Whobegotyou: almost Pegasus
September 13th 2010 06:31
This preparation Whobegotyou is flying.
Quite literally (or so it seems).
Look at these three sequential frames taken by Neil Murray at Moonee Valley on Saturday and you will see that Whobegotyou is airborne in each photograph. Flying.
(photos: Neil Murray)
Neil Murray Photography
Whobegotyou loves Moonee Valley.
Five of his eight career wins have come at this unique Melbourne racetrack that does not suit all horses. But it certainly suits Whobe.
Whobegotyou has only once been defeated at Moonee Valley, this being in the 2009 WS Cox Plate won by fellow superstar So You Think. Whobegotyou was beaten 3.9 lengths and pulled up sore - not such a terrible performance considering that this event produced the best speedfigures for any race in Australia in racing year 2009-2010.
The first time Whobegotyou would race at Moonee Valley was in June 2008 when he would, in customary fashion, come from the tail of the field to defeat the handy performer Georgia’s Boy - and a horse named Heart Of Dreams who was having its first start. An impressive win - though I did remark to clients that Heart Of Dreams had no luck and was a very impressive individual.
Whobegotyou was then unlucky twice at Caulfield in Group Three events after finding no galloping room. In September he returned to Moonee Valley again for his first test over 1600 metres in the Group Two Stutt Stakes. This was an early benchmark speed (speedratings) performance from the Street Cry gelding as he sat near last and wide after being hampered on jumping away. But it was the electrifying sprint around the field that caught the attention of all as he picked up, then passed, quality horses as though they were fixtures. At his next start he was tried over the Cox Plate trip at Moonee Valley of 2040 metres and he produced a further improvement in his speedfigures. Subsequently he started a very short priced favourite in the Victoria Derby and was defeated by the exceptional staying talent of Rebel Raider (though nobody knew this at the time and Rebel Raider started at 100/1).
Whobegotyou would not race again at Moonee Valley until September 2009 - 11 months after his last appearance there, and 11 months since his last win. Back again at Moonee Valley he won the Group Two Feehan/ Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes from Mic Mac. The 2009 Cox Plate followed.
In 2010 Whobegotyou returned to Moonee Valley for the first time this year and very impressively won the Group Two Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600 metres) by 2 lengths, defeating Horse Of The Year Typhoon Tracy; with Shoot Out running third.
It was vintage Whobe as jockey Michael Rodd sat back and trailed Typhoon Tracy - in a change of riding tactics being ridden back in the field - as she led him up to the leaders on turning. The mare was no match and Whobegotyou had a comfortable win. I am not convinced that riding Typhoon Tracy back is in her best interests as it does nullify the distinct advantage she does have of possessing a high cruising speed. It is worth the experiment, but I would personally prefer her to revert to her role of domination from the front.
Moonee Valley suits some horses more than others. Although derided for its very short home straight, it is nonetheless a very demanding circuit. Frontrunners are not usually advantaged there as jockeys always make moves down the long straight from the 800 metres to the home turn to be right in the action. A leader may be subjected to intense and unrelenting pressure if they do not have the challengers off the bit and out of their comfort zone chasing. And it is this very nature of the early pressure building into a race that makes Moonee Valley such a suitable track for Whobegotyou. He can wind up with one long and unrelenting run that reels off impressive sectionals over 800 metres.
As much as soreness played a part in Whobegotyou’s Cox Plate defeat in 2009 it is also the fact that So You Think, running quick sectionals down the back, had all of his rivals pressured to stay in touch rather than building momentum.
Whobegotyou is flying this campaign. His clash with So You Think in the 2010 Cox Plate is a tantalising rematch.
Quite literally (or so it seems).
Look at these three sequential frames taken by Neil Murray at Moonee Valley on Saturday and you will see that Whobegotyou is airborne in each photograph. Flying.
Whobegotyou races up to (on his inside) Typhoon Tracy; Precedence; and Shoot Out
Whobegotyou surges clear with Michael Rodd giving full encouragement
Whobegotyou - still without a hoof on the ground - comes away to win
(photos: Neil Murray)
Neil Murray Photography
Whobegotyou loves Moonee Valley.
Five of his eight career wins have come at this unique Melbourne racetrack that does not suit all horses. But it certainly suits Whobe.
Whobegotyou has only once been defeated at Moonee Valley, this being in the 2009 WS Cox Plate won by fellow superstar So You Think. Whobegotyou was beaten 3.9 lengths and pulled up sore - not such a terrible performance considering that this event produced the best speedfigures for any race in Australia in racing year 2009-2010.
The first time Whobegotyou would race at Moonee Valley was in June 2008 when he would, in customary fashion, come from the tail of the field to defeat the handy performer Georgia’s Boy - and a horse named Heart Of Dreams who was having its first start. An impressive win - though I did remark to clients that Heart Of Dreams had no luck and was a very impressive individual.
Whobegotyou was then unlucky twice at Caulfield in Group Three events after finding no galloping room. In September he returned to Moonee Valley again for his first test over 1600 metres in the Group Two Stutt Stakes. This was an early benchmark speed (speedratings) performance from the Street Cry gelding as he sat near last and wide after being hampered on jumping away. But it was the electrifying sprint around the field that caught the attention of all as he picked up, then passed, quality horses as though they were fixtures. At his next start he was tried over the Cox Plate trip at Moonee Valley of 2040 metres and he produced a further improvement in his speedfigures. Subsequently he started a very short priced favourite in the Victoria Derby and was defeated by the exceptional staying talent of Rebel Raider (though nobody knew this at the time and Rebel Raider started at 100/1).
Whobegotyou would not race again at Moonee Valley until September 2009 - 11 months after his last appearance there, and 11 months since his last win. Back again at Moonee Valley he won the Group Two Feehan/ Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes from Mic Mac. The 2009 Cox Plate followed.
In 2010 Whobegotyou returned to Moonee Valley for the first time this year and very impressively won the Group Two Dato’Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600 metres) by 2 lengths, defeating Horse Of The Year Typhoon Tracy; with Shoot Out running third.
It was vintage Whobe as jockey Michael Rodd sat back and trailed Typhoon Tracy - in a change of riding tactics being ridden back in the field - as she led him up to the leaders on turning. The mare was no match and Whobegotyou had a comfortable win. I am not convinced that riding Typhoon Tracy back is in her best interests as it does nullify the distinct advantage she does have of possessing a high cruising speed. It is worth the experiment, but I would personally prefer her to revert to her role of domination from the front.
Moonee Valley suits some horses more than others. Although derided for its very short home straight, it is nonetheless a very demanding circuit. Frontrunners are not usually advantaged there as jockeys always make moves down the long straight from the 800 metres to the home turn to be right in the action. A leader may be subjected to intense and unrelenting pressure if they do not have the challengers off the bit and out of their comfort zone chasing. And it is this very nature of the early pressure building into a race that makes Moonee Valley such a suitable track for Whobegotyou. He can wind up with one long and unrelenting run that reels off impressive sectionals over 800 metres.
As much as soreness played a part in Whobegotyou’s Cox Plate defeat in 2009 it is also the fact that So You Think, running quick sectionals down the back, had all of his rivals pressured to stay in touch rather than building momentum.
Whobegotyou is flying this campaign. His clash with So You Think in the 2010 Cox Plate is a tantalising rematch.
To prove that Whobegotyou is not actually a flying horse here is a frame that clearly shows one leg firmly on the ground
| 89 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
