Martial Eagle

ORANGE Wrote:

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> From a punters perspective, what was wrong with
> his prep for the Met. The tipsters were talking up
> horses like Slumdogmillionaire and Bravura who he
> had beaten convincingly in his prep runs. The only
> question mark I can see is probably the step up in
> distance. Sometimes, in fact quite often, I think
> punters place too much emphasis on the yard,
> trainer and jockey. After his run in the Queen's
> Plate I would never have expected him to go off at
> 75/1. I had him pegged as a good EW. I am not a
> punter so I would love your views on this.

Couldnt agree with you more Orange. Ever since the field was announced, I made him MY pick of the card (albeit I had a stroke of luck that pointed him in his direction too). After watching numerous previous from the EXPERTS, not a single one of them even mentioned his name. I remember Cohen saying that he doesnt give him a chance and that the queens plate run was a "flash". They focused on horses that finished behind him in the queens plate.. Even putting rings around these well beaten horses.

I remember asking my Dad during this preview "WHAT ABOUT THE HORSE IN THE MIDDLE??? HE WAS COMING BACK AT JACKSON AND POMODORO, ARE THESE PEOPLE BLIND??" Yet, they never said a word. Only Fortune said, "I fancy my sons horse to finish in the money as well"

Even Julie afterwards announced that Martial EGO has caused the upset! She probably didnt even know that this horse was running. Nonetheless, our boots are full and we are happy campers. ()

The theme of the Met was " Made to Fly" so obviously Martial Eagle from Hill Fifty Four!

Hard to even think Martial Eagle would get close. He had a terrible draw, had never gone the distance so hard to know if he would stay, and to be honest Aldo is not exactly a jock that can normally take a 75-1 shot to the winners circle. The pace of the race was ridiculous and i can guarantee you that if that race is run another 10 times, Martial Eagle will probably not place in the top 4. Credit to the trainer/jock/stable/owners as they did what is required but you kidding yourself if you think this result is due ot the form/quality of the horse. The other/better horses made a mistake by letting the pace stay so slow for so long.

Richie77 Wrote:

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> Hard to even think Martial Eagle would get close.
> He had a terrible draw, had never gone the
> distance so hard to know if he would stay, and to
> be honest Aldo is not exactly a jock that can
> normally take a 75-1 shot to the winners circle.
> The pace of the race was ridiculous and i can
> guarantee you that if that race is run another 10
> times, Martial Eagle will probably not place in
> the top 4. Credit to the
> trainer/jock/stable/owners as they did what is
> required but you kidding yourself if you think
> this result is due ot the form/quality of the
> horse. The other/better horses made a mistake by
> letting the pace stay so slow for so long.


Your sentiments are perhaps true if racing was a sport run on paper. Its a gamble, thats why there are bookies and punters. Horse racing is not about form/quality of a horse, its a culmination of variances and tactics. Saying that M.E. would not run in the placing if the race was run 10 times over is harsh imo. You rekcon if the race was run 10 times over, only the form horses would fill the 1st 4 places in an unchanged order?

I guess Pomodoro isnt one of the "other/better" horses you refer to either? As I recall, it was Pomodoro that set the pace.

Probably an over exageration at 10 races but I am confident it would not win again very easily. Pomodoro took the lead too early and it cost him the race, but had no option. Striker saw the threat of the crawl and took initiative, and perhaps was a bad decision in hindsight. Had he waited an extra 100m the result could have been very different.

As I said not taking anything away from ME but even racing comes down to the age old saying of form is temporary, class is permanent. Bravura ran a short head behind Igugu a year ago. ME would not get close to Igugu. The race suited ME and everything was perfect for the victory. The chance of it happening again would be very very slim.

gregbucks Wrote:

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> You raise an interesting point Orange, but i
> wonder how Variety Club would of done if he had
> raced in the met??


GB....imvho I think he would have won by a good few lengths......

JustinV Wrote:

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> met at the weights was supposed to finish
>
> beach beauty,martial eagle,jackson,pomodoro..wasnt
> far off
>
> the only thing was the queens plate run looked
> like a flash in the pan from martial eagle,but if
> he repeated it he was always a huge runner

In the Green Point he raced about three wide, sitting behind Bravura, the latter fell in a hole finishing tailed off, while Martial Eagle stayed on to finish only 5,85 lengths behind Variety Club at level weights.

That was the run where Yogas realised he was decent, although in his start prior to that Martial had finished only 2,4 behind Variety Club at level weights over 1400 beating the likes of Princess Victoria, Master Plan etc.

The Queen's Plate run was no fluke and Yogas had in fact predicted it to the press prior to the race.

Tipster Wrote:

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> JustinV Wrote:
>

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>

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>
> The Queen's Plate run was no fluke and Yogas had
> in fact predicted it to the press prior to the
> race.


He didnt tell me anything

Yogas I doubt any clanners think Martial Eagles win was a fluke!
Imo its very hard to fluke a Gr1 win,no matter what any1 says!!!!
Most of us,imo, r irrit8d with ourselves for not noticing Martials prep and having a go with him.
I am pissed of with myself because I only noticed how good his QP run when I saw the replay 2day.lol.
Congrats mate, and may the GR1's keep coming season in and season out.

Press Wrote:

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> Tipster Wrote:
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>

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> > JustinV Wrote:
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>
> >

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>
> >
> > The Queen's Plate run was no fluke and Yogas
> had
> > in fact predicted it to the press prior to the
> > race.
>
>
> He didnt tell me anything


hahaha...you weren't listening....