Although his closing run failed to catch Shahrastani in the 1986 Derby Stakes, Dancing Brave turned in one of the fastest closing furlongs in the race’s history, having been clocked at 10.3 seconds for the final 220 yards.
Dancing braves 2 defeats were going left handed. Only Two times he ran on left handed tracks. He didnt handle the turns and undulations at epsom either.
After 38 years my opinion still no change if Starkey position Dancing Brave better let alone close to the pace then probably will win the Derby. So Starkey always is the one for taking the responsibility. And glad he got kick off from Prince's horses. Mind you nothing personal.
@@kevincheadle5366 same 16, I did back west tip in the grand national and did expect to back the derby winner to! Also had sharood and the French horse Arokar each way, but they didn’t do anything
Dancing Brave should have been on top of Greville Starkey as Starkey rode a losing race keeping the horse at the back only to make his bid at two and a half furlong what a donkey ride by Starkey the same as he almost did with Shirley Heights against Hawaiian Sound what a B class jockey if was Pat Eddery Dancing Brave will be clear the field by at least three lengths perhaps Sharastrani would have been the Bridesmaid end of story
Back then the ST Ledger was a top race nowadays even though its still a group 1 it has lost its appeal as trainers get ready for the arc and breeders cup
Greville was unfairly criticised for his riding of Dancing Brave that day. The horse was going up in trip from a mile to a mile and a half. Therefore he was going to be running much slower than he had before because of the race distance . For the vast majority of such types it is far easier to settle them in behind other horses. If not settling it loses too much energy for the finish and the horse does not stay the trip. Also - unusually for an Epsom Derby - the pace was slow even for a mile and a half. This was mentioned twice in Goode's commentary... And impossible to make up ground before the straight in such a tight, big field, because you'd have to go so wide. Despite the slow pace Starkey got Dancing Brave settled; but the problem is when a horse is held up towards the back he's trying to make ground as its rivals are themselves quickening. It is a testament to how great the horse was in getting so close to Shahrastani. A horse has seldom if ever gone so fast down that hill. Greville lost the ride on the horse because of this race; but in truth Pat Eddery did exactly the same thing on Dancing brave in the Arc De Triomphe. Holding him up for a late run to make use of that devastating turn of foot. It could easily have gone the same way as Epsom,.However, this time those in front early went faster in the early stages, Pat won going away and got all the acclaim for a brilliant ride. Before the race I believed Dancing Brave would not stay the trip and backed Shahrastani. I was proved wrong but because of the pace still won. That's Racing.
All that for an excuse 🙈 Dancing Brave was the best horse in the race at that distance and if the jockey had DB in the top 3 with 2 furlongs to go.........Race Over. Don't over-complicate things, it's that simple 👍
Greville Starkey said that Dancing Brave wasn't travelling well early on. He only needed to have had him a little nearer the middle of the field turning Tattenham Corner to have won easily.
The most powerful stretch drive ever scene on a course of all time from Dancing Brave no horse in history had that much power as a 3yo ust imagine if he ran at 4.
I cant Stop Watching this Race Dancing Brave Still a Top Class Horse need i say More Just Look where he is Coming from To Lose the Race by a Short Head
I agree . When you think of it k Abdulla has probably had the best horses of all time with frankel and dancing brave Also zafonic was another who should have been greater .
Dancing Brave had too much to do at Tattengam Corner x but the track didn't suit him x he had his days afterwards x Shahrastani deserved it on the day. x.
Can't believe to this day The bookies still had sharastani favourite in the king George.When pat and the brave swooped past the whole bookies I was in erupted. Everyone had backed him. If I remember shadari came 2nd .