Best Race mare ever

Nancy T · Postby **Nancy T** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:36 am

Wondering what the consensus would be.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:20 am

I know this is an obvious answer but Zenyatta.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:27 am

I think you almost have to have a "Best of the Decade." And then, maybe, one for each surface...

It's impossible to compare Zenyatta with, say Ruffian, since Big Z's biggest triumphs came over the synthetic surface at SA, which is apparently now just going to be a flash in the pan (they are going back to dirt).

dublino · Postby **dublino** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:33 am

Winning Colours didn't she win a Derby? Rags to Riches, Zenyatta, Rachel "cheap speed" Alexandria in the last few years alone could be mentioned.

Then in Euroland you can have Urban Sea or Zarvaka or Goldikova or Miesque, the Aussies would say Makybe Diva.

Its a big can of worms to open.

Georgerz · Postby **Georgerz** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:51 am

Best ever? Kincsem (?), the hungarian mare that was undefeated in over 50 starts.

Tbird · Postby **Tbird** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:15 am

I immediately thought of Kincsem, too, Gearge. It says here on her pedigree blurb that six of her races were won in walkovers as nobody else bothered to show up. I read somewhere else a while back that she did all that winning while being hauled all over Europe on trains.

Georgerz · Postby **Georgerz** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:59 am

I read long time ago, (that's why I'm not sure if I am correct), that she was shipped accross the English Channel for the Goodwood Cup, and it was real stormy, therefore she was very sea-sick when arriving at the track. Still won.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:09 am

It's really too bad Z's BC Classic was cheapened by disqualification of Quality Road. Z is the best I've seen going back to about 1985 that includes a lot of good ones. RA while Calvin Borel was training her was certainly right up there for me. Misque would be another.

Bast · Postby **Bast** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:24 am

Kincsem.

Matchemforever · Postby **Matchemforever** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 12:35 pm

Zenyatta has won two races over the dirt.

According to her connections, she's even better on dirt.

And I think I read somewhere that Hollywood Park, where she's based, is the most like dirt of the synthetic tracks?

I sometimes wonder if the reason she doesn't get back east more is the fact that Sherriffs is based out west. Not that that stops some other trainers, but I think he doesn't like her to far away (from him) for long.

Georgerz · Postby **Georgerz** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 12:36 pm

Quality Road was not disqualified, he just refused to load in the starting gate. Calvin Borel has been the jockey for RA, not the trainer. The trainer after the KO has been Steve Assmussen.

Jessi P · Postby **Jessi P** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:15 pm

Personal Ensign was another brilliant race filly, and excellent producer as well.

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:28 pm

I am a huge Zenyatta fan, but I have to give the nod to Ruffian. Coming from behind is very exciting, but Ruffian was basically never headed in a race no matter the distance until the moment she broke down. She was just plain faster than anything else, period.

onalimb · Postby **onalimb** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:58 pm

I'll say...zenyatta and makybe diva in the last 10 years..

griff · Postby **griff** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:34 pm

Safely Kept was a pretty good sprinter

griff