A few weeks ago, regular expert columnist, Justin Cinque wrote an article extolling the virtues and promise of Exosphere. He even went as far as giving the colt has a presence that reminded him of his sire, the champion Lonhro.
High praise indeed!
Justin’s comments preceded last Saturday’s demolition in the Roman Consul and his article is well worth the read if you missed it.
Over the last few years Justin and I have disagreed on some issues here and there but I’ve always done so with the greatest of respect – even though some of my written comments may appear blunt.
This time, Justin is leading the way with me panting behind trying to keep up.
And this time we are on not only on the same page, we are in the same paragraph and even in the same sentence!
Justin tagged his article by suggesting Exosphere is very capable of winning an open-age weight-for-age event as his father did as a spring 3 year-old in the Warwick Stakes (G2).
I’ll go one further and suggest after last Saturday’s 3 year-old Group 2 victory that this horse, barely 3 years old (D.O.B: 25-Aug-2012), is the best sprinter in the world right now!
I’ve loved the ‘game-of-thrones’ that Terravista, Lankan Rupee, and Chautauqua, plus occasional competitor Brazen Beau, have played over the last 18 months but they now have been usurped by a baby giant both in physicality and performance.
To me, he really is that good and with the seasoning he is receiving in this preparation, who knows how good he will become.
This equine kid is something very, very, very special.
Will he be as good as the black mare? At the moment, I really don’t know, but I’d love to find out.
If Godolphin wimp away to contesting inferior 3 year-old Group races, it proves nothing. He already is the best by a widening margin.
The international community will say ‘Geez whiz, they say this Australian sprinter is better than anything since Black Caviar but then again, they say that every year, and the last couple haven’t been that good.’
Will Godolphin miss the chance to establish this horse in the very top echelon of Australian sprinter-milers as Justin pointed out?
The royal blue should make every effort to establish him as one of their greats with age defying open competition.
If he loses a bit of gloss by not measuring up, drop him back to the original plan – nothing lost.
His bloodlines are still top-class and his service fee won’t be diminished but if he were to climb Everest who knows what he would command at stud.
For the record, I agree with Justin about the ‘miler’ comment. He would have bludgeoned this Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas field into the ground without so much as a heavy breath and done so from the outside gate if necessary; no worries.
There is nothing for Godolphin to be scared of except bad luck. I know John O’Shea has never walked away from a contest.
I also know the boss of Godolphin, HRH Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a lover of champions and had a soft spot for the incomparable Dubai Millennium.
I hope he gives this youngster a chance to prove himself on the international stage. Sheikh Mohammed might even develop a soft spot for this giant as he sets about demolishing the world’s best (if he is allowed).
I like many lovers of the thoroughbred sport hope Godolphin embarks on a global adventure with Exosphere, under the care of John O’Shea (no point in changing horses in midstream), he will prove himself to be exceptional, I have no doubt.
Well found Justin, and also John O’Shea who never doubted what he had on his hands.
The Doctor
Guest
I'm getting flashbacks to Zoustar being talked up as the best sprinter in the world. I always wait till I see the 3yos measure up outside their own age group before getting too carried away. Punters got seriously burnt recently by the Petits Filous hype. She smashed the fillies only to find out how much harder it is against the tried and true. Don't get me wrong. Exosphere does look a serious talent. But how about we wait till he (or at least some of this 3yo crop) take on open company before declaring them superior.
kv joef
Roar Guru
Sorry JNL, drifted off. I would think both the Newmarket and TJSmith are on his radar but these days if you prentend to be a champion sprinter-miler you don't get any cred unless you do it in both hemispheres. how about you doing an appraisal of the Euros coming south. of coarse everything we say has the caveat of .... oh #hit i shouldn't have said that :) i'm tellin ya, he (exosphere - excluding the black mare) is the best we will ever send north :)
johny bulldog
Guest
Gota luv racing-thanks for all ur contributions guys i love exosphere can't wait to get more analytical with u guys in the future much respect now get to bed-gota get up early to get the scratchings!
kv joef
Roar Guru
you sure did phil ... couldn't remember whether it was you or adam that earmarked those kembla performances of exopshere and english(?) so you weren't forgot. Patience phil ... i can hear a chorus building on the roar. trust in JOS, and i'm not talking about Joss Stone either. That GF at the end of the carnival ... the darley ? ... i'm just trying to remember who owns darley. as Cam hinted ... the big X could take two in a week, the Coolmore and Darley and that type of double would put him on the map in no uncertain terms.
BrisburghPhil
Roar Guru
I think I extolled his virtues pre Golden Slippper on here for the times he had run to that point. Then he ran a stinker in the Golden Slipper and I haven't forgiven him for it yet. It really borders on pathetic that his horse isn't in the Cauflield Guineas or didn't take on the older horses in the Sir Rupert Clarke. His times this Spring tell us he is something out of the ordinary, but so what- he isn't beating the best.
kv joef
Roar Guru
"... herd of cows..." --- 101 on how to make friends and influence people LOL. and justin don't forget four ... 4) he goes Whooooooosh! pretty good...
Justin Cinque
Expert
I was very frank in my Exosphere article. I think - Exosphere aside - it was a poor Group 1, the Golden Rose. I like Exosphere for reasons other than who he has been beating: 1. His remarkable presence for an early 3yo 2. His amazing turn of foot at Group level 3. His resemblance in many ways to Lonhro I haven't seen a colt like Exosphere before. That's why I think he's special.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Rageese ran an honest three length fourth in the Golden Rose, and he'll run an honest race tomorrow, and could finish anywhere from third to eighth. My point is, if beating him by three lengths is all it takes to be called a champion, then we're in trouble. Press Statement has the race set up perfectly for him last start, by Rageese, so you can argue there's only a couple of lengths between them. Say Press Statement doesn't find trouble in the GR, we can say he'd finish a length behind Exosphere. That all ties in together (I'm making some jumps, but you get what I'm saying). He's an exciting talent, and I'm sure he rates highly. I can't wait to see him down the straight (hopefully twice) in Cup week. But I need more than a Golden Rose win, followed up by beating a herd of cows, to call him a champion. But, as KV says, there's no fun in making a pronouncement after the fact, so might as well get in early!
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
Visually very impressive, a massive horse. Is there talk that Godolphin are sending him international or just speculation? I thought there would be a lot bigger challenge contesting the big Ozzie sprints like the Newmarket Handicap
kv joef
Roar Guru
When i read your piece i was on the fence but had little case for argument with your appraisal. He had just come off a sub 1.22sec 1400m beating future G1 winner Speak Fondly (who also put it to him) so i though cool . i've always liked an analyst who is willing to say it before the hype starts. After all, its the racing game, we all get to be wrong but its nice something turns out right :) . another one of my little tests is that only really good horses can put together 2 v.quick racetimes (allowing his age/conditions) in succession in a relatively short time ... exosphere got faster. the 68.5s and ease of victory had my attention then i seen the splits and thought ... 'whaaaaat is this?' . great article/analysis ... but you are going to have to write something i can get uppity about otherwise readers will start to think we are getting too cosy :) . cheers.
kv joef
Roar Guru
I know JNL. but maybe, he'll probably only race next year and Godolphin may feel OShea deserves a chance at writing his name on the international results sheet. The stable hasn't missed a beat since he took over and he has more then proven himself with NthHemi horses. An indication of this is that they are letting him take Complacent towards the MCup (and rightly so) even though Saeed bin Suroor is bring out a most excellent chance at he weights. i am counting on the benevolence of the Arabs afterall OShea has earned the right and as i've said a few times his furnishing isn't finished yet and i'm sure Saeed bin Suroor would knows that. watch this johnny, allowing the pace carved for 1st 1000m was a sub 57sec and watch his acceleration from the 300m to 200m (Daily Sectionals give the 400-200m split as 10.72. He did that chasing a 57 ... some horse. http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/VideoResult.aspx?MeetDate=2015Oct03&VenueCode=ODY3OTk2&RaceNumber=4&MeetingCategory=Professional&VideoFileType=FullReplay (thx RacingNSW/Thoroughbred Central))
kv joef
Roar Guru
Thx cam, 'passionate' is my middle name ... but cash are my first and last names :) . To your Rageese proposition ... no, no, no ,no ,no ,no ,no ,no you don't ... LOL. in a fair fight i could never imagine a situation where Rageese could go one round with Exophere but if by some chance he figures tomorrow ... no his stablemate is a better horse. like i said in the post above ... a racing analyst shouldn't worry too much about who got beat, they should concern themselves with how they got beat. but i certainly take on board your observations and more than welcome a 'told you so' if the bud doesn't blossom. Gee, lucky i didn't start extolling the virtues of the baby Capitalise otherwise i really would have been hammered :) .
Justin Cinque
Expert
Nice write up kv. As I said to Tristan this morning, my tyres feel fully pumped. In all seriousness though, Exosphere is the most exciting horse in Australia. I hope he gets a chance to show everyone how good he really is before going to stud.
Justin Cinque
Expert
With respect Cam, when Rageese gets lapped tomorrow it won't take any gloss off Exosphere. Wouldn't it be just as prudent to take a line through Press Statement seeing as though Exosphere had his measure first up. I believe that the true measure of Exosphere's ability this spring will come when he races in the Darley Classic on Final Day. And then even more will be known in the autumn. He won't be declared a champion by me unless he goes on at 4 and maybe 5 and wipes the floor, preferably over many distances. And that is unlikely for many reasons. For now though Exosphere ranks highly in Australian racing.
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
History would suggest Kv that if Godolphin were to embark on international campaign they would change trainer a la Long John
kv joef
Roar Guru
James, both Justin and I are looking to the future and are confident about the eventual outcome ... and what sort of judge declares a G1 horse after he has won a G1 :) . Everyone maybe right about his early retirement but Dubai Millennium wasn't as he was allowed to prove his greatness with 3 undefeated starts at 4yrs ending with the Prince of Wales. Exosphere is good enough to win both the Jubilee and July Cup. Concerning id'ing future stars early, i do have both a mechanical method as well as subjective view. One aspect studied minutely is race pressure. commentators that i've heard or read have failed to mention that Japonisme, beautifully rated at top speed by Bowman, carved out the first 1000m of a 1200m race in sub 57sec figures and while the waller horse busted everything around him ... Exosphere basically said 'is that the best you've got'. Japonisme's performance plus his SUB 63s over 1100m a couple of starts earlier single him out as a coming high-class short-course horse ... bring on the Oakleigh Plate :) . As for Exosphere - thing about the OShea conditioning of sprinters is when they are properly seasoned they are tough, honest and run time under pressure like Racing to Win reminding v.much of TJSmith and Gai . Gee i hope they let him furnish this horse. As for his breeding prospects just line up the Green Dancer mares and charge whatever you want.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Love the passion KV, and always respect anything you and Justin have to say about anything horse racing, but give me a break. The horse he beat in the Roman Consul is a D-grader at best, and Japonisme is low B or high C-grade. Three year olds are pitched in at WFA, and I don't believe in such a thing as a Champion that is a three year old (as opposed to a "champion 3yo", a term that we shouldn't even have in the vocabulary). Let's see them at four, otherwise, all we're talking about is what might have been. Rageese is an honest type of horse. so we can use him to judge. Let's see how he goes in the Guineas, and line the Golden Rose up from it.
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
He isn't worthy of champion tag until he wins a top shelf Group 1 (fex like Haradasun). Sadly he will be cottoned off to stud most probably before realising his potential as a racehorse, so sad to say he will never get the opportunity.
aladdin sane
Guest
Love to see Exosphere turn out as a 4yo but it just won't happen, will it? Early to stud is ruining the sport for casual punters too, making it harder and harder to fall in love with a champion as they follow a racing career.
Razzar
Guest
With outstanding horses like Exosphere, it always takes one back to his super Dad Lohnro. Darren Beadman regarded his will to win was out there with the best. His turn-of-foot so consistent. Had lohnro handled the Valley and won a Cox Plate, he would be regarded in the top echelon ever in Australia. Lohnro, like many greats, put thier race to-bed between the 300 to 200 metre mark. That's what stamps them. Exosphere is clearly outstanding, A magnificent looking thoroughbred, that has a little more developing yet. He ran the 1200 last Saturday in 1.8.52. But raced like on a sight-seeing tour, covered ground, but when straightening it appeared as Exosphere hardly touched the turf with those huge strides. Exciting sprinter? You Betcha!