Enzaal returned to the track after 53 days with new connections in a 1m 4f race on good turf. He finished 4th, but there's plenty of good news about how he ran. His last race at over 1m 1f was at 1 m 3f & 76yd in May and he didn't get the distance. He led early, was overtaken and tracked the leaders, then weakened over 2f out to finish last. In this longer race he didn't rush to the lead, he tracked the leaders, and only weakened "inside the final furlong". His new trainer has been training him for endurance and got him not to run like a rabbit. Too bad he didn't win this race, but his future looks much brighter than before.
http://www.racinguk.com/results/race/94688
Invasor [ARG]
Moderators: Roguelet, WaveMaster, madelyn
Phangio returned to the track after 47 days in a 1m 6f handicap on heavy ground. It turned out to by an upside down race won easily by the last betting choice with the favorite checking in last. Phangio didn't lift a hoof and finished 10th of 11. "Always toward the rear, weakened 5f out, tailed off". Phangio was 4th of 17 on soft ground at 1m 4f last time but didn't handle heavy ground - along with most of the field.
http://www.racinguk.com/results/race/94774/1
Here's the trainer's comment on the winner:
"...She won an ordinary maiden on dirty ground at Roscommon, but I think yielding is even too quick for her. She wants it up to her garters..." She ran 17.92 seconds faster than the course average.
http://www.irishracing.com/result?prn=L ... 1309191605
http://www.racinguk.com/results/race/94774/1
Here's the trainer's comment on the winner:
"...She won an ordinary maiden on dirty ground at Roscommon, but I think yielding is even too quick for her. She wants it up to her garters..." She ran 17.92 seconds faster than the course average.
http://www.irishracing.com/result?prn=L ... 1309191605
Invasor's offspring are notably late to develop, so much so that you'd have to take a year off their ages before they'd seem normal to a US trainer.
The late development curse routed the majority of them to dead ends after they didn't perform at 2 or early at 3: sprint and mile races at minor tracks. Invasor wasn't a sprinter or a miler and neither are most of his offspring. They win occasionally but nobody imagines they could do better at longer distances so that's it for them
The first US exception was Five Sixteen, whose trainer threw the book out and campaigned him as a champion at 3 with only a maiden win. He ran 5th in the Belmont, beating Graded Stakes winners. Running 2nd in the Curlin Stakes at 1 1/8 he showed speed for the first time. It was a great loss that Five Sixteen died before racing at four, and bad luck for Invasor as a stallion.
Invasor's daughter, Graded Stakes winner Ausus, also placed in a G1. She was nice enough at 3 to be entered in a little stakes at 4 where she closed to within 1 3/4 lengths of Daisy Devine. She ran well in the Jenny Wiley, beating all but the G1 winners, but seemed to be a grinder that would need longer distance to win. Until she demonstrated an acceleration her trainer, in his own words, said he didn't know she had, to win a G3 at 1 1/8. She finished less than a second off the track record - just plain fast.
Saint Arthur, who placed in restricted stakes at 2 won one easily at 4. Expression placed in both stakes she ran in at 4. Cheechako placed in a stakes at 4.
Five Sixteed and Ausus are routers, Saint Arthur and Expression are sprinters so it may not be the gene for myostatin (which has a big role in determining whether a horse will sprint or route) that is in question. It seems that what develops late is their engine. With other endurance sires offspring develop late, but that means in their 3d year, not their 4th. With Invasors their connections give up. If Ausus hadn't been owned by Shadwell she would have been retired as stakes placed, the terrific decision to keep her running was made at the top level.
In Europe 3 year old Invasors win at long distances on turf. But not in very good races. Normally that would be it, but in their case they could really step up at 4 - if they get the chance.
Arbaah and Enzaal have each won class 4 races as front runners, but in class 3 races, against better horses, they end up being pacemakers (rabbits) that fade and finish up the track. To win a class 3 race they must save energy for the finish. They have to rate. We saw it with Rawaafed who never got better than 3d as a front runner down in class 5 & 6 - but got a win and 2 seconds coming from behind. But so far, so bad on rating. yesterday Enzaal did the rabbit thing in a class 3 race and finished up the track, today Arbaah ran like a rabbit in a class 3 race and finished 8th of 10. Check it out, the 3 last place horses were the pace/pressers early. Brits could learn from American front runner strategies: slow it down, instead of helping the closers. Even better, train your horse to rate.
http://www.racinguk.com/results/race/94857/1
Maybe next year Enzaal and Arbaah can win a class 3 as a front runner, not this year.
Footnote to the Phangio race:
Invasors usually run well on an off track but some are off track specialists, horses that have only won on an off track - by big margins. They are all fillies: High Compression (by 14), Peony Perfect (by 12 and 6) and North Invasion on turf (by 6).
The late development curse routed the majority of them to dead ends after they didn't perform at 2 or early at 3: sprint and mile races at minor tracks. Invasor wasn't a sprinter or a miler and neither are most of his offspring. They win occasionally but nobody imagines they could do better at longer distances so that's it for them
The first US exception was Five Sixteen, whose trainer threw the book out and campaigned him as a champion at 3 with only a maiden win. He ran 5th in the Belmont, beating Graded Stakes winners. Running 2nd in the Curlin Stakes at 1 1/8 he showed speed for the first time. It was a great loss that Five Sixteen died before racing at four, and bad luck for Invasor as a stallion.
Invasor's daughter, Graded Stakes winner Ausus, also placed in a G1. She was nice enough at 3 to be entered in a little stakes at 4 where she closed to within 1 3/4 lengths of Daisy Devine. She ran well in the Jenny Wiley, beating all but the G1 winners, but seemed to be a grinder that would need longer distance to win. Until she demonstrated an acceleration her trainer, in his own words, said he didn't know she had, to win a G3 at 1 1/8. She finished less than a second off the track record - just plain fast.
Saint Arthur, who placed in restricted stakes at 2 won one easily at 4. Expression placed in both stakes she ran in at 4. Cheechako placed in a stakes at 4.
Five Sixteed and Ausus are routers, Saint Arthur and Expression are sprinters so it may not be the gene for myostatin (which has a big role in determining whether a horse will sprint or route) that is in question. It seems that what develops late is their engine. With other endurance sires offspring develop late, but that means in their 3d year, not their 4th. With Invasors their connections give up. If Ausus hadn't been owned by Shadwell she would have been retired as stakes placed, the terrific decision to keep her running was made at the top level.
In Europe 3 year old Invasors win at long distances on turf. But not in very good races. Normally that would be it, but in their case they could really step up at 4 - if they get the chance.
Arbaah and Enzaal have each won class 4 races as front runners, but in class 3 races, against better horses, they end up being pacemakers (rabbits) that fade and finish up the track. To win a class 3 race they must save energy for the finish. They have to rate. We saw it with Rawaafed who never got better than 3d as a front runner down in class 5 & 6 - but got a win and 2 seconds coming from behind. But so far, so bad on rating. yesterday Enzaal did the rabbit thing in a class 3 race and finished up the track, today Arbaah ran like a rabbit in a class 3 race and finished 8th of 10. Check it out, the 3 last place horses were the pace/pressers early. Brits could learn from American front runner strategies: slow it down, instead of helping the closers. Even better, train your horse to rate.
http://www.racinguk.com/results/race/94857/1
Maybe next year Enzaal and Arbaah can win a class 3 as a front runner, not this year.
Footnote to the Phangio race:
Invasors usually run well on an off track but some are off track specialists, horses that have only won on an off track - by big margins. They are all fillies: High Compression (by 14), Peony Perfect (by 12 and 6) and North Invasion on turf (by 6).
Jackpot Josie ran last in an AOC at Remington, this is her second race after getting 2 months off. She stopped running very early both times.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA6.pdf
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA6.pdf
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bdw0617
- Darley line
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i think invasor will end up being an extremely important broodmare sire when it's all said and done. i would also not be suprised to see him more down under where they run longer races though i don't kn ow if his get really want to run on turf or not
he reminds me a lot of dynaformer in the sense that his offspring won't sale well but i think he will eventually make a good sire for those who are patient. i like invasor
he reminds me a lot of dynaformer in the sense that his offspring won't sale well but i think he will eventually make a good sire for those who are patient. i like invasor
"When the solution is simple, God is answering.”
- Einstein
- Einstein
You could be right, bdw0617. The breed could use more of what Invasor had! (Minus the extended development, we're all about instant gratification here.) Invasor's sire, Candy Stripes, didn't do well in the US as a sire, his best US performing progeny (including Invasor) came here after racing elsewhere. One son, Leroidesanimaux, with tons of speed from his dam, sired Animal Kingdom. So I hope Invasor shuttles.
Some like turf. Ausus is a GSW on turf and a couple of others run better on turf. Some want none of it. Few US horses try turf after they are 2, which is before they are mature, so who knows? In Europe they often try synthetic, but that isn't dirt, so who knows? Adeem had a lousy record on turf, terrific on dirt - but how good are horses in Sweden?
Some like turf. Ausus is a GSW on turf and a couple of others run better on turf. Some want none of it. Few US horses try turf after they are 2, which is before they are mature, so who knows? In Europe they often try synthetic, but that isn't dirt, so who knows? Adeem had a lousy record on turf, terrific on dirt - but how good are horses in Sweden?
Mawj Tamy returned to the track after an absence of 4 months in a race on synthetic at 1m 2f. He chased the leaders on the outside, was pushed along over 3 f out, driven over 2f out hung right and weakened soon after, finishing 7th of 8, beaten 22 lengths. His best previous performance on the same track was 2nd of 11 in a race a class lower, beaten 1.75 lengths after chasing the leaders and going second 1f out but not catching the winner. So he was asked to run the same race 2f longer, against better horses, and it didn't work. The public wasn't surprised, they sent him off as the next to last betting choice. Was it supposed to be a distance test? Too many variables, including the outside trip, chasing the leaders early and the time off plus better horses. I guess he was supposed to have taken a big step up but didn't.
http://www.irishracing.com/result?prn=L ... 1309241730
http://www.irishracing.com/result?prn=L ... 1309241730
Montford Park, who broke his maiden in great style on dirt last time was last in a claimer on dirt at the same 1 1/16 distance, which was run just 0.8 seconds faster than the race Montford Park won. Huh??? The notes just say "outrun", but the Running Line tells a different story - a story about pace.
Montford Park won a race with a faster pace. He was 6th, 13.5 lengths from the pacemaker until after 1/2, then he made a bold run on the rail and won.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA4.pdf
Today's race had a slower early pace and Montford Park had just 11 lengths to make up at 1/2. He made up 5.5 of them at 3/4 then the front-runners sped up instead of slowing down. Montford Park had 9 lengths to make up at the top of the stretch and Borel stopped riding him, letting him finish 22.5 lengths behind the winner. (Using the rule of thumb of 0.2 seconds/length Montford Park "could" have finished 4 lengths behind the winner and been 4th, so losing by a whopping 22.5 suggests Borel quit on him). Borel is a great jockey but this wasn't the right race for the trademark "Bo-Rail" ride he used to win with Montford Park last time.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA2.pdf
Montford Park won a race with a faster pace. He was 6th, 13.5 lengths from the pacemaker until after 1/2, then he made a bold run on the rail and won.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA4.pdf
Today's race had a slower early pace and Montford Park had just 11 lengths to make up at 1/2. He made up 5.5 of them at 3/4 then the front-runners sped up instead of slowing down. Montford Park had 9 lengths to make up at the top of the stretch and Borel stopped riding him, letting him finish 22.5 lengths behind the winner. (Using the rule of thumb of 0.2 seconds/length Montford Park "could" have finished 4 lengths behind the winner and been 4th, so losing by a whopping 22.5 suggests Borel quit on him). Borel is a great jockey but this wasn't the right race for the trademark "Bo-Rail" ride he used to win with Montford Park last time.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA2.pdf
Holy Invader was 3d in a 7f AOC at Calder on dirt. He ran on the inside in 4th most of the race, was steadied when unable to get through on the inside, recovered and gained some ground to finish 3d, 2 lengths behind the winner.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA7.pdf
This is his 3d 3d. The best one was his 3d at 1 1/16 on turf, beaten just 1/2 length. He had trouble in that race too, but was closing well at the finish. His most impressive race was his second to Amira's Prince, a G2 winner, at 1 1/2 miles on turf. More turf, please!
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA7.pdf
This is his 3d 3d. The best one was his 3d at 1 1/16 on turf, beaten just 1/2 length. He had trouble in that race too, but was closing well at the finish. His most impressive race was his second to Amira's Prince, a G2 winner, at 1 1/2 miles on turf. More turf, please!
Phangio's trainer has been willing to experiment, the latest was a race for apprentice jockeys at 1m 4f at Roscommon. Phangio ran towards the rear but never made a move. He has run well as a closer at this distance, finishing 2nd and 4th, so I'm blaming the apprentice because the notes never mention Phangio being asked or "ridden". That could be totally unfair, but it's frustrating to see a horse that shows flashes of talent not getting anywhere.
http://www.irishracing.com/result?prn=R ... 1309301605
http://www.irishracing.com/result?prn=R ... 1309301605
North Invasion was taken out of training on the day of her last race, when she ran 4th. She's raced hard this year. She's a fighter and should move way up at 4 when she catches up on her development. Hopefully it was according to plan and not because she was found to be injured after the race. I didn't find any information but somebody took pictures of all the horses and here is North Invasion:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11765034@N02/9786337626/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11765034@N02/9786337626/
Street Invader finished 4th of 10, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in a 7.5 MCL ($40,000) on turf at Parx. He broke last, chased, angled out and rallied.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA9.pdf
He's knocking on the door and has reached the first flight in a bunch that have been racing each other.
Today 7.5f turf
Ridley Creek Rd 1st
Gulf of Aden 2nd beaten a neck
Street Invader 4th beaten 1 1/2
King Crab 5th beaten 2 3/4
Sept 16 mile dirt - they are much farther back
Gulf of Aden 5th beaten 10
Street Invader 4th beaten 17
Sept 9 7.5f turf
Ridley Creek Rd 2nd beaten a neck
Street Invader 3d beaten 2 3/4
King Crab 5th beaten 4 1/2
He'll win soon.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA9.pdf
He's knocking on the door and has reached the first flight in a bunch that have been racing each other.
Today 7.5f turf
Ridley Creek Rd 1st
Gulf of Aden 2nd beaten a neck
Street Invader 4th beaten 1 1/2
King Crab 5th beaten 2 3/4
Sept 16 mile dirt - they are much farther back
Gulf of Aden 5th beaten 10
Street Invader 4th beaten 17
Sept 9 7.5f turf
Ridley Creek Rd 2nd beaten a neck
Street Invader 3d beaten 2 3/4
King Crab 5th beaten 4 1/2
He'll win soon.
Gagne was 3d of 9 in a mile claimer at Suffolk downs. She pressed the pace on the outside for 6f then bid in the stretch but weakened at the end.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA9.pdf
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA9.pdf
Music Maid ran her second race in a mile MSW on turf at Belmont. The fractions were slower than in her first race at 7f. She raced 3-4 wide for the first 6f, was 4th, 1 12/ behind the leader at 1/4 then steadily fell back to finish 9th (last) by 22 lengths.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA9.pdf
Music Maid is 3, racing more experienced horses. In her first race she didn't show anything, in this one she showed some early speed but faded. Shortening her up she'd have to run faster early so that may not help. Counter-intuitively she'll probably run best at over 1 1/16 (where speed horses start having trouble) when she builds some endurance.
Her dam, by Menifee, also made her debut at 3. She ran at about a mile on dirt for all but one race, never hit the top 3 in 18 starts but had 6 4th places. Nothing there to counter the tendency to late development from Invasor. Did Music Maid also get good stuff? Patience & endurance training ...
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA9.pdf
Music Maid is 3, racing more experienced horses. In her first race she didn't show anything, in this one she showed some early speed but faded. Shortening her up she'd have to run faster early so that may not help. Counter-intuitively she'll probably run best at over 1 1/16 (where speed horses start having trouble) when she builds some endurance.
Her dam, by Menifee, also made her debut at 3. She ran at about a mile on dirt for all but one race, never hit the top 3 in 18 starts but had 6 4th places. Nothing there to counter the tendency to late development from Invasor. Did Music Maid also get good stuff? Patience & endurance training ...
Photon returned to the races after 3 months off in a 35K claimer at 7f (shorter than usual) at Belmont. He broke first but let another horse have the lead and pressed that one. Both were passed by the eventual winner who was 2 1/2 lengths in front of Photon in the stretch. Photon gained 2 of those lengths back to claim second from the favorite who finished 3d. Not bad - and if he'd had that extra furlong he'd have won.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA6.pdf
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pd ... 13USA6.pdf