Hall Of Fame - Horse 1 Discussion

[markwales]

Morning all,

As we've now had the first 4 classics of this season, I thought that we may want to start discussing certain horses chances of making it into the Hall Of Fame.

I am looking for reasons why a horse SHOULD get in, and also reasons why the particluar horse we're discussing should NOT get in. A bit like Room 101. If the case is good enough after we've discussed the merits, then it'll get in. If not, it doesn't !!

Rather than looking simply at RR's, I would like to us to look at what races a horse has won, variety of distances, variety of grounds, and most importanly WHAT has it beaten?

A horse may win several Group 1 races, but it may have beaten sub standard horses in the process. This is key. To get in the HoF you need to have raced and beaten the best consistently.

OK, onto the first horse I would like us to discuss.

Big George - BBF Stable

Record - Run 8 - Won 6 - 2nd 2 - 75% Win - 100% Placed

I'll post my pro's and Cons for Big George shortly.

Once this discussion has run it's course and a decision has been made, we'll move on to another horse.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Mark.

[Workshy]

Pro's:

- Won the Grp2 Royal Lodge Stakes, easily beating Buck The Trend, Rocket Queen & Queen Of Diamonds, very much franked form.

- Won a Grp 1 Open Mile, bashing Picksixtrix by 6 lengths who has since gone on to win the Irish guineas by 6 lengths.

- Won 3 Group 1 races.

Con's:

- Very easy to place (3 grounds)

- Maybe won weak guineas?

- He's not in my stable :D

[markwales]

Big George - Hall Of Fame Candidate

I'll asses his Group 1 wins.

Season 1 - Week 9 - Group 1 Open Mile
BG won this comfortably by just over 3 lengths from Pegasus who has not really shone since, but certainly has the potential should he train on at 4. I think the beating of Picksixtrix back into 3rd was a big boost to his HoF chances. Although this was only PST's 2nd visit to the track, we have seen since that he is a quality horse. So a good first Group 1 win for BG in my opinion.

Season 2 - Week 3 - 2000 Guineas
A small but select field turned out for the 2000 Guineas, and BG did his HoF chances no harm whatsoever by beating the Season 1 Mile champion 'Buck The Trend' convincingly by 4 lengths. He only just failed to beat BTT in the Mile Championship race, and overturning the form was on the cards, but all the same this was a very good performance putting up a decent 111 RR.

Season 2 - Week 4 - Irish 2000 Guineas
He only just scraped home here from horses that really wouldn't have troubled him during season 1, is the bubble about to burst? His ½l win from Crackling in 2nd wasn't the best Group 1 win we'll ever see. Crackling was running in Group company for the first time, and put up a very good performance to get so close to the winner. Not a great Group 1 win, and for me a negative that he didn't win by further.

Other positives
His Wins:Runs % of 75% is superb
Never out of the top 2 in any of his races
Consistent RR's over 100 in his last 6 races
Winnings of £10,350 in his career so far.

Other negatives
He's only ever won over a mile, and so is not proven over distances
His 120 RR seems to be a one off, Can he re-produce this again?
Hasn't won on any going which has been firmer than Good.

I won't say just yet whether I think he should go into the Hall Of Fame or not….I'm waiting for some other peoples thoughts before making a firm decision.

Mark.

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Big George is without doubt one of the best colts over a mile, but the First season crop was not the strongest. Buck the Trend was probably the only real threat and both horses stayed clear of each other most of the time and although BTT got the upper hand at the end of Season 1, Big George overturned the form in Season 2. Our own Rose of Oldham managed to scrape home in front of Big George last season and most of the Season 1 fillies have trained on past her. He may be Hall of Fame material, but he needs to win in open company at the highest level this season and into next season to get my vote.

[Onlyforfun]

Guineas were a bit weak due to the going being a problem for some of the other contenders (Shiny Silver & Buck the Trend spring to mind), but as I always say, you can only beat whats put in front of you. Won both Irish and UK though which is no mean feat.Don't see the fact that he only on over 1m as a negative, but the fact he won't run on anything firmer than good keeps him out of the way of some classy horses.

My opinion, close, but still got a wee bit to prove. Definately a future contender though.

[presto]

well i may be a bit biased here, but if BIG GEORGE can't get in the hall of fame, then show me a more deserving horse.

he has the best record in the game:
Record - Run 8 - Won 6 - 2nd 2 - 75% Win - 100% Placed
won 3 group 1 races.
the biggest £££ earner in the game,
Won both Irish and UK Guineas,

to adress the negatives:
-he has never won when going has been firmer than good.
o.k. he dosn't like the firm ground, but as he can beat all who oppose him on the going good, all the way to heavy, i don't see this as a big issue.

-only won over a mile:
let's see what happens if he step's up to 1m4 :wink

[Onlyforfun]

well i may be a bit biased here, but if BIG GEORGE can't get in the hall of fame, then show me a more deserving horse.

he has the best record in the game:
Record - Run 8 - Won 6 - 2nd 2 - 75% Win - 100% Placed
won 3 group 1 races.
the biggest £££ earner in the game,
Won both Irish and UK Guineas,

to adress the negatives:
-he has never won when going has been firmer than good.
o.k. he dosn't like the firm ground, but as he can beat all who oppose him on the going good, all the way to heavy, i don't see this as a big issue.

-only won over a mile:
let's see what happens if he step's up to 1m4 :wink
Biased? Never!!!:laugh

Changed my mind from nearly to yes after that impassioned plea! Would have preferred to have seen a horse that had caught the imagination of the Sim-public in there first though (wonder who I have in mind???:rolleyes: )

[markwales]

No doubt we'll be talking about her soon enough OFF :wink

[Workshy]

To be fair, I'd be hard pushed to name a more deserving horse, on that alone Big George should go in. :)

Edit: Having said that, I think he could well get found out from now on and will be mediorce in seasons 3 & 4. :icon_tong

[samantha1303]

Big George certainly appears to be one of the best

[Onlyforfun]

A further thought. When the stable owner refuses pre-race or post-race interviews it can come as no surprise when the Sim Public are ambivalent towards a horse. BG merely turns up, races and disappears back to the top-secret stable whence he came.:hearty

If I had a horse that good in my stable :rolleyes: , you would all hear a lot more about it!

[Workshy]

I think he's gonna get bashed big time in the forthcoming Queen Anne Stakes. I agree with OFF, join in the banter! :D