The irony/burden of being the "best horse"

[Jorge]

The irony and burden of being the “best horse” sometimes
assigns those creatures unnecessary conservative timid sad roles.
The Grey Gatsby’s win over the Australia is a good example of it.
Australia performed his expected safe conservative race and it cost
him dearly. But don’t get sour. Perhaps this very same occurrence is
what prevented the great Native Dancer from winning the 1953
Kentucky Derby. In synthesis, let’s rejoice with The Grey Gatsby’s
golden hour just as Dark Star’s connections and fans rejoiced back in 1953.
After everything has been said and done, people in life would have to accept
that history books will proclaim that the winner was The Grey Gatsby just as
Native Dancer was the loser in 1953.

Just a philosophical thought!

[TJ]

Hi Jorge,
That was a great race...here's the replay. TJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mxeKsJXWB4

[wilf]

Thanks for the link TJ, funnily enough I have never warmed to Australia ,another product of the Coolmore juggernaut. Watching the race it looked like he covered more ground than Lewis and Clark and only got beaten narrowly . I also noticed that he was pulling hard down the backside and at the back by the rail Gatsby was given a fine ride by Ryan Moore. Of course it's ironic that Coolmore lost to a horse sired by their beautiful grey Mastercraftsman, a very nice runner himself. Jorge will no doubt be aware that the grey gene comes from the homozygous grey stallion Al Hattab who has the great mare Mumtaz Mahal on both sides of his pedigree. Thanks for the video link, it was a great finish to watch.

[Jorge]

Hi Jorge,
That was a great race...here's the replay. TJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mxeKsJXWB4

TJ,

Thank you so much for the very valuable link.

As per the race, seems evident that the heavy favorite
ran quite conservative giving away precious inside
ground for the sake of running a more trouble-free race.
He also made a prompt move based on his perceived superiority.
Finally, he performed as if he was confident that no one had a stronger
kick in the final stretch. Wrong assumption!

On many occasions, when a superior horse is perceived as such,
their connections become afraid of assuming too much risks and ends
up playing it so much safe that then, he becomes vulnerable. Too much vulnerable.
On the other hand, the horse who beat him has come of age.
That is what I am referring to by expressing "the irony/burden of being
the "best horse". It is like the old saying that the challenger has to rise up
and dethrone the sitting champ.

What a great well earned victory by The Grey Gatsby and his resourceful jockey.

[dublino]

Wrong assumption is the right phrase the horse traded at 1.01 or 1/100 on the betting exchanges.

Along with O'Brien pulling the horse down the backside and swinging 12 wide into the straight and his father not appearing anywhere - you can see why some conspiracy theories have appeared about the manner of his defeat.

Along with this race and other double trebles and accumaltors this defeat would have saved the betting indutry about $100m.