When a jockey does his homework! INCREDIBLE ride from Mickael Barzalona 😮

Take a bow, Mickael Barzalona! Check out this amazing ride at Saint-Cloud which saw him switch across the track twice to take Listed honours aboard the Waldemar Hickst-trained Normfliegerin...

[@RyanS89]

It's amazing how fast they can go with only one horse power.

[@bradmyers5354]

I’ve said this for years. Imagine if they could get several hundred horses working together. Or even 1,000 horses powering something together.

[@ismailmuttaqien1203]

If i got a dollar everytime i read this kind of comment in horse racing vid

[@RyanS89]

Ismail mutta Would you be rich or poor??

[@SilentKnight43]

@@ismailmuttaqien1203 Why do you keep reading the comments for free?

[@ballparkjebusite]

It’s actually about 10-20 HP

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

This is the calmest horse-racing commentator I've ever heard.

[@GrowFoodSustainably]

It was in 1986 in Vancouver Canada that I first heard from my relative how jockeys were involved in dishonest riding. A higher authority decided which horse was going to win so that some members in authority were able to win good money hand-over-fist.

[@polarvortex3294]

@@GrowFoodSustainably What do your words have to do with Golden.Lights' comment? You should've made a separate comment, I think, and then people could talk about the subject of corruption in your own little thread. Although, I must say, I don't think even then that it would be very relevant to this video.

[@rickbullock4331]

I agree, no yelling just a very calm voice but very detailed call on the event of the race. I liked that call very much. No spilling of drinks either.👍👍

[@SpeckleKen]

I came here by mistake, but stayed to hear whether the commentator would remain awake 'til the end.

[@HotRod8625]

I agree

[@MTerrance]

Not only did that jockey pick the fastest line, but it was also the least taxing line. When he took the lead not only did he have a substantial lead, but his horse was way less exhausted. Brilliant.

[@stuwest3653]

It was only faster because it was less taxing.

[@TroyChewning]

Time = space 🧠🤝🏽 ​@@stuwest3653

[@notadumbblond3]

I've never understood why everybody stays in that pack. I know it gets ingrained to stay close to the rail because it's a shorter run and you can drag off the others, but when the ground is soft, like trying to run in soft sand, that's where injuries, pulled tendons and ligaments happen. Trips and falls too. When I rode as an exerciser for my riding lesson teacher, who owned a couple race horses, she let me ride their veteran stallion to show me what a fully experienced race horse can do. And what I learned is, you could put a doll on their backs and they would still run the race. The jockey's only role is guiding the horse and enjoy the ride. Only instructions I was given: hold on tight, keep him away from the rail, if he goes to the rail watch your inside leg, when you see me waive, start pulling him up. It was supposed to just be me, but the other trainers saw what was about to happen and threw a couple jockeys up on their horses to go for a "short gallop". They just happened to be let into the track right as that practice gate flew open. I will admit, as a 16 yr old, it was intimidating. They of course proceeded to "join me" in practice. And that veteran 10 yr old stallion left them in the dust. Lol! I heard one of trainers berating one of the riders, "A GIRL beat you??!" If he only knew, I had nothing to do with it. I was just the passenger. 100% once in a lifetime experience.

[@MezzoForte4]

Nothing like a little sexism to spice up a story. Doesn't that trainer realize that it doesn't matter who or what is on the saddle? Jeez. 😮‍💨 It's a HORSE race. 😅 If anything this should technically make this sport really inclusive but that's if the world isn't as messed up as it is currently.

[@ccityplanner1217]

Horses will instinctively stay in the pack unless you tell them not to.

[@cynthiawadeson8843]

Wow! What a great story/experience!

[@shadowwind18]

Tbh, that sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[@ghettodadgaming7826]

Yeah but no… Jockey craft is a thing it’s absurd to say it’s not. In a race a horse that wants to go out and fly needs to be held up so it doesn’t blow its engine and the jockey has to fight this. Some jockeys do their homework and from being in around different yards and talking with other jockeys what way horses are inclined to run. An airplane like your stallion can be forced/coaxed into blowing their load too early by other jockeys keeping their own horse on his heels. Races where an owner has more than one horse in, usually the one the owner isn’t pushed about winning will try cause hassle for the favourite/ whoever is out front and try leave gaps for the preferred horse and jockey to find. I’ve seen horses run straight into walls with people who don’t know how to control them on them.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

Great tactics there to run wide where the going was firmer, then staying inside when the ground was running faster there. Very smart move.

[@bobbabai]

I was wondering if maybe the intention of in psychology of the other horses was the bigger factor. Did him going to the far outside reduce the attention the other horses paid to him? Reduce their motivation to run with him? Yes, I understand the jockeys are probably a bigger factor, but I have to imagine the motivation of the horses is important, too.

[@craigmooring2091]

@Schrödinger's Cat Who let you out of the box? Congratulations on surviving.

[@onefortheroad1]

No shit Sherlock

[@matthewhicks6089]

There is a lot more potential for strategy as this on 2 lap courses where jockeys and horses get a chance to feel out the track.

[@VietCakes]

Is it also to get rid of the pack and not let the horses draft each other? Or is it purely due to firmer grass?

[@dazediss6629]

Greater distance, better ground. Bold call but clearly a fantastic jockey.

[@101jir]

In auto racing it would be bold _not_ to use that line. Many of the same principles of cornering apply, the only exception being that where you find traction is exactly opposite, with cars finding greater traction where other cars have driven due to the rubber that rubs off, while horse hooves tend to tear up the ground and leave less traction. I think the million dollar question here was whether horses reach a sufficient speed for the benefits of a good racing line to outweigh the increased distance. If we were talking about ponies or something I'd wonder whether the speed would be enough to matter as well, but for thoroughbreds that's more than enough speed to make a difference, as we see here.

[@Ojb_1959]

Proves you need more than just a fast horse and good jockey, a fast hard track pays off. Great strategy 🏁

[@23desdfe345r2fd23f23]

yup always pays to have a relationship with the groundskeeper *wink*

[@signalfire6691]

That track is gorgeous - the green!!!

[@kirnpu]

I've honestly never ever seen a run like that! Great strategy.

[@D-Rockk]

I don't understand why that strategy worked though. Wouldn't the shortest route be sticking to the inside corner the while time?

[@ashlogan2049]

@@D-Rockk he only went wide on the straight. The track was obviously in far better shape over there, I guess less work for the horse. He cut back to the inside for the corner.

[@kirnpu]

@@D-Rockk I didn't understand that at first either until I read that firmer ground on the outside meant better traction for the horse. I've never seen that done before though.

[@miyamotomasao3636]

I watched this live on the French horse races channel (Equidia), and the interview of Mickael Barzalona a few minutes later. So let me explain what happened ! This was the fifth race (a listed race for 3 year-olds and older) of the day on heavy ground at the Saint-Cloud racecourse, one mile to the West of Paris, where typically on such ground jockeys finish close to the grand stand where the ground is faster. But Barzalona considered that the track had been kind of ruined there by the previous races, so he decided to completely change tactics, without being absolutely sure it would work. Same thing on the opposite stretch, where previous races were run on the inside of the track, so he went for the outside. He said that when it doesn't work you risk being ridiculed. He was really modest about his race ! But this still impressed everybody, so much so that other jockeys successfully applied the same tactic on race courses all over France, when the ground was heavy, in the following weeks !

[@kirnpu]

@@miyamotomasao3636 Thank you for the explanation! It was a wonder to watch!

[@dixietenbroeck8717]

It's _WONDERFUL_ to see *a Jockey who's smart enough to **_"RUN THE TRACK"_** rather than RUN TO EXPECTATION."_* *A BEAUTIFUL RACE!*

[@9Ballr]

Wow, I had never seen that in a horse race before! Great job by the jockey and the horse!

[@jussayinmipeece1069]

yep that time when longer was faster

[@joebutlersnr7017]

They do it all the time in motorcycle and car racing , and you can do it yourself if you have a twisty road in front of you if you can see the way is clear, it's called straight lining.

[@jussayinmipeece1069]

@@joebutlersnr7017 not really the same thing though. With motor racing when you are turning you are braking. In other words you are introducing centrifugal force that must be overcome with a motor. In horse racing, specifically what just happened was that the section of turf that was not regularly raced on provided much better traction for the horse. With that he was able to go faster while saving energy for the last furlong of sprint.

[@bradmyers5354]

Great job by the horse? For going where the jockey steered him? For not bucking off the jockey and going where he wanted? There wasn’t a discussion between the two.

[@bradmyers5354]

@@joebutlersnr7017 lol. You’re describing straightening out an S curve. If you pay attention, the horses that went to the outside weren’t sinking into the grass like the group that stayed on the inside. Which allowed those two to go from middle of the pack to taking a huge lead once they sank back to the inside of the track.

[@anniehope8651]

It's also not easy to do. A horse always wants to stay with the pack, especially when racing. So you can think of a tactic like this, you also have to persuade your horse to actually do it. That jockey is a great horseman.

[@justme-dm7sb]

Just the one horse cutting out of the pack signals a herd leader to the rest. Its a distraction to the horses and the all want to follow a leader.

[@titanbuck7]

I also wondered if this is the kind of horse that wants to stay with the pack and WON'T run his hardest if it means leaving the pack. After forcing him to leave everyone, maybe he was able to refocus, mentally, and get back to work. These horses get stabled a lot and may not get enough social time in herds...so racing can be the time they get that social need met. Once he was away with just one horse with him, that may have seemed more like the workouts if they use a horse to pace behind him to train him to work hard with one behind. 🤔 Plus the better footing... So as the jockey said, sometimes it works, and other times not. If a horse isn't naturally a faster horse without other horses there to encourage harder running to keep up...then this strategy may not have worked as well. The jockey was right take it was a gamble.

[@101jir]

​@titanbuck7 Socialization aside, that line is straight up faster because the apex of the turn will push them outside. But yeah, I can definitely see the socialization side too.

[@mugnuz]

not really the issue. its just a tiny bit because the track is wide enough. more crucial is the track is harder and not trampled​@@101jir

[@georgeariane]

Now that is a smart jockey! Takes a lot of bottle and skill to ride so tactically. Very impressed.

[@bradmyers5354]

That’s not skill. It’s experience that told him why the inside of the track was slowing the horses.

[@mrs.c5471]

@@bradmyers5354 , experience can equal skill

[@albertoalmeida3424]

@@bradmyers5354 Why? What is wrong with the inside part of the track?

[@virtualpilgrim8645]

How many bottles does it take to do anything?

[@markgoggin4776]

@@virtualpilgrim8645 I dunno the conversion rate between cans and bottles but I know u need at least 2 cans to do a thing

[@ronin_gthayc3020]

I'm not into horseracing but that was some top class riding .

[@jackglossop4859]

Don’t bother getting into it, it’s a massive disappointment year after year. 🤣

[@ashleyroachclip1]

i noticed right away how smooth the jockey on #6 was , i re watched it and also noticed how he set up his move to the outside right out of the gate once the horse was settled . chapo to the the jockey

[@keirfarnum6811]

Chapeau? Yeah. He actually held the horse up to let the guy in 2nd come by and passed around behind him and stayed back some. Total tactics.

[@Collateralcoffee]

Chapeau is a French word and means hat. Do your homework and write things correctly.

[@ashleyroachclip1]

@@Collateralcoffee oie i raced bikes , and in bike racing you say chapeau to a rider when he or she wins or pulls of a great move so coffee person broaden your vocabulary before you act like some kind of language teacher. good day sir

[@peterhillick9223]

@@ashleyroachclip1 yes, it's a French variation on "tipping your cap" to someone who does something good or out maneuvers an opponent.

[@galehess6676]

@@ashleyroachclip1 Me oui! lol Although, I think the french pronounce it a bit more like a grunt, "meh" or whatever, as all their words sound the same. haha

[@redbulls1337]

Never seen anything like this. Very cool thing to watch. What a smart jockey!

[@Deweycheatumnhowe]

Him punching the air when winning the Derby in photo finish is also epic. 😁

[@christinaharper1847]

agree

[@jamesgavin9760]

Best finish ever cheeky as u like

[@nancyallen641]

Very interesting! Adds so much to flat out racing. The terrain comes into play. Good stuff!

[@danstewart8218]

What a beautiful horse - such a beautiful and characterful stride on her! Amazing. 👍

[@doctorzingo]

Agreed. I don't know much about horses but it seemed to run smoother, with less bobbing of the head, from the outset.

[@pascalesaintilan5109]

Bravo Monsieur Barzalona !! Course tactique 👍👍👍

[@alpii.57x]

il es trop fort

[@Treatyse]

Not a watcher of horse racing but found this fascinating- the tactics are inspiring. Even my 7 year old young it funny but educational.

[@pantalisyianni8393]

Many years ago Ray Cockrane did an amazing feat of jockeyship by riding by himself in a major race at Ascot (I believe) whilst the other horses rode together as a group. Ray and his horse won. A great jockey was Ray Cockrane

[@MikeKollin]

I must have seen that race! Because I saw a race a long, long, long time ago where this rider took off to the outside all by himself and he won!

[@roberthartley6629]

you can see at 2 min 20 secs that the main body are churning up the ground but the winner is on the firmer ground on the opposite rail. Lovely ride.

[@dollyhadbraces9361]

yeah awesome

[@barty2381]

Fix

[@petert3355]

Yeah, it's a lot easier running on top of the ground than 2 inches in it.

[@VictorDelPrete]

Eureka! I was thinking he was apexing the turn and was wondering how much that could help on a horse! Now I understand.

[@keirfarnum6811]

Aaaahhhh... so that’s the key to why he did it. He was looking for firmer track to run on. Smart!

[@TheMegahusky]

That switch was very well executed as it tired out the rest of the field. A nifty move. Well done.

[@bradmyers5354]

That’s not at all what you just watched. The horses that stayed on the inside weren’t slowed by exhaustion. Watch how deep their hooves sink into the grass compared to the two that went to the outside. The two on the outside were running on firmer footing. Less energy was being lost compared to those on the inside, therefore they were able to rocket out in front. They were too far behind by the time they all darted to the outside down the final stretch.

[@lb9770]

Great ride, even greater run!

[@blabberer8950]

Legendary ride, legendary horse, legendary call!

[@seanmcelroy860]

Give him a kiss what a beautiful bit of thinking ❤😂

[@JuliePlott]

That was a bad ass ride! What a great jockey, he was having to hold the horse back most of the race, what a great ending!!!!

[@vuttuon]

Stunning ride. Good 👍

[@1.masterpiece]

One hell of a ride!!!! Clearly the jockey has done his homework on the track.

[@jeffreyrobinson2155]

Give that man a beer that was a perfect ride he knew exactly what he was doing the whole way.

[@paulconey252]

Ride of the season 🤔Best ride I have seen in 40 years by far,that i have no doubt.

[@GWOAT]

I'd put Brian Fletcher's win on Red Rum over Crisp as one of the best rides in Jump Racing.

[@paulconey252]

@@GWOAT did Brian Fletcher ride eye catcher one year,I think it was a mare

[@GWOAT]

@@paulconey252 He did...Was ridden by Fletcher to finish 3rd in 1976 National. Eyecatcher also finished 3rd to Red Rum(Tommy Stack) in 1977 with Chris Read on Board. Yes was a mare.

[@paulconey252]

@@GWOAT cheers mate!

[@FairozKhan-jm4re]

How much money have u made from 40 years

[@bizbizley]

Class is permanent as they say. Wonderful. Duffield did similar at Goodwood many years ago.

[@gozalanmckenna1027]

Ryan Moore also. Taking the skill out of race riding by narrowing the tracks in England &Ireland. Barcelona walked the track. SKILL

[@philhoward4717]

Willie Carson is the ride that also springs to mind

[@gozalanmckenna1027]

@@philhoward4717 Bahri

[@seanscanlon9067]

@@philhoward4717 But Darryll Holland did it one year at Ascot and was beaten and got loads of stick. The horse still has to be good enough.

[@gautamsinha5443]

SPellbinding finish & Amazing Tactics !! 👍✌

[@michaeltalley51]

Most horse races bore me to tears but, that was incredible.

[@peterhodges8411]

It reminds me of the great ride by Willie Carson on Bahri at Ascot some years ago.

[@AterraTkd]

I don’t really watch horse racing too often, that was one heck of a race! Wow! To go on the outside like that was amazing!

[@WhiteWizard44]

"Control Tower" wins the name race IMO...👍 Very unique and clever name for a racehorse.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

Wow. What an extraordinary ride. Never seen anyone do it before.

[@bipolarbear9917]

Same strategy as Australia II in the last of best of 7 races to win the 1983 America’s Cup. That gutsy move to take the long way home to find clear wind (like hard fast track) payed off, and broke the 152 year US winning streak. Brilliant stuff!

[@billwilliams9362]

🪃👍🇦🇺

[@flamingfrancis]

Good one cobber....try not to upset the chappies from the NYYC please !!! (and it was 132 years but must have felt like 152)

[@misterjokertoker5797]

Brilliant! I've never seen anything like this in horse racing. I didn't even know you were allowed to ride on the outer track like this. The horse that won had power, speed, endurance, and stamina - KUDOS! 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎

[@annjamieson6544]

wow what a brilliant jockey! Aboard a great horse!

[@dominiqueroy9512]

Outstanding ride. Great jockey

[@calicojackrackham9233]

Did you notice how rank #4 was running? He did not want to be there. That rider really had to work to keep him settled. Excellent tactical run by Barzalona. Quite impressive.

[@ashleyroachclip1]

#4 just wanted to run balls out thats why he was so jerky if you notice he was fine once he could run with out being held back

[@calicojackrackham9233]

@@ashleyroachclip1 That makes sense. He was just burning so much nervous energy on his trip.

[@player234145]

???

[@banjopiggottwright1802]

Well I didn't see that coming. What a Ride.

[@ChefDuane]

What a thrilling call by the announcer. I was on the edge of my seat................... falling asleep.

[@cygnusx-1256]

Look at those beautiful beasts of muscle and heart dominate the field. The horses are looking cute too

[@lauriedooker1031]

I won a senior foot race sprint by doing the same thing , easy win thanks very much to my dear friend Jim God bless his sole.

[@flamingfrancis]

Hope you mean SOUL...and not the underside of his feet.

[@lauriedooker1031]

@@flamingfrancis Dyslexic champ. All my 60 + years and my grandfather was a great public speaker and a great example of the queens English . Oh well, I had other talents .

[@MrShanester117]

@@lauriedooker1031 You have a friend named Jim God?

[@lori5455]

Long Flat Race!! Well done going wide on better turf and it paid off well!

[@ismaelremoket9196]

Yes wonderful smart move to take the lead and win alright happy new year

[@Quinny33]

You can tell when a horse has that willing drive to be in lead, they're focused,driven & steadfast.It's all heart.I Could certainly see that in Normfliegerin 200m after the jump.2 well balanced points of contact.The Ground.. The Jockey.🐎..🏇. Inspired Much.🏇

[@RasheedKhan-he6xx]

Coming from a motorsport background he went in wide, braked late and was able to accelerate out of the turn much sooner. :)

[@dennistrusty5145]

No... I know what your thinking, but no, I like motorsports and horses and it was actually they thought the ground on the outside was more in motorsport terms "gripped up" it would be like in F1 when running on wet tires you would be aiming for puddles as the track was drying out. Thats why they swung wide at the end but that was not where the track was dry everything was even, but down the backstretch when those 2 horses angled out the inside was puddles and the outside was dry. They cut back inside to save ground yes in the turn but down the backstretch it was to get on a better ground.

[@RasheedKhan-he6xx]

@@dennistrusty5145 That's actually quite fascinating, cheers.

[@Topman-99]

@@dennistrusty5145 Glad I don’t have to ask for an explanation. Thanks for commenting.

[@dennistrusty5145]

@@RasheedKhan-he6xx the example is look at 2:31 looking at the inside where the competitions running and look at the outside where they are running. The turf has less getting thrown up in the air.

[@pcroses6597]

Not exactly this, but still a nice comparison.

[@moryan6447]

Like a race car driver! Brilliant!

[@000001willy]

Reminds me off the top speed run by NASCAR driver Chastain against the outside barriers to go around the slower running cars to end up placing third in a race that allowed him to qualify for the championship race the following week. I was surprised the two horses on the outside were able to go much faster even though they covered a lot more ground than the horses running at the rail and then were able to swoop in front of the pack on the final turn. Impressive.

[@dragontouched6848]

The ground on the shorter, inner lane is way softer than on the outside, which slows them down just enough, that the outside, where nobody really wants to go is the ground with better grip for the hooves. They may have run a longer distance, but they had the quote on quote "faster" track

[@murraystewartj]

@@dragontouched6848 Never thought of that but it makes sense. No expert (more of an idiot really) but would pulling out of that tightly bunched group allow the horses on the outside to feel more free to give it their all rather than looking at a bunch of horses' rear ends?

[@dragontouched6848]

@@murraystewartj that could also be a part of winning ^^

[@RagingGeekazoid]

@@dragontouched6848 quote unquote

[@dragontouched6848]

@@RagingGeekazoid thanks :)

[@AdmiralStoicRum]

Makes sense the turf on the outside would be more firm and easier for the horse, like a small break and then you also have angles and such. It was a good move

[@joebobjenkins7837]

So why didnt it work for all the others?

[@AdmiralStoicRum]

@@joebobjenkins7837 its about timing and location. if you see the rider behind, he caught up to take up third it looked like. its all placement

[@ethanweeter2732]

You have breathing space and firmer ground.

[@kathygetchey2012]

Holy Smokes!!! Incredible!!!

[@fastacker2]

Amazing. In sailing that is called "the suicide tack". A long shot gamble on getting better wind than the pack. I guess in horse racing they gamble on the track being faster in a different path. I know nothing about horse racing, but this popped up on my recommended videos and was very cool to watch. Well done!

[@peter9477]

Sounds accurate except it probably wasn't a gamble. Good wind is always a gamble, but firm ground here was probably a certainty, based on good research.

[@cindaflame]

Great ride. And it worked

[@rustyheaps]

Not kidding when he says "tight for third". Nice ride leads to nice result.🐎

[@Icandoitifiwant]

Wow! I've never seen anything like that before. AMAZING Brilliant ride!

[@dmystify1381]

....Well Played.....well played Sir.

[@RobertSmith-ck2sl]

Absolutely fantastic tactical ride. Awe inspiring.

[@barty2381]

Fix

[@palacespot2]

The race was so long I thought he was taking a break and going to the concession stand!

[@awuma]

The Melbourne Cup is a little longer. National Hunt races can be even twice as long. A few years ago a French/British hurdler placed twice in the Melbourne Cup, handsomely paying for the trips Down Under. Horses in the National Hunt have long careers, often up to 13 years of age. Flat careers are much shorter, but I still recall seeing Great Sensation win his third Wellington Cup around the age of 10. I think it was also a two miler sixty years ago.

[@Lidili]

Exiting superb amazing wonderful fascinating interesting beautiful and unbelievable horse racing video with excellent commentary. Thank you very much for your nice video.

[@gareths8137]

Very impressive 🎉 watched with mouth a gasp

[@ladysecretz]

Wow, that was an incredibly impressive ride. That was incredibly smart, and probably saved the jockey's arms from having to hold back a horse that has that much go and eagerness to be out in front of the pack. The trick obviously didn't work out too well for the others since they were tired *very* early.

[@haroldgeernian3699]

That wasn't why he went to the outside. If he went outside simply to pass he wouldn't have gone all the way to the outer rail. Notice all the other horses were digging in while on the inside, while he is running on the outside where he isn't digging in. He did it because the ground was firmer which makes it far easier to run, its the same with like running in sand, when you are sinking in it uses a ton more energy.

[@greatbriton8425]

@@haroldgeernian3699 Thank you so much. I was so curious. This makes perfect sense. I know from running on the beach how very tiring soft ground is.

[@bradmyers5354]

Are people seriously this oblivious or are you watching a different video? The jockey wasn’t tired of holding the horse back and the horse decided to shoot to the outside. The inside of the track where most of the horses tend to run was way softer, causing the horses to sink into the turf. This results is a loss of energy and slows the horse. Going to the outside was to get to firmer footing that the horse can run more efficiently on. Pay attention to how deep into the turf the pack sinks compared to the two that went to the outside. Better yet, go run in mud and then run on a street. Then you’ll know why they darted to the outside.

[@Murph_.]

Would love to see an interview with him after the race.

[@LeMeilleurdeYouTube-rz9su]

It does exist

[@jeffthechristian3010]

@@LeMeilleurdeKZbin-rz9su Where?

[@joshuacamponi8396]

I can’t stop watching it. Unbelievable

[@bobbiemarsden4340]

That was brilliant✨️

[@billyyank5807]

Holy geeze. I've never seen anything like that. Did anyone notice that extra gear he got that horse in? Omg. He was sprinting it and then it just went to another gear for that Final sprint. What a beast of a horse and what a way to use the track. I've never seen anything like that. Wow. I was actually cheering "go. Go. Go." That was awesome

[@RalexNSW]

I don't think horses use gears for racing. 🤣

[@iananderson3799]

I think he would have won the race irrespective of his tactics.

[@flamingfrancis]

@@RalexNSW but if they are fed the right stuff they fart more and get that extra propulsion....

[@Turboy65]

European race announcers tend to sound like they just got out of bed and haven't had their first cup of coffee yet. American announcers always sound like they've been drinking gallons of espresso laced with speed.

[@RBCharger]

Maybe this is the announcer's side job. Main job is calling golf tournaments. 😄

[@Makado14]

You nailed that Buddy. As an American, I can't understand how these British? Announcers can be so calm. They sound like they have eaten to many Xanax.

[@Inspectorgadget111]

Knowledge and pure class

[@dc1397]

What a beautiful course.

[@yvonnerahmes9618]

Astounding! I've never seen a horse race like this one! What???!!! I am not sure how this happened, but it worked, how wonderful!

[@johnsonkevin1]

Willie Carson on Bahri ? 1995

[@nicholasm2239]

Ground is harder on the outside since it's not getting permanently chewed up and redone. Same as when running on the beach

[@johnristheanswer]

Willie Carson did similar 20+ years ago at Ascot. Down the back straight under the trees.

[@GWOAT]

Carson did the same kind of move on Bahri in the QEII at Ascot in 1995 in much smaller field, he only stayed on far side once and when rejoined the field he stayed with them then pulled clear from the odds on fav. Bahri was the better horse, would have won no matter if he'd went alone then joined field, or just stayed with them.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

Rider was looking for the harder faster ground, it's a risk but you can see his horse has a way easier time than the rest of the field running on the heavy going soft ground on the inside.

[@sedol3717]

The most fascinating to me was the commentator: "He went where nobody wanted to go - and he's landed the prize."

[@scarfbandit177]

Prize* I'd say

[@angiet3535]

What have I just witnessed????😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I LOVE IT!

[@user-mo8tj9ls2t]

Wonderful style!!!!

[@JackSkellington991]

Holy crap. He absolutely snaked their whole line. That was incredible!

[@Stuff_And_Things]

Looks like he took advantage of the less tiring outer part of the track on that side. More rolling terrain to the inside. Brilliant. Plus, just trying to limit pace when you are behind someone is tiring in its own right. Not a fan of the sport but the title pulled me in. ;)

[@maxinahunt8652]

Beautiful ride.

[@robertbluntfalsearrest7127]

That was an awesome race very smart move for the winner

[@Fuzcapp]

Mighty Blue - in all red ...

[@ceesmith]

He's caught them napping when he cut back in round the turn. That's the winning move, particularly as the race was run at a dawdle till then., 28 seconds slow, so he's just quickened to get the 8l lead and maintained it. I dunno what the others were doing switching back across at that late stage as they've run much further at a key point in the race.

[@shanerorko8076]

Exactly, you never see that here in Australia, in fact that ride wouldn't work here as 99.9% of the time someone will bring the pace up. We don't have too many races that long though.

[@kd2239]

Nope everyone was flat out. The two horses went wide because the ground there along the rail was much drier, firmer and faster there. The main pack were ploughing through soft wet slower ground.

[@godozo]

Probably thought they could do what Barzalona did earlier. Forgetting, of course, that he did what he did with a fresher horse and they were now fighting fatigue.

[@bradmyers5354]

@@kd2239 it’s cracking me up reading through the comments. It’s clear as day that the horses on the inside were sinking down into the grass while the two that shot outside were not losing energy thanks to the firm outer edges of the track. Which is why the pack tried to use that tactic down the final stretch. They were too far behind for it to make a difference. I guess only a few of us have actually gone outside and run just one time to understand what happens to your speed and energy when you’re running in loose sand compared to running on a track at the local high school.

[@dantrianni986]

Saw this move at this track many years ago. Horse ended up winning that Race also. Kind of like the configuration of it

[@whatdoiknowsmith]

I love it when a plan comes together!

[@entropybentwhistle]

Jockey and rider were definitely an A-Team.

[@anonymousstout4759]

Stay positive

[@MrVvulf]

You said it Hannibal.

[@edwardjohnoliverosrodrigue5759]

@@MrVvulf I was gonna say thanks for the Lecter, Hannibal. I mean lecture

[@CeriusDeluge]

He's definitely on the jazz.

[@mayanferdinandrobertson3569]

Brilliant riding 🫶♥️

[@poitor5915]

in the aussie movie’ride like a girl’ her father explained the importance of walking the track before a meeting👍🏻there you can see why she went on to win the melbourne cup at 100/1☝🏻

[@ethanweeter2732]

You would have to practice running the outside line too, not like you could do it out of the blue, I don’t think. Your horse would have to know to go to the outside that much with you.

[@LesserMoffHootkins]

Ford v Ferrari

[@flamingfrancis]

And a fantastic horseperson Michelle is too. While she still rides she has become an astute trainer, just like her Dad and brother. Michelle Payne...great story...

[@way2dumb]

My grandma was acquainted with the Payne family through horse racing. My grandma always wanted to be a jockey. She was a superb horsewoman in remote Australia as a youngster and a rural racehorse trainer as an adult. However, in her time, women were forbidden to be jockeys. They could ride track work but not as jockeys in races. Michelle Payne is a testament to determination. My Grandma's childhood dream was to ride in the English Grand National, just like in the movie National Velvet.

[@sebatiandjurovic]

Almost like if you make a turn straighter you can go faster as you hit the apex. Proper racing strategy right here.

[@JustMe-sj2oe]

Brilliant ride!

[@evertonianwalker3635]

That’s a brilliant ride great coursing

[@jeffreyv8306]

Can someone explain what happened? Was the horse able to accelerate more easily after breaking from the pack? Was the ground more suitable for riding on the outer edge of the path? Were there Mario Kart mushrooms I didn't notice?

[@lindsay3917]

The ground was softer on the inside rail, churned up from previous races. On the outside he travelled a further distance but on firmer ground.

[@bradmyers5354]

The horses on the inside were losing a lot of the energy in the horses’ gallop due to the track conditions. The two on the outside maintained the energy in the gallo due to the firmness on the outside. Less loss of energy transfer=higher rate of speed at a more efficient pace.

[@bobuncle8704]

The jockey actually increased the length of the straightaway, letting him maintain a higher speed longer. A slow move to the outside rail, with a nice turn in at the perfect time to join the corner at the perfect angle. Was the only place in this race that’d work.

[@bradmyers5354]

😂 😂 Y’all are killing me. It’s horse racing not formula one. The outside of the track is firmer. The horses on the inside were sinking into the grass. Those on the outside weren’t losing energy in their gallop and could run faster more efficiently.

[@stuartmckinnon5795]

Brilliant ride by Barcelona👍👍🍺

[@J-J_du4nb]

One of the best fringing of the grass I’ve seen in awhile

[@berrypainter]

The ground was much better on the far rail.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

Interesting counterintuitive move. I've never seen anyone pull that off and win. Was there better traction in that part of the track or was this a psychological move? Perhaps the horse felt more comfortable running faster without being jammed up against other horses?

[@haroldgeernian3699]

They weren't making tracks on the outside. My guess is it was less muddy over there, as you can notice all the other horses were digging in on the inside.

[@JP-wb1oo]

@@haroldgeernian3699 You are correct but I think it was a combination of the things. The last 3 furlongs was on chopped up ground and that horse was still making space behind him. At 2:08 the main pack moves away from the chop as well but that horse just seems to like running faster outside of the pack. This jockey certainly knew his horse.

[@awuma]

Some horses have their ways. A few years ago an old Argentinian stallion called Calidoscopio was campaigned in the US, won the Breeders' Cup Marathon, and the Brooklyn Cup when it was still 2 miles. But his particular schtick was that he liked to run behind the field by about 30 lengths, then catch up and pass the field around the final turn and up the straight. The jockey was well instructed about this by the owners before each race :-) The videos are here on KZbin. The Brooklyn Cup race was incredible, held in total slush and water everywhere.

[@suzanneyoung8011]

The jockey used this tactic because the outside turf was much firmer and therefore faster. It was the fifth race of the day, and the inside path was chopped up and very soft. The horses were sinking into it several inches. It took less energy for his horse to ride the outside line on the straightaway.

[@cindyrissal3628]

Anybody who has ever ridden a flat class in a show totally gets the concept...great strategy...

[@Smile-uwokeup-2day]

Crazy ride by this winner n jockey here wow

[@seanscanlon9067]

Made little difference, he was just on the best horse and would have won regardless.

[@TheCleaner76]

You must be fun at parties

[@seanscanlon9067]

@@TheCleaner76 Er yeah, because that is relevant to this video, isn't it?.....Oh and highly original too. 🙄 And if you find your fun and excitement via the KZbin comments section, perhaps you need to reassess your life.

[@TheCleaner76]

@@seanscanlon9067 😂🤣😂 Your hilarious Sean, you must have so many friends in your imagination 🙄

[@seanscanlon9067]

@@TheCleaner76 My hilarious what?

[@michaelgerrard5514]

Actually no he wouldn't of won regardless reason Barcelona went to firm ground is he knew his horse wouldn't of made full trip so he had to do what he did it paid off if he didn't do it the horse in 2nd would of won commonsense really Barcelona had reason to go to firmer ground didn't do it for clout.

[@ice843]

Wow strata like that really make it a whole lot more interesting

[@Two_Buck]

Wow, amazing!