Ruffian, the decision to run in the Queen's Plate was made by me and not Justin, so don't go blaming him if this race doesn't fit your model for the best place to race her. I am totally aware that this is not the easiest race for her. An easier race would be the Majorca, but if this filly is to be given her best chance to acclimate and race next autumn in Europe, we have to get her into quarantine before then. I don't want to run her 9 furlongs, because I think she's more effective right now at 8. I am fully aware that this race figures to be quite a challenge, because no 3yo filly I can find has taken on older males at this time of year in recent memory. It is the equivalent of a 3yo filly taking on older males in July of her season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Would a One Thousand Guineas winner take on Sussex-type older male Milers a month after Royal Ascot and 2 months after the Guineas? Doubtful, but not unprecedented.
One thing I am banking on is that the best South African horses, save Pocket Power, have long been exported except for the current 3yo colts. And Pocket Power, as great a horse as he is, is now long in the tooth. If this were the Pocket Power of old, we wouldn't be doing this.
I think the filly has a brilliant, explosive kick, and if it timed correctly, not too many horses are going to be able to stay with her.
Do I wish we could do this in March instead of January? Absolutely. . .but the train is leaving the station.
We would not be running her in the Queen's Plate if we thought we were going to compromise the filly or her career.
This decision was not taken lightly. It was studied and consulted upon by others, a few of whom have opinions and expertise that rivals some of the posters on the ABC board!
Finally, one of my promises to my racing partners in the United States is that we are "providers of sport."
I believe that we are adhering to that concept.
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