Strong Diadem and Guineas Fields Kworth 20/12

Bush Pirate or Big City Life

BCL not a place

Al, I was going to post:

"Dante’s Inferno in his last seven starts placed six times, and five times ran within 1.75 l of the winner.
He started favourite on one occasion as well, showing that the market can’t find much wrong with his MR.
If anything you might say that his MR is marginally too high, certainly not more than that.
He has also given trouble at the start a few times, and twice was reported as not striding out.

It seems the horse has a problem, not the handicapper."

BUT but then you said: "My real concern was.. ..with a trier like Red Tribution. Makes one wonder if the handicaper doesnt look at the horse trainer combo when deciding on MR..... "

and I realised that I wasted my time!

Kenilworth: Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas (Grade 1) 1m, turf

DEAN KANNEMEYER believes that the biggest threat to his bid to win the Cape Guineas for the third time in four seasons at Kenilworth on Saturday is Le Drakkar's poor draw.

Marthinus "MJ" Byleveld's mount is drawn two from the outside of the 16 runners in the Bloodstock South Africa-sponsored classic and, on this horseshoe-shaped course, that is considered a serious disadvantage.

Kannemeyer said: "Le Drakkar has the class and the three-furlong run-in will suit him, but he's drawn in the bush and you need a lot of luck from there. I just hope we get a strong pace."
Mike De Cock - Santa Anita- Oct 08



The Milnerton trainer's wish could well be granted because Mike De Kock, out to win the race for the fourth time, runs two and isexpected to ensure a searching gallop. Kevin Shea partners Ant Of Agasta but the money has been for lightly-raced stable companion Meet At Malamala.

Anthony Delpech's mount hasbeen backed into 33-10 (from 6-1). He has won both his starts and is part-owned by County Kildare-based Lady Chryss O'Reilly.

Glen Kotzen's Big City Life, second to Pocket Power last time, has also been well backed after doing a spectacular piece of work nine days ago

Justin Snaith has been hesitant about committing his Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem because she is drawn 15 of 16. But he said: "Atthe moment she is a runner and she has never been better."

Jamaican Dream had the best form until flopping behind Le Drakkar last time and trainer Brett Crawford said: "He was interfered with early on and nearly brought down. He has done well at home since."

The Basil Marcus-trained Rudi Rocks also blotted his copybook in that race but Marcus is adamant that the colt is one of the best horses in the race.

>>Kenilworth: 1.45pm WPOTA Diadem Stakes (Grade 2) 6f, turf

Pocket Power warms up for his attempt to win next month's Queen's Plate for an unprecedented third time by dropping back to 6f in the Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday. The dual horse of the year has never won over less than a mile but he has run well in sprints before.

Trainer Mike Bass, who expressed concern over the firmness of the ground earlier in the week, is a big believer in tuning horses up over distances short of their best.

Candice Robinson, his daughter and assistant, said: "This is a prep run to bring him on for the Queen's Plate. You can never really discount him in any race and he always runs a fairly good sprint.

"He has been doing exceptionally well and he is obviously in with a good chance provided he drops in and can get a run up the outside."

Sorry Jack Dash I thought I was clear in stating that I know very little about MR and was hoping for some one like yourself to guide me.

Not all of us come here to sling mud some come to learn as well. My posts above are what has been on my mind for a while and I was hoping that someone could correct this thought pattern without taking personal exception to what i have stated.

I know what I see and I see Red Tribution battling to win. I have no doubt that this horse will be bumped up for running second which will lessen its chances to win its next race.

This post also stemmed from posts by Puffin and Kobus, and still no one has answered my question as to why the horse that did not get in is rated higher than horses that have done well in group / listed races as stated by Kobus. Is this not in itself a problem in the system of MR is my question?