ANALYSE RESULT OF EMERALD CUP

I started a thread some weeks back, what horses will qualify to make the final field on this prestigious sand race ?
I was not at all happy that 3 out of town raiders made the final field WITH OUT having being tested in a sand race, & DYNAMITE MIKE (KZN RAIDER ) had 1 dismal 5th place this year - hardly good enough form to get him accepted. ( He finished 2nd last in this race last year )

Lets see how they ran.

EL PADRINO ran best of all 3rd 2.75L behind DRAWN BEST OF ALL DON'T FORGET AT # 1
DYNAMITE MIKE 7th 8.0 L behind creditable run, up there , faded.
SOMETHING ELSE 9th 14.25 L behind bad run
TROPICAL EMPIRE 12th 17.75 L behind shocking run

The answer I want to know from trainers of S.ELSE & T.Empire is WHY DID THEIR HORSES RUN SO BAD ?

What will the punters be told ? didn't like the going / didn't enjoy the kick back / he's better on grass than sand / all sorts of excuses no doubt.

I pity the punters that backed the raiders, especially the last 2 cause they NEVER GOT A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY - PERIOD.

So bottom line is P & R.A., NHA or whoever the selection commitee is, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR NEXT YEAR THAT ALL RUNNERS MUST HAVE SAND RACING EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY ARE CONSIDERED FOR THIS RACE ?

To be Honest I think nothing will change & next year we will get raiders from KZN & CPT & EVERYONE CAN TELL THE WORLD THAT THIS SAND RACE HAS ATRACTED RUNNERS FROM THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

Last question from the powers that be - WHY BOTHER PUTTING CONDITIONS IN FOR THIS RACE WHEN IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT YOU IGNORE THESE CONDITIONS ANYWAY ?

I remain an unhappy Joburg part owner ( RED MIST ) WHO WAS ROBBED OF A CHANCE TO COMPETE IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS SAND RACE, because the powers that be wanted to show the sponsors that this was a race attracting entries FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

The BEST horses with EXPOSED SAND FORM did not make up this race - period !

Certainly agree - see my contribution on another thread - and I was not even aware that you are going to adress the issue

Elvisisking (I agree hmhmmhm)
We raided the Vaal Sand for the first time on 18-10-2007 over 1800m with Silver Brook and with Gavin up, who won pillar to post by 6.5 lengths. We tried again two weeks ago, again with Gavin up, and the horse ran 2nd to last - there could be excuses as Duncan had serious problems on the way up and the horses were stopped on the freeway for several hous in the middle of the night. Notwithstanding that, I can't agree to your comments that all runners at the Vaal must have sand racing experience, as we clearly showd that Siver Brook on his first race on sand literally "shat in".

Brian with all due respect to you, when you talking about the RICHEST SAND RACE IN THE COUNTRY - surely sand form MUST be a pre-requisite ?

This is not simply a case of let's see if he /she takes well to the sand- in a minor race.

Here are my thoughts on the race, for what they are worth.

To be frank, the distance of 1450m is no good for such a big race if you are going to race at the Vaal. The horses drawn wide are at an extreme disavantage and the fact that the untried horses ended up with reasonable draws while Bragaddocio had to be used up just to get into the race and subsequently finished last due to this effort leaves much to be desired.

Having the draw after the final declarations was also a mistake. I would never have declared Brutus from that draw if it had been the other way around. After the race he was covered in sand and did not enjoy the kickback and racing 6 wide but dropping him out at the back was not an option. This would have allowed Red Mist into the race.Having paid the declaration fee we felt bound to run anyway.

There was one bookie on the course for the big day and as usual he was offering odds way below the dissemination and had a long queue of people trying to place a bet and get ripped off. I will not bet with him on principle.

I congratulated St John after the racing on his fantastic victory and I meant it. It is good to see such a big prize got to a stable other than those populated by big money horses. He has put a lot into the game and deserves to be successful. He was so excited it was great to see in a game where success is taken for granted by many.

And finally, Elvis I can't understand how Red Mist didn't get into the final field either judging on sand form. I think you are owed an official explanation.

thanks Gajima, agree with you all the way. & 1 bookmaker at the course with those odds offered.... WHAT A JOKE,
To make the draws AFTER the final field is announced..a joke ( no time to withdraw then )

What will change... NOTHING..... have the authorities learned anything.. NOTHING.

To me the answer is pretty ovious -

ALL runners must have a qualifing race on the sand in order to give them a 'sand' MR rating - period!

Not rocket science - just common sense!

There are now 363 days to get 'a' race in - job done. Next problem - lol!

Elvis, Frodo, you make valid points. And you not being post race merchants. You guys brought this issue up way before the Emerald Cup date.
You (as well as the Hailie's team) deserve an explanation from the racing authorities and hope you insist on one.

cuckoo, you spot on - I started a thread on 02 Sept to try & get clarification for this race. There was ample time for P & R.A. to make the CORRECT desisions.
We do know that this site & freeracer is read & monitored by all & sundry.

Quote from todays CITIZEN , by MICHAEL ROBERTS " TROPICAL EMPIRE - Randall said he tired quickly & never liked the surface, ESPECIALLY THE KICKBACK "

Hello, we've heard this & discussed this a 100 times before.... what a time to find out your horse doesn't enjoy the sand..... to other owners expence.

WILL CONDITIONS CHANGE FOR NEXT YEAR ? DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH !

ElvisisKing Wrote:

---

>
> EL PADRINO ran best of all 3rd 2.75L behind
> DRAWN BEST OF ALL DON'T FORGET AT # 1
> DYNAMITE MIKE 7th 8.0 L behind creditable run,
> up there , faded.
> SOMETHING ELSE 9th 14.25 L behind bad run
> TROPICAL EMPIRE 12th 17.75 L behind shocking run
>
>
> I pity the punters that backed the raiders,
> especially the last 2 cause they NEVER GOT A RUN
> FOR THEIR MONEY - PERIOD.
>
You make some valid points about qualification for the race but you shouldn't pity the punter. Tropical Empire was never going to be a sand horse - horses that do well on sand are those that have early pace and have the ability to stay on to the end of the race - like El Padrino. Horses that rely on a turn of foot at the end of the race, like Tropical Empire does, never make it on sand as there is less traction on that surface which blunts there turn of foot. Pedigrees also play a role with the best lines in SA being Mr Prospector and Danzig. El Padrino is from the Mr Prospector line, Something Else and Tropical Empire don't have obvious sand pedigrees.

tipster the winner showed plenty early pace i see,it came from a hopeless position to win the race or was i watching a different horse

Well, yes, Pirates but he has a sustained finishing run as opposed to a short burst like Tropical Empire. Those with sustained finishes are the sorts that can come from behind on sand. Alimony was in fact the only winner to come from behind the whole day. Also Alimony is by Alami, who is by Danzig and whose grandam is by Mr Prospector. I.e. a very good sand pedigree.