Mental Mordin

[The Duke]

Just been having a browse through his website, and have to admit I'm absolutely shocked by what I have read regarding Canford Cliffs.

I just can't see how he's seeing these things, when I and almost everyone I know are seeing the absolute opposite.

Quote:

CANFORD CLIFFS (40) threw his head around wildly against the slow early pace then settled into a better rhythm when the gallop picked up sharply at halfway. He surged forwards after the two furlong marker but you could see him change his legs in the dip where his jockey said he didn't want to lengthen when he asked him due to the firm ground. Trainer Richard Hannon has said several times that he's worried about firm ground for Canford Cliffs as he's such a top heavy horse. Now that the horse is three and presumably bigger this has to be more of a concern. After this run and seeing the way Canford Cliffs shifted his ground in the Greenham it's likely he'd benefit from a softer surface. Then again Canford Cliffs has run really big in his two starts this season on fast ground, so let's not be too hasty about forming judgements. He's only been beaten by Dick Turpin and Makfi, and it's clear they are both top class horses. It is also worth noting that Canford Cliffs has finished full of run in both his starts this season. It could be he's wanting to go up to ten furlongs. Certainly he's appreciate a stronger early pace than he's encountered in his two starts this term. And the stiff uphill finish at Ascot should be a plus for him if he shoots for the St James's Palace Stakes which is his next intended target. It may also be that running around a turn will help him as it will ensure he gets more cover and isn't tempted to pull hard or hang as he has this term. Physically Canford Cliffs is most unlike the vast majority of horses by his sire Tagula. So I think it's significant that pretty much everything on his dam's side stayed ten furlongs or more. If he were mine I'd be making the Eclipse Stakes his big target as it's an event that usually goes to a horse that's shown smart form over less then ten furlongs that same season. Leaving a step up to ten furlongs as an afterthought to his season in the Champion Stakes could prove a costly mistake. An even bigger one would be for Canford Cliffs' connections to listen to all those siren voices telling them the horse needs to cut back to six furlongs. That's just plain daft in my opinion. Hopefully firm ground won't be a limiting factor for Canford Cliffs as there's likely to be nothing but firm ground for all his potential big targets this Summer. My thinking right now is he'll act on it fine. If it does prove a problem then there's always the big Autumn races where softer ground is more likely.

What the hell.

[Manchesterskytrain]

doesn't seem as crazy now, if i had been on another planet(like Mr Mordin perhaps), and just stumbled in to the Curragh on saturday i wouldn't be doubting he would be even better over 10 furlongs, and judged on how relaxed he went through the race even 12furlongs, seemed to be full of it at the end of this 1 mile.
Probably the most interesting horse in training with so many opinions generated in such short career so far.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Manchesterskytrain

doesn't seem as crazy now, if i had been on another planet(like Mr Mordin perhaps), and just stumbled in to the Curragh on saturday i wouldn't be doubting he would be even better over 10 furlongs, and judged on how relaxed he went through the race even 12furlongs, seemed to be full of it at the end of this 1 mile. Probably the most interesting horse in training with so many opinions generated in such short career so far.

I can't see how for the life of me a horse that travels this good with such a potent turn of foot can be effective over a correctly run 10 or 12f race. I just don't see it, a mile yes but certainly not 10f and I love the horse very dearly (he ain't far from taking over as my favourite from ole GC).

His dosage profile suggests he'll do well over a longer trip though so I guess it is all down to personal interpretation of the horse, this is why the game is so great because it all comes down to opinions.

[Spook]

There ain't really enough information in his dosage profile to take an informed read with just 10 points distributed (I've got a feeling it was 6 last year!!! have they added a chef?). If you took it literally he'd run in the Derby as he's spot on the 12F optimum but there's no way he'd handle Epsom. I half wonder if Hannon has thought about Chantilly mind you? The pick of the French 3yo's tend to be aiming at the Gp du Paris these days, and with a decent draw and better chance of encountering a muddling pace he'd certainly stand a chance. I'd be more inclined to try and get a 10F classic on the ledger than the St James Palace myself, but in reality there's not a cat in hells chance he'll go to France as I'm sure they'll only be looking at Ascot next and nothing more than that