Champions are purely created in the eyes of the beholder. the start of this thread is critical of the views of the current day champion claims yet then goes on to basically in #19 to label one horse from a bygone era as such and then commit the cardinal sin of comparing horses of different eras.
IMO each era has its champions but each is only a champion when the meet the individual criteria of the person claiming them to be such...i.e.
Horses that I may consider to be champions will often be not in the eyes of many here and elsewhere. Also horses of different eras will be champions in their era but often are not considered so by others who no little of their exploits.
I believe that what makes a champion is based on beating the very best opposition over varied distances at any circuit. that doesn't mean they are unbeaten. Often the best performance in a race is not by the winner.
I also firmly believe that champions come on age group racing. Courage Under Fire when unbeaten in first 24 starts at 2, 3 and 4 winning the races he did against the opposition against himon both sides of the ditch qualifies him for champ status.
Horses I have seen and consider to be of champion status....
Cardigan Bay, Bret Hanover, Artsplace, Niatross, Robin Dundee, Popular Alm, Delightful Lady, Blossom Lady, Paleface Adios, Pure Steel, Courage Under Fire, Christian Cullen and never forget Blackie, ITMQ and Trigger. Along with trotters Varenne, Lyall Creek, Merinai, Maori's Idol, Waggon Apollo, True Roman, Muscles Yankee, Muscle Hill along with some others. They are all horses from different countries winning in different eras against the highest level of opposition fielded against them.
As for horses racing today....
Terror to Love. Although he has not shown Australian his best in the flesh he has met and beaten what we have put up against him in new Zealand along with the odd Aussie visitor to NZ. It should be noted that horses he has beaten here have gone to Oz and beaten the best Australia has put up. That his greatest triumphs of 3 victories in Austalasia's toughest test puts him in champions status.
Christen Me. His record in a relatively short career speaks for itself, as listed previously, clearly puts him in champion status. Basically the only GC race he has competed in and is yet to win are NZ Cup.
He has beaten the best and done so often with relative ease. Last nights Victoria Cup was rightfully claimed by many to be the gathering of the very cream of Austalasian pacing talent with IMO 2 exceptions. Whilst I accept 2 were missing, IMO they may not have been able to prevent the prevailing result and how it was achieved.
Adore Me is, IMO absolutely a champion. She may not have raced against the males often but when she has, hers is usually the run of the race bringing 2 GROUP 1 wins and several placings against our best male pacers. She is nigh well unbeatable against her own sex and racing against them is not a barrier to stardom as per age racing. Her connections have made the choice to not race in the Interdominions but rather the ladyship Mile on Finals day. That will afford those there to witness possibly two undisputable champions crowned on that star day.
As far as the aussies go Beautide is the next closest thing to a champ there. I can't really offer an opinion outright as I have seen little of him other than his MM and Interdom victories. and those two alone put him right up there.
As I say a champion is in the eyes of the beholder and your champ may not be mine and vice versa.
This is a sturdy debate thread which belies the title IMO. Keep it up.
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