Equinics – Phar Lap Stakes

This week we will turn our eyes to the Equinics. Here we will be looking at the Phar Lap Stakes (G1) which will be held over two miles on the turf in Paris. The race will offer up a total purse of $1,500,000 as the residencies gather to show off their best contenders. Open to three-year-olds and up, this race will be going off with a total of sixteen of runners with a post time set of 3:00 PM EST on Saturday. There was a small chance of rain earlier in the week, but it looks like we it looks it should be clear skies for post time on Saturday, leaving us with a firm course. Let’s take a look through the field.  

1. Newhook (GB) – neonshadow0 – V. Kendall – 6/1 

Representing the East-West Connection residency, the five-year-old bay by Kingman is looking for his first Group I win. With twenty-one career starts, the horse made his most recent appearance in The Baberville (G3) at two miles here in France. The horse faced a seven-horse field in the race. He set out of the gate just off the pace in third early out of the gate. The horse was urged to make his bid for the front towards the middle of the race before going on to win the race by an impressive three and three-quarter lengths. The horse would set a speed figure of one hundred nine. The horse has made four attempts previously at Group I races, most recently in February during the New Zealand Derby (G1) over a mile and a half where he would finish sixth. 

2. Borrowman (KY) – spinround – A. Jolly – 9/1 

Representing Empire State Racing, this four-year-old colt is seeking out his first Group win in this race. With thirteen career starts, the Kentucky-bred son of War Front has made three starts against Group company. The most recent of these, and his most recent race, was in The Second Henry (G2) at two miles, like many of the other horses in this field. The colt broke sharply out of the gate and settled just off the pace early in second out of the gate. He would attain the lead briefly midway through the race only to be overtaken in the stretch and get pushed back to second at the wire. The colt set a speed figure of one hundred eleven for the race. His most recent win came in January during a listed stakes race in Australia over fourteen furlongs. Facing a small field, the colt was well off the pace at the start before going on to win by two and a quarter lengths. 

3. Heart’s Intention (JPN) – okiedokie – P. Harzheim – 5/1 

Returning to group company after a step down in class, this Japanese-bred gelding will be representing Orphan Racing. The five-year-old is by Japanese sensation Heart’s Cry (JPN) and out of an allowance winning dam. The gelding has surpassed his dam’s abilities but has not been able to attain a Group I victory as of yet. The most recent start for the gelding came in May during a fourteen-furlong allowance race in Sweden held over a good turf course. Facing a field of just four horses, the gelding came out of the gate in third. At the midway point of the race he had snuck into second and took over the lead in the stretch. He would go on to win the race by three and a half lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred thirteen. His most recent group start came in September of last year over a yielding course in The Timberland Lodge (G3) at a mile and a half. Out of the gate fifth, he would finish in the same position at the wire. He will be the morning line favorite.  

4. Sea Plus Plus (IRE) – xpansion91 – B. Ball – 21/1 

This four-year-old chestnut colt will be making just his third Group start this weekend. Bred in Ireland and by top sire Sea The Stars, the colt is out of the dam Pun For All Ages, who has produced two Group winners with this colt seeking to be her third. The most recent start for the colt was in April in Belgium during the Destination Moon Cup (G3) at a mile and seven-eighths. The colt went straight to the lead out of the starting gate and led the field right up to the stretch where he was caught by late closers to cross the wire in third while setting a speed figure of one hundred four. His only other group start came in The Nikki Show (G2) at a mile and five-eighths where he finished eleventh. His most recent win was in early February during an allowance race over sixteen furlongs in his native Ireland where he just off the pace early in fourth before going on to win by four and a half lengths. He will be representing the MIDAS residency. 

5. I Am Sweeper Cotc (AUS) – cotclaim – O. Ridenour – 13/1 

Returning for another shot against Group I company, the five-year-old bay horse is by top Australian sire I Am Invincible (AUS) and has earned over one million in career earnings. The most recent start for the horse came in May in The Second Henry (G2). Facing an eight-horse field, the horse was sent out of the gate to settle into fifth early. He would be shuffled back fairly early in the race and would cross the wire in sixth, setting a speed figure of one hundred. His most recent win was in February during a listed stakes race over fourteen furlongs in the United States. Facing a small field here as well, the horse was out of the gate in fourth and didn’t make his move until the field came into the stretch, where he would take over the pace and win the race by a daylight margin of four and three-quarter lengths. The horse will be representing the British and European Racing Club. 

6. Vino El Lechero (KY) – nocomotubo – O. A. Haack – 13/1 

Going to the post for Latinos Del Mundo, this five-year-old horse by Vino Rosso will be making just his second Group start of his career and the first since 2022. The most recent start for the brown horse came here in France during a listed stakes race over two miles. Facing a small field, the horse was the last out of the starting gate and trailed the field in fourth. Midway through the race he was urged to pick up the pace and eventually went on to win the race by an impressive seven and one-quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred three. His only group start to date was in Canada in 2002 for the Owner’s Stakes (G1) at a mile and a half. One of the last to break, the horse rallied late to finish fifth. 

7. King’s Risk (IRE) – sportoking – Ben Wallacki – 82/1 

Longshot of the weekends’ race and running for the Northwest Racing Circuit, this three-year-old colt is the youngest in the field and will be making his group stakes debut. Sired by Workforce, the bay colt most recently started in Germany in an allowance race over ten and a half furlongs. Facing a small field of just four horses, the colt was the last out of the gate at the start but quickly started to advance and pick off other runners. By the time the field had reached the stretch the colt had taken the lead and went on to win by a daylight margin of five and a quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of ninety-three. While never starting in a group race, the colt has made one attempt at a listed stakes race, which came earlier this year in Italy over nine and a half furlongs.  Well off the pace at the start, the colt would rally late to finish fifth. 

8. Orkan Dark Cocoa (WY) –  stallbrabant1 – E. Guerrero – 41/1 

Returning to group company for the first time since last year, this six-year-old horse is the most experienced runner in the field with thirty-four career starts. The bay horse most recently ran in a starter allowance race over fifteen furlongs in the United States. Facing just a four-horse field, the horse came out of the gate in third. The horse would be urged to make his move midway through the race and would eventually go on to win the race by four and a half lengths with a speed figure of one hundred. This was the third consecutive win for the horse, the others also coming in starter allowance races. The most recent group start for the horse was October of last year during the Carlton Fisk Handicap (G2) over a mile and a half, also in the United States. The horse would finish that race seventh. The horse will be representing Down Under Racing on Saturday. 

9. Fire Josh Now (SAF) – willyam13 – B. Alexander II – 17/1 

Bred in South Africa, this five-year-old horse is lightly raced with thirteen career starts. Sired by Duke Of Marmalade, the scratch-bred bay most recently started in May during The Second Henry (G2) over two miles in Berkshire. He will be representing the GR Simsters residency. The horse was facing a field of eight in the race and was sent out of the gate towards the back in sixth early. He wasn’t put under pressure to make a bid for the front until the latter stages of the race. The horse would go on to cross the wire in third, setting a speed figure of one hundred seven, though eleven and a quarter lengths off the pace of the eventual winner. His most recent win came in his prior start during the South Australian Cup (G1) over the same distance. The horse was further off the pace, tenth out of the gate. He began to pick off other runners early in the race. He had reached the front by the time the field came into the stretch and ultimately won the race by three and a half lengths while setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred eleven. 

10. Tete Ormstunga (FR) – wisbyzews3 – E. Bernstein – 23/1 

Seeking his first Group I win, this French-bred gelding has made twelve career starts. The most recent start for the chestnut came in Belgium during the Destination Moon Cup (G3) at a mile and seven eighths. The gelding faced a short field in this race and came out of the gate last early, in fifth. The gelding would make up some ground, starting at the midway point of the race, but only managed to cross the wire in fourth, setting a speed figure of one hundred one. His most recent Group I start came in his prior start this past February during the Ackland Cup (G1) in New Zealand at two miles. The gelding faced a larger field in this race and was further off the pace at the start, tenth out of the gate and trailing the leader by more than eleven lengths. He was urged to make his move at the midway point of the race and went on to finish second at the wire. The gelding saw his most recent win in September of last year during an allowance race here in France over two miles. The gelding is with the European Union Racing Organization. 

11. Waylanka (JPN) – underoath – T. Small – 7/1 

Approaching two million in lifetime earnings, this Japanese-bred five-year-old is lightly raced with sixteen career starts. Representing All-Stars Racing, and sired by Just A Way, the gelding is out of graded stakes winning dam Solanka. The gelding is her only graded winner to date. His most recent win came in Australia during the South Australian Cup (G1) at two miles.  Breaking towards the back of the field when out of the gate, the gelding would be held back off the pace until the midway point of the race when he was urged forward on the backstretch. He would cross the wire second, setting a speed figure of one hundred nine. His most recent win was in his prior start which was last January in New Zealand during the Fitness Cup G2). The gelding was one of the last out of the gate in the race against a smaller field. He took control of the front in the stretch and went on to win the race by one and a half lengths. 

12. Kingzambo (SAF) – fredo – A. Craig – 8/1 

With the Universal Racing Club, the six-year-old was bred in South Africa and has made twenty lifetime starts, earning over two million in earnings. The most recent start for the bay horse was in The Spring Cup (G1) at two miles in Japan. The horse set out of the gate towards the back of the field and didn’t make a move towards the front until he reached the midway point of the route. He would make up a lot of ground in the stretch, but it was only enough to get him up to fourth at the wire. The horse would set a speed figure of one hundred six. The most recent win for the horse was here in France in September of last year during the Longchamp Marathon (G1), also over two miles. The horse was last out of the gate at the start and went on to win the race by two and a half lengths.  

13. Sheer Form (GB) – harrylanlow12 – P. Syduck – 14/1 

By top sire Frankel (GB), the four-year-old colt will be representing Elite Racing Club in the race this weekend. With thirteen career starts, the bay colt will be taking a step up in class for his first start against Group I company. His most recent start was last May during The Second Henry (G2) at two miles in Berkshire. Nearly last out of the gate in seventh at the start, the colt had advanced into fourth by the time the field reached the backstretch of the race. He would continue his bid for the front, attaining the lead in the stretch and going on to win the race by a margin of four and one-quarter lengths while setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred fourteen. His only other Group start came in February during The Diamond Stakes (G3) in Japan over two miles. 

14. Zzzforcash – auctionclass1 – B. Gall – 16/1 

Making just the second group stakes start of his career, this five-year-old horse is a listed stakes winner sired by Zilzal. The most recent start for the bay horse was in a $10,000 claiming race over a mile here in France. The horse broke sharply out of the gate and stayed tucked behind the front runner in second early. He would take over the lead briefly at the four-furlong marker but would be shuffled back in the final furlongs to finish third. The horse set a speed figure of one hundred two for this race last April. His most recent win was February of last year during a starter allowance race at eight and a half furlongs in which he also ran just behind the front runners out of the gate. His only group start came in his two-year-old season in the Closest Friend Stakes (G2) at six and a half furlongs in which he finished twelfth. 

15. Shady Sticks (IRE) – gulch23 – S. Tate – 7/1 

Coming into the race with the most lifetime earnings of any of the runners of the field, this four-year-old chestnut gelding is by Waldgeist (GB) and is an EOY winner. The Equinics will be the fifteenth lifetime start for the gelding. He saw his most recent start in April during The Spring Cup (G1) at two miles in Japan. Facing a full field, the gelding was sent out of the gate to set just behind the pace in fifth out of the gate. He would start making his move midway through the marathon race before crossing the wire in second and setting a speed figure of one hundred ten. His most recent win was in June of last year during the Derby de English (G1) at a mile and a half in Surrey. The gelding was farther off the pace in this race, trailing the field in twelfth out of the gate.  Here again, he would be urged forward to make his move at the midway point of the race. He would win the race impressively by three and one-quarter lengths. The gelding will be representing Hoosier Racing. 

16. B Tender (ENG) – marybarn – D. Gullet – 13/1 

Returning to group company for this race after a step down in class, the six-year-old gelding will be representing Only Stayers. With twenty-three career starts, the son of Nathaniel most recently started in an allowance race over ten furlongs in West Virginia. Facing a field of seven, the bay gelding was out of the gate in sixth at the break. He would start to move forward midway through the race and had attained the lead by the time the field reached the stretch. The gelding would win the race by half a length while setting a speed figure of one hundred seven. The most recent group start for the horse came in September of last year during The I Can’t Rhyme Stakes (G3) at a mile and a quarter here in France. Settling in fifth out of the gate, the horse would come home eighth at the wire.  

Flrancho’s Picks: 

Win:  Shady Sticks (IRE)

Place:  Sheer Form (GB)

Show:  Borrowman (KY)