Goff, Simcock and Gosden on Horse Conformation 

I know this video is old, but a couple things really bother me about what is said in it. They're supposed to be giving you conformation info and this guy says "Most of us prefer a horse a little back at the knee..." No, no one has ever wanted that. Being back at the knee is universally the cardinal sin of conformation, it puts tremendous pressure on the front joints and tendons leading to soundness issues. Being over at the knee is fine, go and look at old pictures of "St. Simon" one of the greatest english runners and sires. He was so over at the knee he looked like he was constantly ready to pounce. The other thing that bothered me, is that Sunday Silence wasn't "So upright in the front, no one wanted him in the states..." No he wasn't, his pasterns were if anything slightly low. He was however, very sickle-hocked. Meaning when his back hooves were set under him correctly, instead of being able to trace a straight line down from the back of his hindquarters, straight behind his legs to the ground, his legs created a 'V' shape, with his hocks being the apex. It isn't the worst thing a horse can have, but Sunday Silence had other things working against him. First of all, his dam side was less than desirable for a top quality stallion in KY. His dam, while a decent stakes performer at times, was also mainly a claiming mare, and the family mostly got worse from there. But the main thing working against him was that his main owner, Arthur Hancock, was up to his ears in debt. When breeders didn't beat down his door, he panicked and sold the horse off to Japan.

I remember this well!! I was sitting in the sale ring watching this, learnt so much, still have Stylehunter's pedigree page somewhere. This was from the newnarket open weekend, happy memories!!

I wish someone would do a similar vid showing exactly why Golden Horn failed to sell at the sales; what points were considered wrong, because clearly these "experts" screwed up, and are prone to judgement fails.

John Gosden is a master horseman and a wonderful man. But just to pick up on one thing he states. He says it seems Australia has about five Group Ones ever week. In fact Australia has 74 G1s this season. Perhaps it's just John is in Australia during our peak carnivals. Please don't think Australia has 250 G1s a year. We run more than Great Britain sure - but we are also one continent with a large racehorse population.

That arod was fucken hopless in australia. G1 placed in the UK.. lol