You're right Eric. I don't think that NSWHRC can lose , no matter how TTL runs in the Cordina Sprint. BTW , I hope he wins or if not , is invited anyway :-) He is real class.
What? You've totally contradicted yourself there. Smoken Up has ran 2nd s and a 3rd at his last three attempts at the NZ Cup and is the fastest horse in the Southern Hemishere. How is that chalk and cheese? Both TTL and SU should have immediately received an invite after the NZ Cup. It would be a travisty if TTL loses on Sturday night and misses a start in the Miracle Mile. What will NSWHRC do then?
I dont see how I have contradicted myself at all. A 3200m standing start race to a 1609m mobile race is chalk and cheese is anyones language. Smoken Up is brilliant enough and adaptable enough to be competitive in the top class over both starts types and distances, his record shows that. However Terror To Love's records show he has only won the one race over a mile, and all his recent form is over standing start races over 2400m +, so why should that constitute an automatic invite for the Miracle Mile? They don't give an invite to the Melbourne Cup winner in the thoroughbred world to compete in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong sprint.
I hope he is as good over the mile as you think he may be because the Miracle Mile could do with an X factor and a NZ representative for some more excitment, but I can hardly see how it would be a travesty if he missed a place in the Cordina sprint on Saturday and failed to gain an invite. If the horse cant place against that field on Saturday night in the Cordina sprint then how the hell can it win the Miracle Mile against a stronger field the following week?
If they decided to drive Terror To Love a bit 'ugly' over the Mile he would be something to contend with...I've no doubt about that. Genuine stayers always are.
Yeah if he gains a start I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the mix. A long straight and fast pace will ensure everything gets their chance. Not trying to get the NZ'ers here off side with my posts above, but I think it was the right call not to issue an invite to him soley on his NZ cup win, I'm not for a second doubting the horse's ability itself. For what its worth I think he'll place on Saturday night and gain an invite, therefore a lot of conjecture here over nothing.
Of course a 3200m standing start is different to a 1609m mobile! But the same horses run in these 2 types of races, unlike the thoroughbreds. And yes, he should give a good account of himself on Saturday night, if not win it. But what if he gets skittled. Does NSWHRC make hippocrites of themselves and put him in anyway?
And what about Highview Tommy? His run in the NZ Cup was actually more impressive than TTL's. No clamouring for a run for him?
TTL may have only won one 1609m race but you must remember he is only 4. Smoken Up is what 10? how many attempts has he had at running over the mile unlike TTL whos only had a few