I don't think it's a matter of winning sprinting. I think it's a matter of showing extreme brilliance sprinting and then stretching out. Very few horses show 44 - 45 flat type brilliance in early season sprints and then go on to be classic horses. IMO, it's a special combination to be able to go that fast and continue running 10F without slowly deteriorating form.

Smarty was a terrific exception.

Some others have won sprinting because they were so much better than their competition, but they didn't really show that kind of excellent sprint fraction brilliance.

There are always exceptions, but if you were going to build a profile of a 10F prospect, I don't think Declan's races would fit it. He's impressive. I just wouldn't look to play him in the Derby futures. :-)



Post Edited (11-23-04 10:16)