gio ponti vs zenyatta

[dublino]

I think the prep we had was a good one, spotting 6 pounds and winning going away at a mile and a quarter from a horse who came back to finish close up in the Winter Derby.

This horse hasn't gotten much respect yet, so I'm pretty used to the comments like Dublino's that he doesn't have enough class.

The Winter Derby at Lingfield and the Dubai World Cup, no comparison.
Tranquil Tiger the winner has an official rating of 112, Group 3 standards, he actually and I just checked has never raced higher than that.
Suits me an official rating of 106 and highest level of a win was a listed event.

I never said the horse hadn't enough class your words not mine.
Gitano is rated a very generous, imho 120 for his win in America, his previous best being 104 for his win in a conditions event at Wolves.

Gitano has to show that the win in Santa Anita wasn't a fluke and Vision D'etat has won 4G1 events the latest being last December, that's who my money is on.

Best of luck to you in the race - you going to Dubai for it?

[justinnich]

Alas, I'll be watching from here in the US...the expense + the 12 hours of travel each way were a bit much to fit in with life in general. I think there's a group of about 20 people over there though, so he's certainly well-represented. All I can say is I'm hoping that Vision D'Etat needs a race and/or doesn't take to the synthetics because I certainly see him as the winner if he runs the race he's capable of. I do think Gio may be on the downswing, and the reports seem to be that he hasn't traveled so well, but he's certainly a competitor and can't be counted out. Beyond those two and Twice Over, the real question is going to be how good the Maktoum Challenge race was that the filly won and had 3 or 4 others from this race in it. If that serves to be a particularly key race, then we're in trouble since several of them finished close together.

[Daisy Jal Dastur]

My father and I own a minority interest in Gitano Hernando so I'm hoping Gio Ponti isn't gonna have such an easy time in the World Cup, haha. I do think Gio's the top older male in the US, but Zenyatta handled him easily despite a much tougher trip in the Classic. I'm hoping that come Saturday our boy will cement himself as the top synthetic horse outside the US and I'd love to see a race against Zenyatta at some point just to find out (not making any bold predictions here, just hoping). Not many people are saying this, but to me, it's too bad this year's BC is not on the fake stuff because that would've lent itself to just the match up I'm talking about.

Good luck, Justin! I think GH has a great shot (I'll totally have in him my exacta box, along with Allybar - almost bought him from the Arc sale... oh well - and Gloria De Campeo (sp))!!

First and third by inches in an exacta box... both over 20/1... I need a drink!