Rock Hard Ten

judi · Postby **judi** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 3:07 pm

What a great win, I am sure that Sam is happy.
Judi

Intrinsic Worth · Postby **Intrinsic Worth** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:27 pm

I'm really glad that a horse as large as him had such a long layoff. He needed time to grow into his frame and he seems to move much more fluidly now that he did before. He used to run like a gangly teenager. If he had continued to run, I'm afraid he would have many more physical problems.

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:37 pm

judi wrote:I am sure that Sam is happy.

Quite

I'd be happier if I could 35-1 on him in the future book.

jellac · Postby **jellac** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 10:29 pm

he seems to move much more fluidly now that he did before. He used to run like a gangly teenager. If he had continued to run, I'm afraid he would have many more physical problems

...what Intrinsic Worth said.... a point well taken with Rock Hard Ten. He looked much the better horse to me today than he ever has in the past.

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:42 am

He's much more a professional racehorse than he ever was before. The people who think he can't ship and win are remembering the RHT last year who wouldn't go in the gate, who acted like an idiot in the post parade, who sometimes trained and sometimes didn't. But this RHT has not only matured physically but mentally. Much, much better horse under the tutelage of one of the great trainers in the game. He's very live for the Classic.

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:18 am

Has anyone seen him in person?? His commanding presence on TV yesterday impressed me... he looks massive... what a gorgeous animal...

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:34 am

I've seen him a few times. Yesterday he made Roman Ruler look like a little horse--and RR is not tiny. Guesstimate: at least 17.1h maybe even 17.2h. He might be one of the few stallions next year whose height gets underreported in the Stallion Register. The rest all seem to have size inflation of half a hand.

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:39 am

Sysonby wrote:I've seen him a few times. Yesterday he made Roman Ruler look like a little horse--and RR is not tiny. Guesstimate: at least 17.1h maybe even 17.2h. He might be one of the few stallions next year whose height gets underreported in the Stallion Register. The rest all seem to have size inflation of half a hand.

WOW... I thought he had to be huge, but hard to tell on TV!

Boy, he's one I'd like to see in person... he is GORGEOUS!!

louis finochio · Postby **louis finochio** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:12 am

When I 1st saw RHT 2 years ago he was trained by Jason Orman.
I knew he was a class TB by the way he was attracting my eyes to him, as I couldnt keep my eyes off of him.

When RHT went to Mandella's barn I was always inquiring about him, as RHT is one of my favorites. When you see him in person he still has that impressive massive frame that makes him tower over his peers.

I hope RHT has a good run in this years BC classic, as he is going to peak at the right time.

reese · Postby **reese** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:11 pm

louis finochio wrote:When I 1st saw RHT 2 years ago he was trained by Jason Orman.
I knew he was a class TB by the way he was attracting my eyes to him, as I couldnt keep my eyes off of him.

When RHT went to Mandella's barn I was always inquiring about him, as RHT is one of my favorites. When you see him in person he still has that impressive massive frame that makes him tower over his peers.

I hope RHT has a good run in this years BC classic, as he is going to peak at the right time.

I expect to see RHT at this year's BC. I remember seeing him up close, on the OTB-TV in the Preakness when he wouldn't load. No one was going to strong arm him.

RHT looked very agile to me. When a starter grabbed him to load, RHT turned around, away from the gate and aimed a two-legged hind kick at another starter who was standing diagonally in back of RHT. If that guy didn't move, he would have gotten a well targeted kick in the chest that was no accident. RHT had perfect aim.

I saw Tiznow in the BC at Belmont, and he also was towered over most of his competition. He was was cool, calm, and was surveying the scene with confidence. No question as far a I thought, Tiznow knew he was "it".
If RHT has that same demeanor in the BC that Tiznow had, he will be tough.

Borrego made an Arazi- like move in the JCGC. He was lumbering in the back, than began inhale the field like they were tied to a pole going into the turn and cruised to an easy lead into the stretch. Borrego looks to be the main competition for RHT, and Borrrego is a sizeable horse himself.
But, why did Greeley race Borrego in NY and not against RHT at home?

Playwithfire · Postby **Playwithfire** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:27 pm

You have to give Mandella a ton of credit with this horse. He took a very talented but inconsistent horse and turned him into a monster. He, St. Liam, and Borrego, all in top form make this years BC Classic a potentially explosive race.

louis finochio · Postby **louis finochio** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:31 pm

Beau Greely shipped Borrego to NY to duck RHT, as it turned out that move wins the eclipse award of the year for BG and Borrego. Congrats to BG, Borrego, and his connections.

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:43 pm

louis finochio wrote:Beau Greely shipped Borrego to NY to duck RHT, as it turned out that move wins the eclipse award of the year for BG and Borrego. Congrats to BG, Borrego, and his connections.

That's frighteningly premature, Louis.

Right now, Borrego has a losing record for the season and only 2 G1 wins to his credit. RHT is unbeaten this year and Saint Liam has 3 G1s with a winning record for the season.

To say Borrego just solidified his CH. Older Horse status with that win Saturday is nothing more than whole-hearted optimism.

CH. Horse will go to whoever (Borrego, Rock Hard Ten, Saint Liam) has the best finish in the classic.

And I doubt it will be Borrego.

FOS · Postby **FOS** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:23 pm

hi Sam

Do you expect to see Afleet Alex show up in the BC Classic?

Personally I'd be amazed to see him in the gate...but rumors (maybe fact maybe fiction) seem to be flying.

Best to you.

Respectfully

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:22 pm

FOS wrote:Do you expect to see Afleet Alex show up in the BC Classic?

Yes.

The real question is "do you expect him to win?"

No.

And if he does, he'll never need to step foot on the track again as winning the race would be enough to solidify superhorse status for him in the minds of a lot of people.

Realistically, if I were making the call, I'd skip this start in the Perryville that I heard thrown out and run him in the Sprint.

I think beating LITF would make a bigger impact on the commercial breeders and set him up for a larger sales price/stud fee than winning the classic would. It would more successfully highlight his versatility (and quite possibly clinch HOY regardless of what the older horses do later in the classic) which is important to commercial breeders.

They already KNOW he can run long, they know he was a fabulously precocious 2yo .. they need to know that he can truly sprint instead of just being a brilliant 2yo who progressed at 3yo. The win in the 7f Mt. Valley earlier this year is easily dismissed as "well, just about ALL 3yos can sprint that early in the season because not many are asked to run long. Besides, what did he beat?".

Run him in the sprint (which I think he has a much better chance of winning) and that proves he can run in top class competition and win -- whether it's sprinting or going long.

That would be MUCH more attractive to breeders than just a dual classic/BC Classic winner.

Retire him now, I figure he can justify a $25k-$35k stud fee.

Win the Classic, you can bump him up to $45k-$50k

Win the Sprint, I'd have no problem justifying $75k.

Pedigree Query

Rock Hard Ten

Rock Hard Ten

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