Re: Churchill Works (641 Views)
Posted by:
mjellish (IP Logged)
Date: April 18, 2015 11:31AM
What do you think is weird about them. The times?
Time isn't the best judge of a work. It's how they do it, and how they come out of it that matters more than anything else.
In Star's Case he went 12.48, 25.0, 37.28, 49.49, 101.77 out in a little under 115. So the work went slower early and faster late (note the last 1/8th faster than the first one) as he drew off from his over matched workmate without being really urged. Nice work for a late running colt. Maybe would have liked to have seen him gallop out a little stronger but that's always tough to read depending upon stable intent. Personally, I like to see them gallop out strongly at CD with another extra 1/8 in 12.8 or so when the jock isn't asking them to. If you want to see a video of a near perfect work like this style of slower early, faster late see if you can find one of Animal Kingdom's last work before the KY Derby.
Moon's work was completely different. He went 11.42, 22.48, 34.09, 45.68, 58.05 out in 112.2 or so. So he went fast early and slowed down later, his workmate actually out finished him and he shut down quickly during the gallop out. This type of fast early, slow later work is more typical of a front running type, which he really isn't. In my experience when a late running horse suddenly shows early speed in the AM it can be a sign that the horse is particularly sharp right now if they still finish strongly, or that the stable is changing tactics and planning to send him. But in any case you would probably want to see him finish up better than he did. The splits would seem to indicate that this was a hard stiff work that got him tired. If you want to see a perfect work like this one of a fast early worker that doesn't slow down late see if you can find a video of Barbaro's last work before the KD.
Typically, for a race like the KD I would rather see a work like Star's than Moon's, with a stronger finish than start and a good gallop out to indicate the work didn't take much out of him and the horse had lots of energy. But horses are individuals and they all don't work and act the same in the AM. Some are lazy and need the competition of a race to get them going, and some are great in the morning but get intimidated by other horses and don't run as well in the afternoon.
Works just part of the picture. But have to take the time of he work in the context of how it was accomplished. And Derby winners typically aren't out finished by their workmates.