Strategic Designs Ltd., forums :: View topic - Newbie with a few questions.

Uncle_Tom wrote:

Sussex Stakes.

The day was here, I was worried. Not only was Take Me Home up against older competition for the first time, but the last three races had cost a lot. At raceday his green condition bar was only at 72-75 %. I was tempted to scratch him, and protect his career. I had reviewed the opposition and it was very good horses he was up against, multiple Gr1 winners with far more experience.

Once again I decided to let him race altho, it might break a winning streak and not to say his career.

It was time to go to Goodwood. The going was once again good, paddock only said fit period, I was worried.

He broke well, and to repeat myself was pulled back to last place passing the 6f pole. The tempo upfront was ok, but not too fast. 4f out jockey nudged him along for a stride or two. He answered immediately and gain some distance on the leaders. But upfront the horses he was up against now were tougher. Approx 2.5f out he was told to go, he has a nice turn of foot so he gained a few lenghts straight away. Entering the final furlong he was still about 3 lenghts of the leader, he showed signs of weakness for the first time in his career. He narrowed the lead somewhat during last furlong, but ended beaten to third, 1/4 lenght behind second who was 1 3/4 lenghts behind first. The dream is over, but I kinda realized it before the off. Harder competition and the fact that Take Me Home had not fully recovered the 3 first starts as a 3yo.

Now he will get a good rest, likely not to race anymore as a 3yo, building him up to hope he can have an even better 4yo season.

To bad, but I will get back if I have another good miler, and we will try it again.

Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Newbie with a few questions.
Hey, Newbie from Norway here. Been "lurking" in forums for some time, and played the game on and off for a few months. Been trying to breed monsters like the "pro mad Professors" in here seems to do all the time So far some descent horses but nothing great. My main goal is to breed milers, and today on a relative new game (season 12 or 13) the horse below was one of the yearlings. I like to race them 1 time in beginning of 2 year season on a regular 6f maiden if I consider them to have enough pace. And I like to give them one or two more tests in the middle/end of season in a listed or somewhat "easy" group2 or 3, also this on 6f. Ive never had a 2 year old get over 100 in ratings after its maiden, until now. And soooo easily, the jockey nudged him in the beginning to take the lead, and the rest was a canter, didnt touch him. And now to the questions. As mentioned Im from Norway, and not to well into british (or worlwide for that sake) racing schedules. Dont want to do anything "wrong" with this one in the 3 year season and so on, since its my first really good horse, at least in my opinion And btw, im using PJRvII schedule, so you know what races is in the database. If someone could help me with a route for 3 and maybe 4 year season, I would really appreciate it. And of course I will then give a follow up afterwards of the results Thanks in advance! Edit: Picture is take after 2nd race, won 6f Rippon Champion 2yo trophy easily by 3 1/2 lenghts, went from 101 to 104 rating. Edit2: The second win in Listed company also impressed me, so decided to up it to 7f and enter Horris Hills Stake Group 3. On Raceday it was poring down and going was heavy. Was thinking on scratching it before entering "raceday sequence" but saw his going/surface adpb. was full so I let it race. This time Jockey was holding up, last after first furlong, took the lead entering the final furlong and won by 2 1/2 lenghts

Author:	jack_lfc [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
im no expert either and to be honest havent played the game in a week or so, but i would give him one or two more runs at two, in say a conditions race or listed race. (Conditions if your into keeping it unbeaten and listed if your confident this is a monster) just to see how good it is...i normally do the conditions race just to bet on it loads, but it would win it easily id say. to be honest ive got quite a lot of good horses, so i just mix them up but at 3yo id give it a run early on in say a group 2/3 and see how it does and possibly consider the guineas if everything goes to plan.... From my experience, the guineas isnt always won by a "Frankel" so even if it doesnt win easily in the earlier races enter it anyway!

Author:	ghostzapper74 [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Tom I like to run my horses in a maiden early then test them at Royal Ascot next, they are always the best races to test u good horses. Tom if u like the game then u should join the League, well there's no one from Norway in the League. U could wave the flag for u country.

Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Thanks for the answers! Decided to only run it the 3 races Ive already done as a 2yo. 3 very comfortably wins, with different tactics and different goings. Found a post in forum where pjrhodes1970 said that the ultimate test for a 3 yo miler would be: English Guineas - Irish Guineas - Royal Ascot (Guess he means St. James`s Palace Stakes) -Sussex stakes - QE II - BC Mile ( Breeders Cup i guess). I kinda have a feeling that I will fail miserably, but Ive decided thats what I wanna try Will update with results, or lack of results haha. Have been thinking about the league ghost, but still have much to learn both with proper breeding and the technical stuff with exporting horses, trialing them and so on.

Author:	ghostzapper74 [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Uncle_Tom wrote: Thanks for the answers! Decided to only run it the 3 races Ive already done as a 2yo. 3 very comfortably wins, with different tactics and different goings. Found a post in forum where pjrhodes1970 said that the ultimate test for a 3 yo miler would be: English Guineas - Irish Guineas - Royal Ascot (Guess he means St. James`s Palace Stakes) -Sussex stakes - QE II - BC Mile ( Breeders Cup i guess). I kinda have a feeling that I will fail miserably, but Ive decided thats what I wanna try Will update with results, or lack of results haha. Have been thinking about the league ghost, but still have much to learn both with proper breeding and the technical stuff with exporting horses, trialing them and so on. Tom if he's good enough for them races then export him, if at a later date u want to join the league then u will have him saved. The same goes for all u good horses that come along.

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Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
English 2000 Guineas. First of the big days where here. Conditions was perfect, good to firm, the horse looked good in paddock, no sweating or any other bad signs. I was a bit worried, since it was some time since last race and had not done any "prep" races before the Guineas. Horse missed the break, settled somewhere in back to mid. The tempo was ok tho so I had my hopes it would get there with its good finish he showed in last 2yo race. As they entered the last furlong he was still some good 2-3 lenghts behind the leaders, and a good bunch came with a nice finish. He just lead near finish and won by 1/4 lenght. I was practically shouting at my computer screen English 2000 Guineas; check. Irish next, dream is still alive

Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Irish 2000 Guineas. Another rainy day in racing. The going was good, so not to wet, and Take Me Home had shown it capability to handle different goings when winning his 3rd 2yo race on heavy ground. All good in Paddock. Fit and primed to go. Broke well, was amongst the first horses, but once again jockey pulled the reins and held him up, with 6 furlongs to go he was last. Started urging him at about the 3f pole, there was a lot of hold up horses, so as they reeled in the two leaders, heading past the 1f pole, the field was pretty much bunched together. Take Me Home hit the lead about 1/2 f from finish, with the home favourite at 1/2 lenghts distance. He was getting a bit tired, but held on and won the Irish 2000 Guineas by 1/4 lenght, exactly the same winning margin that he had in the English 2000 Guineas English 2000 guineas; check! Irish 2000 guineas; check! Onto St. James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. As in Ireland it was raining, going was good. Once again all well in paddock. Broke slowly, settled in mid/last part of the field with an ok pace upfront. Cruised closer to the lead horses, and 2 1/2f out jockey started urging him to go. Took the lead entering the final furlong with nearest horse following his finishing pace at approx 2 lenghts. Take Me Home did it again, won the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot with 1 3/4 lenghts. Visually his easiest victory so far in his 3 yo campaign, but hes tired now. The green condition bar is lower than ever before. Luckily its almost 1 and a half month until next test at Sussex Stakes. Fingers crossed he gets the rest he needs. English 2000 guineas; check! Irish 2000 guineas; check! St. James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot; check! Sussex Stakes, here we come!

Author:	ghostzapper74 [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
tom u horse is now taking on the big boys, older horses will be harder to beat.

Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Yeah I just saw when I was declaring him for the race. No more shelter of the only 3yo. An entire field with older horses, most of them already Gr1 winners. My hope rising he could do it after Royal Ascot, was viped away as I saw the field he was up against Soon to be raced, will update.

Author:	GS63 [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
I'm hooked! Looking forward to see how he does in the Sussex! Nice to see a story unfolding rather than a single post with the entire history of the horse.

Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Sussex Stakes. The day was here, I was worried. Not only was Take Me Home up against older competition for the first time, but the last three races had cost a lot. At raceday his green condition bar was only at 72-75 %. I was tempted to scratch him, and protect his career. I had reviewed the opposition and it was very good horses he was up against, multiple Gr1 winners with far more experience. Once again I decided to let him race altho, it might break a winning streak and not to say his career. It was time to go to Goodwood. The going was once again good, paddock only said fit period, I was worried. He broke well, and to repeat myself was pulled back to last place passing the 6f pole. The tempo upfront was ok, but not too fast. 4f out jockey nudged him along for a stride or two. He answered immediately and gain some distance on the leaders. But upfront the horses he was up against now were tougher. Approx 2.5f out he was told to go, he has a nice turn of foot so he gained a few lenghts straight away. Entering the final furlong he was still about 3 lenghts of the leader, he showed signs of weakness for the first time in his career. He narrowed the lead somewhat during last furlong, but ended beaten to third, 1/4 lenght behind second who was 1 3/4 lenghts behind first. The dream is over, but I kinda realized it before the off. Harder competition and the fact that Take Me Home had not fully recovered the 3 first starts as a 3yo. Now he will get a good rest, likely not to race anymore as a 3yo, building him up to hope he can have an even better 4yo season. To bad, but I will get back if I have another good miler, and we will try it again.

Author:	Uncle_Tom [ Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Quote: Make sure u breed from him and next season when he's got a full green bar press export and save him for the league if u want to play in the league. Yeah he is exported now,and u can be sure I will breed from him Hope its ok that I continue to update his career in this thread, was fun and added some more excitement to the game to be able to share the progress here. 4 yo season; new season, new chances. As Take Me Home turned 4 he showed no bad signs after a hard 3yo season, all lights were green and he was roaring to get on with it. I was also anxious to get going with a new campaign, so I entered him into what I considered to be a a week Champions mile field in Hong Kong late January. It was the first trip abroad for my small stables star, but the field looked full of horses over the top, and no one could show the consistency of Take Me Home. As he entered the paddock he was back to his good old self. No bad sings, and all was well. The going was G/F so for the first time in a few races he had a surface he really enjoyed. He broke well as usual, AND a big surprise, the jockey pulled him last as usual But the tempo up front was faster than before and the field was well strung out as we passed the 6f pole. Approx. at the 5 pole the jockey gave him a small nudges/reminders, and he immediately responded and started to cruise closer to the lead, but still much further back than usual. Nothing much happend before we had 4f left to go, earlier than ever before the jockey gave Take Me Home marching order. He started to gain on the leader fast, but another horse, Bright Sky, also made his move and was about 2 lenghts in front of Take Me Home, and had the same pace. With 1f left to go it was only going to be between Take Me Home and Bright Sky now being 1 lenght in front. Approx 1/2 a furlong left Take Me Home had caught up to Bright Sky and it was all over last half furlong Take Me Home cruised home and won by 1 1/2 lenghts. 4yo season had started in the best possible way. Im still considering what the next race will be, I suspect he will be even better over another furlong or so with all his strong finishes so we will see. Goal of the year: Go unbeaten without avoiding the better/bigger races to achive it. PS! Dont nail me if you find spelling or grammar faults, im from Norway and takes time to write all this in English UPDATE: I had a look at the calender, and didnt find much interesting. But as I mentioned I was thinking he might stay/be better at another furlong or so. His mother easily stayed 1m and his father won Gr1 races at 1m1f. So I have decided to give it a try at the tiny Meydan meeting in the 1m1f Dubai Duty Free. This might be stupid but ive seen sings of him staying a bit further so lets have a go. Will post update later or tomorrow

Author:	jack_lfc [ Mon Apr 22, 2013 12:07 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Newbie with a few questions.
Love this post! after my first comment on returning i didnt expect there to be 13!! brilliant as this forum doesnt seem to gain as many comments as some others ive been on! Onto the horse, seems a nice horse, if you think he can go over further did you ever put him in the gallops over 1m3 or 4 to consider the derby and arc? couldve been a possibility to have a guineas and derby winner.... but would be pushing his stamina i guess!

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