Quality performance from Rich Tapestry, and based on this effort I'd also
be watching out for Reynaldothewizard again in this year's Golden Shaheen.
I was rooting for Soft Falling Rain, and many times Mike De Kock has said
he had him pegged as a sprinter from jump, but after seeing him take on
quality international sprinters in this race I would argue he's a better
horse going 7f to a mile. He's ran twice at 7f, winning the UAE 2000
Guineas Trial and he ran 2nd in the Hungerford Stakes. At a mile he's 3 for
4 in his career to date with wins in the UAE 2000 Guineas, Godolphin Mile,
& Nayef Joel Stakes. His only loss at a mile was at Ascot in the Queen
Elizabeth II Stakes on very soft ground he clearly struggled over. I think
Mike De Kock either needs to send Soft Falling Rain back to the Godolphin
Mile again or chance his staying 9f and let him run in the Dubai Duty Free,
but I personally don't think the Golden Shaheen at 6f is the right race for
Soft Falling Rain on world cup night, IMO.
I can remember last season Mike De Kock saying he had always pegged Soft
Falling Rain as a sprinter and was surprised at the way he saw out the 1600
meters so well in his win in the Godolphin Mile. It's possible Soft Falling
Rain may have needed this run not having raced since the G1 Queen Elizabeth
II Stakes at Ascot back in October, but even if he comes back fitter for
this run, I can't see him being able to beat the level of top sprinters who
race at 5f & 6f regularly that he'd run into in the G1 Golden Shaheen on
world cup night. IMO, he's looked a better horse at 7f to a mile than he
did here racing at 6f. Hope De Kock sends him back to the G2 Godolphin Mile
for a chance to go back to back instead of to the G1 Golden Shaheen. I
think he'll be much better suited by the distance in the Godolphin Mile,
IMO. Outstanding effort by the Hong Kong horse Rich Tapestry in this race.
GBeret83 Says:
11/03/2014 6:25:14 AM
Quality performance from Rich Tapestry, and based on this effort I'd also be watching out for Reynaldothewizard again in this year's Golden Shaheen. I was rooting for Soft Falling Rain, and many times Mike De Kock has said he had him pegged as a sprinter from jump, but after seeing him take on quality international sprinters in this race I would argue he's a better horse going 7f to a mile. He's ran twice at 7f, winning the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial and he ran 2nd in the Hungerford Stakes. At a mile he's 3 for 4 in his career to date with wins in the UAE 2000 Guineas, Godolphin Mile, & Nayef Joel Stakes. His only loss at a mile was at Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on very soft ground he clearly struggled over. I think Mike De Kock either needs to send Soft Falling Rain back to the Godolphin Mile again or chance his staying 9f and let him run in the Dubai Duty Free, but I personally don't think the Golden Shaheen at 6f is the right race for Soft Falling Rain on world cup night, IMO.
GBeret83 Says:
9/03/2014 7:13:12 AM
I can remember last season Mike De Kock saying he had always pegged Soft Falling Rain as a sprinter and was surprised at the way he saw out the 1600 meters so well in his win in the Godolphin Mile. It's possible Soft Falling Rain may have needed this run not having raced since the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot back in October, but even if he comes back fitter for this run, I can't see him being able to beat the level of top sprinters who race at 5f & 6f regularly that he'd run into in the G1 Golden Shaheen on world cup night. IMO, he's looked a better horse at 7f to a mile than he did here racing at 6f. Hope De Kock sends him back to the G2 Godolphin Mile for a chance to go back to back instead of to the G1 Golden Shaheen. I think he'll be much better suited by the distance in the Godolphin Mile, IMO. Outstanding effort by the Hong Kong horse Rich Tapestry in this race.