Equus Awards 2016

rob faux
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Re: Equus Awards 2016

8 years 10 months ago - 8 years 10 months ago

MasterOfMyFate wrote: You guys who say Abashiri 'beat' Marinaresco at level weights in the July really make me laugh. It's really grasping at straws. Go watch the replay and tell me where Abba was turning for home and where Marinaresco was ... how much more ground you want Marinaresco to make up on that short straight? That's the only reason he 'won' the July at level weights. If Marinaresco had a good draw and was placed handy, the field doesn't see him. GVN's says the same thing in the champions cup interview. Marinaresco has also won in the Cape and Durban. Two provinces. Would have arguably won the Cape Winter series treble which only one horse has done before. All excuses aside, he finished the best 3yo home in the country's biggest race. What more do you want? IMO the panel made the decision on these factors and on the basis Abba beat the same horses over and over in the JHB triple crown and barely beat Rocketball. Where's Rocketball again?

Correct decision IMO - and i'm not knocking Abba's achievement - I'm a fan of the horse as well. - just that he's the second best 3yo.

Perhaps you should propose an entirely new handicapping system for horses ......maybe call it the IF system .......IF it had been handier ......IF it had run it would have won ....perhaps make an astrologer the head handicapper?
Over 40 years,have seen many horses run on strongly because they are held up (for whatever reasons)and when they are handier don't find the same finish,so pre-empting what horses might or might not do in different circumstances is nothing more than blind faith!
Marinaresco may end up the highest rated horse ever to race here ......but for now he has never run a race to higher than a 109(they felt forced to put him up to 110 by virtue of it being a grade1 )

Last edit: 8 years 10 months ago by rob faux.

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Tigershark
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Re: Equus Awards 2016

8 years 10 months ago - 8 years 10 months ago

#630025

Totally agree Rob....

For me this is best 3yr old award and the fact remains that Marinaresco did not beat Abba & It' my Turn at level weights. Marinaresco may well end up at a higher rating but that cannot be the basis for choosing him. The horse improved at the end of the season so what counts more? Beating a weak field in open company or the best of your age group at level weights. If you are going to choose potential then change the award to best 3/4 year old.

It is actually a disgrace taking into account that this nonsense happens every year and the Blatant fact the the highest MR horses do not win awards. This subjective crap needs to come to an end and is also one of the reasons that our rating system is often seen as a joke by the international racing fraternity.

There is one undeniable fact that nobody will be able to get away from, Marinaresco would not have won the triple crown and he did not carry the same weight as Abba in the July (a conditions race that nobody can explain the logic of the weights in)

Last edit: 8 years 10 months ago by Tigershark.

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johnnycomelately
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Re: Equus Awards 2016

8 years 10 months ago

#630038

I also agree with Rob and you Tiger,but the "undeniable fact,Marinaresco would NOT have won the Triple Crown " has me scratching my head?

Care to elaborate for this dimwit?

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Tigershark
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Re: Equus Awards 2016

8 years 10 months ago - 8 years 10 months ago

#630075

Hi J, so this is what I based the statement on, Marinaresco was perfectly prepared by Mike but was brought along slowly. He didn't beat It's My Turn at level weights in the Derby but they no doubt knew what they had. On a similar time line the Triple Crown was being contested and I do not think he would have won that.

I do not believe that you can choose the best 3yr old based on his last two runs in the last month of the season, especially when in the July the other 3yr olds were effectively under sufferance.

Marinaresco could probably be horse of the year next year but surely best 3yr old is chosen on exposed form as a 3yr old with at least collateral form lines based on level weights and MR.

Last edit: 8 years 10 months ago by Tigershark.

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Tigershark
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Re: Equus Awards 2016

8 years 10 months ago

#630077

The choice this year really makes owners now ponder, which are the most important races for 3yr olds?
Cape Derby, SA Classic, SA Derby, Daily News, Cape Guineas?

Clarity would make it simple, a scoring system even better and then trainers and owners won't get surprised at the awards.

I am admittedly no expert but what I do know is that the system needs to change, surely every year cannot be filled with controversy.

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johnnycomelately
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Re: Equus Awards 2016

8 years 10 months ago

#630096

Thanks TS, thats cleared up a lot for me,
Have been in racing (punting) for a long time without big success,but have had a few decent wins,maybe more by default

than knowledge
So i'm just asking to understand the reasoning by you guys who has more inside experience
being more involved than i am

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Tigershark
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Re: Equus Awards 2016

8 years 10 months ago - 8 years 10 months ago

#630098

J, i reiterate, i am not an expert but there are clanners with incredible knowledge as well as oodles of passion. I guess that's what makes horse racing as addictive as it is.

I know that what we discuss on this forum is actively read and ultimately does not change a thing but I wonder how any one of us would feel if we owned a triple crown winner that won 3 grade 1 races in 8-10 weeks and lost 3yr old award to horse that won one grade 1???

I have no affiliation to Abba, his trainer or connections.

The rationale from the show is confusing, League Eagle won 3 Grade 1 events which gave him horse of the year even though Smart Call smashed him at level weights ( sex allowance). This was not good enough for Abba? Which is the problem with being subjective.

Last edit: 8 years 10 months ago by Tigershark.

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