Interesting to note all the so called(albeit self endowed)experts have now sacked El Segundo on his run at Caulfield.Also interesting that Richard Freedman & co. reckon RTW is the best horse in OZ.
What a load of crap.What has he beaten?Has he raced the opposite direction?Has he won over 2000 mtrs?Has he had any experience on the tricky Moonee Valley circuit?Lohnro couldn't win there,and at this stage of his racing career,I would not put him in Lohnro's class(yet).
ES has shown a liking for the MV 2000 trip,and IMO was not primed enough at Caulfield.It will be a different story come Cox Plate.
Wherever they finish,IMO ES will be ahead of RTW.
Feel free to bag me.
Especially all you one eyed cockroaches.
P.S.
Don't forget John O'Shea is a QLD'er.
Just wish they would take Gauci off.

I tend to agree with this statement. After his defeat I went looking for possible reasons and found it interesting to compare his preparations this year and last.

2005

14/8 Flemington 1200
28/8 Werribee 1410
10/9 M Valley 1600
23/9 M Valley 2040
8/10 Caulfield 2000 (Yalumba)

2006

12/8 Flemington 1200
2/9 Caulfield 1400
23/9 Caulfield 1800
14/10 Caulfield 2000 (Yalumba)

Last year he had four runs prior to the Yalumba with the backup time for each race between 13-15 days.

This year he has only had three runs prior to the Yalumba and each was off a three week backup. I think I read/heard somewhere that his preparation this year was supposedly better because it was less rushed but I am wondering if indeed the horse has attained the same fitness levels as last year, given the (apparently) lighter preparation.

This is pure speculation of course and the truth may simply be that the horse had an off day.

wunfluova

How I love these "match" races - neither of them will win

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Wunfluova,

I think this was the game plan all along,trying to read between the lines that is.

3 weeks between runs,had a soft workout on the Tuesday before the Yalumba.

Never lose focus that the Cox Plate has always been the cherry this prep,and he will be ready for all comers on that day.

Still think he would have been competitive in the CC had they chosen that path.

Just wish Ollie or Boss or Beadman were on him,Gauci seems to be lacking so much confidence these days.

El Segundo last run:

Someone suggested to have a look at the video of his last run because the suggestion was the horse lost interest in the race on the turn [started to run wide and look around from there]. He clearly lost interest in the race on the turn. Fitness wasn't an issue.

I think we will see blinkers in the cox plate and nothing will beat him.

looks like a race that could be pinched, so might just back whatever c williams is on, probably foo at this stage?

FOO is my bet too.

Proven to handle the track distance and class, the only query is fitness.

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I'll bet my bottom dollar if he doesn't win he runs a place, and will probably be better place value than ES or RTW for the win.

This is a horse which was only beaten 1.5lengths last Saturday in a G1 event.

Age shall not weary them

His record in the Cox Plate

Beaten 6.9L behind Northerly
Won beating Lonhro
2nd to Savabeel (1 length)
3rd to Makybe Diva (1.4 lengths)

1 win and 2 placings from 4 starts in a Cox Plate.

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your opinion, im sure uve been wrong before & will be again, now as for myself.....

Stugouts and Chrome,
No offence intended with my comment about FOO.
I didn't mean it to sound dismissive to your opinions,and yes,I have been wrong many times before,and no doubt will be again!
I just don't think he can do it again .For your sake,I hope I'm wrong,for my sake,I hope I'm right!