Did we see the July Winner today?

.... be it War Of Athena or Linebacker - or anybody else for that matter?

Yes WOA

linebacker went short down to the start, hung down the strait ,second run after a layoff

All about opinions of course - and who knows what the Handicapper's opinion will be (have been some strange ratings lately imo - btw is it not high time we get rid of these ridiculous restrictions regarding how many points a horse is to be raised - just rate them as they run); my take:

DN - Linebacker a deserved winner; Rascallion will be upped by the Handicapper, but I believe should still come in at level weights with LB in the July (unless they see fit to raise LB, which would be wrong imo) - so the 10/1 currently being offered by HW is imo good value when compared to LB at 4/1; Kommetdieding - for me the jury still out on whether he will see out the 2200 - I think the jock over-compensated for the slow start in the Guineas and made sure he does not get caught out of this ground again - resulting in perhaps being too handy off a good pace; I have maintained that they should be looking for a more experienced light-weight jock, I still suggest they talk to Hewitson or Kennedy - the July is in most cases a once-in-a-lifetime chance - so you want the best available jock on your horse Second Base probably not suited to Greyville and anyway has had a hard season, so not sure what the plans are for him - but it may be that the owners are hungry for a July winner to add to their considerable success thus far

Woolavington - very good win by War of Athena - can't see the Handicapper raising her (but who knows); talk is that a decision on her running in the July will be made this week - for the same reasons as mentioned above (the July is mostly a once-in-lifetime-chance), if she were mine I would run her (depending on how she comes out of the race on Saturday and what the Handicapper does); as things stand she would come in at her handicapped weight of 52 kgs - so what's to lose? Princess Calla had every chance, but was beaten by the better filly, and not sure why things would change in the July - I would not run her if WoA takes her place

So did we see the July winner - I would be more in the camp of War of Athena, than the colts; as it stands on official ratings, both LB and WoA would come in at their handicapped weights of 53 and 52 - but on my ratings the colts will be slightly under sufferance - which begs the question - can WoA beat Got the Greenlight only receiving 3 kgs - and the answer for me is probably 'No' - however I still have some doubt about that last 200m for Got the Greenlight, which imo still brings the other older horses like Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again, Belgarion (let's see if he has a run before the big day) and even Sovereign Spirit into the picture

July winner still in Jhb, can see out "2400", he'll sort out the 3yr olds.

Frodo wrote: All about opinions of course - and who knows what the Handicapper's opinion will be (have been some strange ratings lately imo - btw is it not high time we get rid of these ridiculous restrictions regarding how many points a horse is to be raised - just rate them as they run); my take:

DN - Linebacker a deserved winner; Rascallion will be upped by the Handicapper, but I believe should still come in at level weights with LB in the July (unless they see fit to raise LB, which would be wrong imo) - so the 10/1 currently being offered by HW is imo good value when compared to LB at 4/1; Kommetdieding - for me the jury still out on whether he will see out the 2200 - I think the jock over-compensated for the slow start in the Guineas and made sure he does not get caught out of this ground again - resulting in perhaps being too handy off a good pace; I have maintained that they should be looking for a more experienced light-weight jock, I still suggest they talk to Hewitson or Kennedy - the July is in most cases a once-in-a-lifetime chance - so you want the best available jock on your horse Second Base probably not suited to Greyville and anyway has had a hard season, so not sure what the plans are for him - but it may be that the owners are hungry for a July winner to add to their considerable success thus far

Woolavington - very good win by War of Athena - can't see the Handicapper raising her (but who knows); talk is that a decision on her running in the July will be made this week - for the same reasons as mentioned above (the July is mostly a once-in-lifetime-chance), if she were mine I would run her (depending on how she comes out of the race on Saturday and what the Handicapper does); as things stand she would come in at her handicapped weight of 52 kgs - so what's to lose? Princess Calla had every chance, but was beaten by the better filly, and not sure why things would change in the July - I would not run her if WoA takes her place

So did we see the July winner - I would be more in the camp of War of Athena, than the colts; as it stands on official ratings, both LB and WoA would come in at their handicapped weights of 53 and 52 - but on my ratings the colts will be slightly under sufferance - which begs the question - can WoA beat Got the Greenlight only receiving 3 kgs - and the answer for me is probably 'No' - however I still have some doubt about that last 200m for Got the Greenlight, which imo still brings the other older horses like Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again, Belgarion (let's see if he has a run before the big day) and even Sovereign Spirit into the picture

And which one would Muzi choose? GTGL or WOA?

Rowdy wrote: July winner still in Jhb, can see out "2400", he'll sort out the 3yr olds.

What is your fancy that is still in Joburg, Rowdy?