i did

On the subject of sprinters may I just have a small boast and say how impressed I am at how good my two are.

This is the first time in any SO game that I have ever got into breeding sprinters and one has finished 5th (with a bad ride) in a G1 and the other has won a major handicap. Oak Battle Ship (5th in the G1) was murdered by a bad draw, slow start and a slow-ish pace at York over 7f and was almost last this week, but he will hopefully be better than that with better conditions. Oak Silver Rocker (Great St Wilfred winner) was a 5f horse in game, but he has done extremely well over 6f. I'm tempted to run him over 5f in the league, but he's doing so well of 6f I don't want to ruin it!

I'm gutted at how bad my stayers are . Oak Victory Sash and Oak Suffolk Victory. Oak Victory Sash lead all the way to win a 1m6f listed race this week, but he was a proper 2m+ horse in game and wasn't as good as Oak Honduran Crystal or Oak Crystal Currency in the CK over 1m6f. I was sure he would stay at least 2m in the league, but it doesn't look likely so I now have about 3 1m6f horses!
Oak Suffolk Victory looks as though the same applies, she was miles better than the others mentioned over 2m1f+ in the CK and couldn't get close to them over shorter, but again looks like a non-stayer over the extended distances so she may be another one wanting 1m6f! Lucky this season is nearly over, my stable is looking a little over run with horses all wanting the same distance!

The 7/8f races are more middle distance than sprint really and I've never seen so many "tactical" races. The variability of pace really makes a huge impact in these races (and I include 6.5f in the above - try running in CK with and without pacemaker and you'll see it resembles 7/8f whereas for 5/6f pacemakers don't really make a difference).

If you can run 5th in a 7f G1 I'd keep plugging away as you could possibly steal one. 6f horses may get 5f but in my experience true 5f horses run consistent fast times as opposed to 6f horses where they can clock fast 5f times but over 20 races they tend to show a lot more variability which explains why I have 2 5f horses on my team.

Don't feel bad about the stayers. For some odd reason, quite a few people have targeted that distance either by design or by default (true for those who play jumps and trial their leftovers for flat). I don't think it's because your horse isn't a 2m horse, it's just quite a few 2m+ horses are very good and you're probably getting outpaced there. Still it means a bigger choice for 1m6f which isn't bad as horses do run differently on various courses and you'll likely be able to choose the appropriate horse by trialling in CK prior to entering the races.

Oak Battle Ship is actually a 6f horse, but because I have run Oak Silver Rocker over 6f, Battle Ship has had to run over 7f. I don't think he really sees it out though, but week 8's race (City of York Stakes) was a real non-race for him so I'm disregarding that run. I've entered him in next week's 6f G1, so I'm looking forward to see how he fares.

I didn't think the stayers would be great, but I'm quite disappointed they don't even seem to stay the 2m! But like you said now I can be picky with who I enter where and choose which course will suit each horse best. Fingers crossed between them they can prick up one or two more wins.

Entries for the week - 9.

For the St Leger, Suleviae pays the price for a poor run in her last outing at the Lonsdale Cup and is replaced by Anyigba. That race really had no pace but Suleviae does have a tendency to drift right to the back and in a race with no pace that's a liability. Both Anyigba/Ruhanga are much better at keeping the gap at the front closer and Anyigba gets the nod on this occasion.

There are 3 other G1 races. Yima goes in the 1m4f Prix Vermeille and is hoping to log her 5th G1 victory for the season. Nortia runs in the 6f Haydock Sprint Cup going for her 4th G1 of the season.

Lastly, the one race I want to win - Bragi is tentatively pencilled in for the 1m G1 Prix du Moulin. This might change before closing as Quhalom/Korobona could both run this too. Bearing in mind how variable the 1m races have been this season, this is my biggest headache! The entry here may also dictate a change in the G3 Rose of Lancaster.

Elsewhere there are 4 2 year old races so good luck to Lassair/Khamsin/Aganju and Cierzo

Results for the week. 6 winners.

2 year olds - Lassair/Aganju won G2s. Cierzo won a maiden but at 8f rather than the 10f that it should have been run at. ? a rerun so may not actually have a win yet!

3 year olds - Anyigba won the St Leger and probably will run the Irish St Leger next. Yima won her 5th G1 and may have run her last race for the season. It wasn't the most convincing of runs as was Nortia's win in the Haydock Sprint but she did enough to win her 4th G1 sprint of the season.

Missed out on the 1m Prix de Moulin. Congrats to Greaver on winning that race. Bragi simply didn't kick on and I guess it was just a bad run. Another time where we've been in with a real chance in a 1m G1 race down the final furlong and failed to close it out but Boron showed more desire so well done!

Not a bad week but really wanted the one that got away .

.

really? Thats a shock Andy with the big races left
has tatsoi become the number 1
i thought yima would be a shoo in at the arc

Tatosi has done well in the big races too. TBH there's not much to choose from between the two of them when they go head to head. Boils down to things like starting gate and minor variables. Either would do well at the Arc/Breeder's Cup but I just fancy Tatosi that little bit. Just looking at Yima's stats in the recent TaranxYima breeding surprised me a little as it was really more like a 14f stamina bar. Tatosi's stamina is typical of 12f and it's one of the intangibles that makes me favor him for the remaining open races.

ya makes sense
i don't think Yima would be troubled for tactical speed though
its the toss of a coin between the 2
a nice problem to have
wish i had that problem
maybe get closer next season working hard on it

Hi Paul

Where does Panthion go next Etlaala wants a bit of him

Absolutely over the moon with my first ever group 1 winner on the flat! It was the only thing I hadn't achieved in the league and really makes all the hours I put in worth while. Thanks Paul for the great write up in the newsletter cannot believe that I managed to beat one of Andy's. Boron really surprised me with that run must be the new feed I gave him this week

Congrat's Greaver well done

Bit disappointing for me this week, I thought Celebrate had a really good chance in the Vermille as there was no pace in the race but she hasnt ran to her best, Bonduba also put in one of his bad runs in the Listed race, he was giving weight but expected him to go close. Conquistador won the Ayr Gold Cup which was good but Zarlema got no run in the mile race, he finished running past horses on the bridle and would have won with a clear run but well done to Greaver on his first Group 1 win.

Thanks guys for the congratulations on my group one success.

Lets hope it's the first of many

Royal lodge in prep for rpt
but nothing set in stone yet