Dubai Cup

[SG4]

Hate to be a wet blanket, but in its 25 year history this has to be the worst Dubai Cup ever, right? Not just the big race, but the card top to bottom seems to be lacking. Also can anyone explain to me why Mishriff, coming off a victory going 9f on dirt over superior horses at the Saudi Cup, would come back to Dubai to go 12f on the turf for less than 1/2 the purse of the big race? Haven't seen a move like that since In Excess passed the BC Classic to shoot for the Mile about 30 years ago

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by SG4

Hate to be a wet blanket, but in its 25 year history this has to be the worst Dubai Cup ever, right? Not just the big race, but the card top to bottom seems to be lacking. Also can anyone explain to me why Mishriff, coming off a victory going 9f on dirt over superior horses at the Saudi Cup, would come back to Dubai to go 12f on the turf for less than 1/2 the purse of the big race? Haven't seen a move like that since In Excess passed the BC Classic to shoot for the Mile about 30 years ago

Considering the field for the Dubai World Cup and a tentative tilt at the BC Classic, I agree it's a bit odd (and disappointing) that the connections of Mishriff are not trying to capitalize on his dirt prowess.

However, they mentioned a couple of times since the Saudi race that they are targeting a European campaign this summer and want to get him back on the turf, I think including the Arc. The horse has never raced 12 furlongs so he will be doing something new in Dubai. Maybe they think this is the best (or easiest) spot to try 12 furlongs for the first time, and plan on calling an audible with his later campaign if he fails to stay.

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by SG4

Haven't seen a move like that since In Excess passed the BC Classic to shoot for the Mile about 30 years ago

Speaking of that ridiculous decision (which would likely have avoided the uncompetitive, merry-go-round race that the 1991 BC Classic proved to be), there were actually TWO of them that year for the exact same races.

Flint Schulhofer had finally got the good 2yo Scan back into top form after a disastrous winter when his owner sent him to California to prepare for the Triple Crown. Scan blossomed in the fall and put up some hefty Beyer Speed figures at the Meadowlands (beating another good figure horse Sea Cadet twice and just getting edged by the good older horse Twilight Agenda) just before the BC.

But presumably because Schulhofer also had the thoroughly exposed Fly So Free in line for an obligatory run in the Classic, he opted to re-route Scan to the BC Mile.

The bad news? Twilight Agenda chased loose-on-the-lead Black Tie Affair all the way around the track to secure a second place finish in the Classic (suggesting Scan could have made a dent in there).

The good news? Scan did finish in front of In Excess in the BC Mile...

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Spalding No!

Speaking of that ridiculous decision (which would likely have avoided the uncompetitive, merry-go-round race that the 1991 BC Classic proved to be), there were actually TWO of them that year for the exact same races.

Flint Schulhofer had finally got the good 2yo Scan back into top form after a disastrous winter when his owner sent him to California to prepare for the Triple Crown. Scan blossomed in the fall and put up some hefty Beyer Speed figures at the Meadowlands (beating another good figure horse Sea Cadet twice and just getting edged by the good older horse Twilight Agenda) just before the BC.

But presumably because Schulhofer also had the thoroughly exposed Fly So Free in line for an obligatory run in the Classic, he opted to re-route Scan to the BC Mile.

The bad news? Twilight Agenda chased loose-on-the-lead Black Tie Affair all the way around the track to secure a second place finish in the Classic (suggesting Scan could have made a dent in there).

The good news? Scan did finish in front of In Excess in the BC Mile...

As I recall, Andy Beyer really raked Schulhofer over the coals for that one.

[SG4]

The races might look weak but this might at least open up some improved wagering opportunities:


https://www.drf.com/news/dubai-world...et-world-pools

[cj]

Originally Posted by Spalding No!

Speaking of that ridiculous decision (which would likely have avoided the uncompetitive, merry-go-round race that the 1991 BC Classic proved to be), there were actually TWO of them that year for the exact same races.

Flint Schulhofer had finally got the good 2yo Scan back into top form after a disastrous winter when his owner sent him to California to prepare for the Triple Crown. Scan blossomed in the fall and put up some hefty Beyer Speed figures at the Meadowlands (beating another good figure horse Sea Cadet twice and just getting edged by the good older horse Twilight Agenda) just before the BC.

But presumably because Schulhofer also had the thoroughly exposed Fly So Free in line for an obligatory run in the Classic, he opted to re-route Scan to the BC Mile.

The bad news? Twilight Agenda chased loose-on-the-lead Black Tie Affair all the way around the track to secure a second place finish in the Classic (suggesting Scan could have made a dent in there).

The good news? Scan did finish in front of In Excess in the BC Mile...

As bad as the Scan decision was, the In Excess one was particularly ludicrous.

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by cj

As bad as the Scan decision was, the In Excess one was particularly ludicrous.

Just read an article written at the time; none of the trainers interviewed seemed to be living in reality when it came to In Excess.

Bruce Jackson said the horse was working terrible on the main track at Churchill (he had brought him there early ahead of the BC), so why run him at all? He also said the horse was suspect at 10 furlongs, which was true during the winter when he got beat in the Strub and the Big Cap, but to a great extent that fear had to be erased when he won the Suburban (granted around one turn and a dog leg) in 1:58 1/5 (still the track record for 10f at Belmont).

Wayne Lukas said he was beating up on "cream puffs" all year, but in his last start, the Woodward, he beat Lukas' Farma Way, Derby winner Strike the Gold, multiple Grade 1 winner Festin, and early ACRS favorite Jolie's Halo.

Carl Nafzger also echoed the notion that he was running against nothings. But aside from the Woodward field and when he set a track record at Belmont Park, he also won the Met Mile thumping champions Housebuster and Rubiano and subsequent HOY Black Tie Affair...

By the way, I noticed that NY still had a No Lasix policy in 1991 yet none of the big boys like In Excess, Festin, Farma Way, Unbridled, etc. had problems flip flopping between starts back in the day.

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by Spalding No!

Considering the field for the Dubai World Cup and a tentative tilt at the BC Classic, I agree it's a bit odd (and disappointing) that the connections of Mishriff are not trying to capitalize on his dirt prowess.

However, they mentioned a couple of times since the Saudi race that they are targeting a European campaign this summer and want to get him back on the turf, I think including the Arc. The horse has never raced 12 furlongs so he will be doing something new in Dubai. Maybe they think this is the best (or easiest) spot to try 12 furlongs for the first time, and plan on calling an audible with his later campaign if he fails to stay.

I know you are secretly rooting for the son of Indy Five Hundred....for old times sake.

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by the little guy

I know you are secretly rooting for the son of Indy Five Hundred....for old times sake.

When I was trying to inflate Rock Hard Ten's accomplishments the other day I almost mentioned that he spanked Love of Money who had crushed both Tapit and Master David in the Pennsylvania Derby.

But seriously, this Magny Cours is unbeaten on the all-weather, gets ridden by one of Europe's best jockeys, has a tremendous pedigree for the dirt, and is trained by the great Andre Fabre who is perhaps at his most dangerous when he does something outside the box...

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by Spalding No!

When I was trying to inflate Rock Hard Ten's accomplishments the other day I almost mentioned that he spanked Love of Money who had crushed both Tapit and Master David in the Pennsylvania Derby.

But seriously, this Magny Cours is unbeaten on the all-weather, gets ridden by one of Europe's best jockeys, has a tremendous pedigree for the dirt, and is trained by the great Andre Fabre who is perhaps at his most dangerous when he does something outside the box...

Oh, I'm definitely betting, out of loyalty to Master David ( and WHIP ).

[olddaddy]

Originally Posted by SG4

The races might look weak but this might at least open up some improved wagering opportunities:


https://www.drf.com/news/dubai-world...et-world-pools

Does that mean a European wagering menu? No doubles or pick3s?

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by olddaddy

Does that mean a European wagering menu? No doubles or pick3s?

I know with the Saudi Cup, there were commingled pools for the wagers the "world" does, and separate pools for the ones they don't. We saw that especially in the WPS pools. For much of the world win-place wagering is equivalent to our win-show (although that "place" can mean top 2, 3 or 4 depending on number of runners in the race). So if you looked at the pools, the win and show pools (containing the US win-show and world's win-place money) were HUGE, and place pools - being somewhat US-only, were relatively tiny, with some very skewed payoffs.

So there are non-commingled pools but what they will be remains to be seen.

There were 2 doubles and a pick-3 on the last 3 of 8 races of the Saudi Cup card, no pick 4,5, or 6. But the 5th race of the 8 was an Arabian race - so that may have prevented those pools from being offered.