th in the Kentucky Derby. He made his usual closing bid late, but was no match for the powerful winning run of Barabro on that day.
Instead Team Darley aimed for the Preakness Stakes with their talented strapping colt Bernardini. Bernardini delivered a huge effort in winning the Preakness Stakes in style. He powered home in impressive fashion. Proving he was as talented as connections knew he was. The victory was overshadowed by the breakdown of Kentucky Derby Hero Barbaro. His victory was an after thought as America focused on Barbaro’s fate. Jazil did not contest the Preakness Stakes. Wonder why?
Team Darley quickly dismissed any thoughts of running their star in the mile and a half “Test of a Champion”, Belmont Stakes. A plan was mapped out to get Bernardini to the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Besides brother Sheik Hamdan would run Jazil in the Belmont Stakes. Jazil ran a big race, winning the Belmont Stakes with a late rush to best Bluegrass Cat.
The brother’s at all costs would avoid running each of their stars against each other in any race. Jazil was injured and was forced to miss the rest of the 2006 campaign, but Shadwell had a new star on the horizon in the likes of Uruguayan Triple Crown Winner Invasor. Invasor won the day before the Preakness taking the Pimlico Special in the slop. Plans were made well in advance to aim him to the Breeder’s Cup Classic as well.
Two stables owned by the same brothers of the same family with two champion horses with the same goal, the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Bernardini’s road was through Saratoga and Belmont Park. Invasor would take the same path in different races. Bernardini won the Jim Dandy, Traver’s and the Jockey Gold Cup, all in smashing style. Invasor won the Whitney and Woodward Stakes at Saratoga. There was supposed to be the highly anticipated match up in the Jockey Gold Cup Classic at Belmont Park between the two in October. Racing needed it. It never happened. Invasor came down with a fever. So they say. Would it make any kind of sense to have a showdown of that magnitude in the Jockey Gold Cup?
Why run in that race, when the ultimate goal was a match up between the two in America’s richest race? Or was their plan much deeper than that? Many thought Bernardini was one of the best three olds in a very long time, if not the best horse period in a very long time. He romped in every race he was entered, hardly ever being asked for his best in each win. He had the looks of a true champion in each easy win. His only loss was his first race out at Gulfstream.
As the Breeder’s Cup Classic approached, Bernardini rumors floated around he would be retired soon after the race, in fact the Darley website even said he would be retired before the Classic was contested! They quickly removed it from the site. As the biggest race of his life approached, the works he sported in the mornings were oddly sluggish at best. Not only were the slow, they were down right pedestrian. Bernardini had usually shown some good zip in his works in the morning as the DRF had indicated. With the biggest race, the Classic rapidly approaching, the works never inspired any thing great. Not one strong speed drill. Is it possible he was not going to be worked to hard? He was going to retire anyway soon after the race. And besides, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum’s brother Sheik Hamdan had the South American super star, Invasor running in the same race.
Why risk cranking Bernardini all the way up for one race? He had already proved his value as a race horse in his brilliant wins over the spring and summer. It just didn’t matter. Even a half cranked Bernardini could still win this race. And even if he were to not win, it was just an after thought. Did a win prove little for the great Sheikh here?
As it turned out, he ran a game second in America’s richest race off the slow conditioning works. Invasor proved best in the Classic. It was also no mistake that Darley’s website indicated he would be retired a couple of days earlier. Bernardini was in fact retired only two days after the Classic. The rumor was in fact reality, as well was Henny Hughes, the super sprinter. He never really got a chance to prove that either. Oh yea, forgot to mention that he is owned by another brother of the same family, Sheikh Rashid of Zabeel Stable.
A much anticipated match up between Bernardini and Discreet Cat never materialized either. Discreet Cat could very well be the most talented horse of the triumvirate. Oh, I also forgot to mention the Discreet Cat is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and runs for his Gondophin Stable who, remember also owns Darley Stable who owns Bernardini, who was just retired to Darley Stud in Lexington Kentucky. Get the picture?
One can only hope Discreet Cat will now move into the spot light that Bernardini left prematurely. His next race is supposed to be the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct in November. A possible match up between the brother’s superstars is possible in the Worlds richest race. The Dubai Gold Cup in March, which was invented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. A race track owned and operated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who will have his star horse Discreet Cat who beat Invasor, his brother’s star horse in the UAE Derby in March of 06. Discreet Cat was never pointed for the Kentucky Derby. Wonder why? Read above.
Who ever wins that showdown will just move purse money from one brother’s pocket to the others. No biggie here. Anyone can take that pot, as many American horses have won this race in the past. Invasor would prove a super horse with a win in that race, but it might not matter. Let’s just hope it at least happens, than one will also have to hope they are really going for it, not just a half hearted attempt in their final bow before they retire. Not much one can do about that. The gut says Discreet Cat will be ready to run the race of a life time. And Invasor will be off the shed, the Shadwell Shed that is. If Invasor wins or loses, it won’t really matter. His worth is already beyond anyone’s comprehension.
A great Champion did emerge on BC Day. It was Invasor who proved best in America’s richest race. They won the richest race with their other horse. As most people know Shadwell Stud and Darley Stable are both owned and operated by brothers of the same family. Darley Stable is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, while Shadwell Stud is owned by his brother Sheikh Hamdan. They have built a powerful empire in the racing world. There are other family members that also own strong stables as well.
So what really went down at Churchill Downs on Saturday November 4, 2006? That’s a great question. If we take a look back at what happened in the spring, we might find that answer. There was a plan put in action a long time ago by these rich, smart Arabian horsemen. When Bernardini was starting his career, Team Darley knew they had a good one, a real good one. Good enough to run in the Kentucky Derby and win it. However the Kentucky Derby was not at that time deemed a goal, or feasible target for their colt.
Oddly enough Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Brother Sheikh Hamdan of Shadwell Stable had a horse running in the Kentucky Derby, Jazil. Jazil was the rapidly closing runner up in the Wood Memorial. Maybe there was no real urgency on their part to have him 100% ready to make a run for the roses, considering Jazil will be running in it anyway, and figuring he had a legitimate chance to win it. Why run Bernardini?
Jazil ran a solid 4th in the Kentucky Derby. He made his usual closing bid late, but was no match for the powerful winning run of Barabro on that day.
Instead Team Darley aimed for the Preakness Stakes with their talented strapping colt Bernardini. Bernardini delivered a huge effort in winning the Preakness Stakes in style. He powered home in impressive fashion. Proving he was as talented as connections knew he was. The victory was overshadowed by the breakdown of Kentucky Derby Hero Barbaro. His victory was an after thought as America focused on Barbaro’s fate. Jazil did not contest the Preakness Stakes. Wonder why?
Team Darley quickly dismissed any thoughts of running their star in the mile and a half “Test of a Champion”, Belmont Stakes. A plan was mapped out to get Bernardini to the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Besides brother Sheik Hamdan would run Jazil in the Belmont Stakes. Jazil ran a big race, winning the Belmont Stakes with a late rush to best Bluegrass Cat.
The brother’s at all costs would avoid running each of their stars against each other in any race. Jazil was injured and was forced to miss the rest of the 2006 campaign, but Shadwell had a new star on the horizon in the likes of Uruguayan Triple Crown Winner Invasor. Invasor won the day before the Preakness taking the Pimlico Special in the slop. Plans were made well in advance to aim him to the Breeder’s Cup Classic as well.
Two stables owned by the same brothers of the same family with two champion horses with the same goal, the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Bernardini’s road was through Saratoga and Belmont Park. Invasor would take the same path in different races. Bernardini won the Jim Dandy, Traver’s and the Jockey Gold Cup, all in smashing style. Invasor won the Whitney and Woodward Stakes at Saratoga. There was supposed to be the highly anticipated match up in the Jockey Gold Cup Classic at Belmont Park between the two in October. Racing needed it. It never happened. Invasor came down with a fever. So they say. Would it make any kind of sense to have a showdown of that magnitude in the Jockey Gold Cup?
Why run in that race, when the ultimate goal was a match up between the two in America’s richest race? Or was their plan much deeper than that? Many thought Bernardini was one of the best three olds in a very long time, if not the best horse period in a very long time. He romped in every race he was entered, hardly ever being asked for his best in each win. He had the looks of a true champion in each easy win. His only loss was his first race out at Gulfstream.
As the Breeder’s Cup Classic approached, Bernardini rumors floated around he would be retired soon after the race, in fact the Darley website even said he would be retired before the Classic was contested! They quickly removed it from the site. As the biggest race of his life approached, the works he sported in the mornings were oddly sluggish at best. Not only were the slow, they were down right pedestrian. Bernardini had usually shown some good zip in his works in the morning as the DRF had indicated. With the biggest race, the Classic rapidly approaching, the works never inspired any thing great. Not one strong speed drill. Is it possible he was not going to be worked to hard? He was going to retire anyway soon after the race. And besides, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum’s brother Sheik Hamdan had the South American super star, Invasor running in the same race.
Why risk cranking Bernardini all the way up for one race? He had already proved his value as a race horse in his brilliant wins over the spring and summer. It just didn’t matter. Even a half cranked Bernardini could still win this race. And even if he were to not win, it was just an after thought. Did a win prove little for the great Sheikh here?
As it turned out, he ran a game second in America’s richest race off the slow conditioning works. Invasor proved best in the Classic. It was also no mistake that Darley’s website indicated he would be retired a couple of days earlier. Bernardini was in fact retired only two days after the Classic. The rumor was in fact reality, as well was Henny Hughes, the super sprinter. He never really got a chance to prove that either. Oh yea, forgot to mention that he is owned by another brother of the same family, Sheikh Rashid of Zabeel Stable.
A much anticipated match up between Bernardini and Discreet Cat never materialized either. Discreet Cat could very well be the most talented horse of the triumvirate. Oh, I also forgot to mention the Discreet Cat is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and runs for his Gondophin Stable who, remember also owns Darley Stable who owns Bernardini, who was just retired to Darley Stud in Lexington Kentucky. Get the picture?
One can only hope Discreet Cat will now move into the spot light that Bernardini left prematurely. His next race is supposed to be the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct in November. A possible match up between the brother’s superstars is possible in the Worlds richest race. The Dubai Gold Cup in March, which was invented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. A race track owned and operated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who will have his star horse Discreet Cat who beat Invasor, his brother’s star horse in the UAE Derby in March of 06. Discreet Cat was never pointed for the Kentucky Derby. Wonder why? Read above.
Who ever wins that showdown will just move purse money from one brother’s pocket to the others. No biggie here. Anyone can take that pot, as many American horses have won this race in the past. Invasor would prove a super horse with a win in that race, but it might not matter. Let’s just hope it at least happens, than one will also have to hope they are really going for it, not just a half hearted attempt in their final bow before they retire. Not much one can do about that. The gut says Discreet Cat will be ready to run the race of a life time. And Invasor will be off the shed, the Shadwell Shed that is. If Invasor wins or loses, it won’t really matter. His worth is already beyond anyone’s comprehension.