Who Do You Look Like?
Stakes race today folks – we are back at Queensland and you are here to make some money or watch your horse go around the track. Round and round we go – oops no we only go around once today. One mile is the distance and the name of the race is the Lookalike Orient Challenge. Who do you look like? The purse is $55,000 and the runners are fillies and mares 3 years or older. A good field too of 11 runners after a few smallish races here the last few weeks.
1 HEAD ON(JPN)
Owner: topclass
Record: 13-5-3-3
Earnings: $155,798
Jockey: T Phillips
Odds: 15/1
Likes to run at the rear of the field and then take them head on in the straight. Hasn’t done that in her last two runs though finishing 5th and then 4th two runs back. From Deep Impact x Testa Rossa(AUS) x Storm cat looks a little out of form at the moment. Her previous runs were nothing short of sensational though have got 3 consecutive wins with 2 at Allowance level and the last in August in the Miss Sparky (IRE) Challenge stakes over 8.5 furlongs and a speed of 103. Needs some of that form back to make a serious challenge here. Might find this hard going otherwise.
2 EAAAXMASGIFT(IRE)
Owner: bevron
Record: 24-5-1-4
Earnings: $582,680
Jockey: P Jeter
Odds: 15/1
Another 15/1 shot on the tote from King of Kings(IRE) x Seattle Slew x Kingmambo this one hasn’t had a lot of success late which probably explains her long odds for the punters. Prefers to get the early jump and lead the runners around the track – only problem is that she has been fading and unable to hold on in the final stretch. She has won over 12 furlongs though which was an Allowance race back in June with a speed of 98. Still, she doesn’t look like she is going to trouble here. Maybe worth backing if you like the long shots here.
3 JUNK COLLECTOR(IRE)
Owner: runshilohb
Record: 34-8-11-3
Earnings: $971,791
Jockey: C Wyatt
Odds: 8/1
This 5yo has run 34 races finishing 3rd or better in 22 of those. Good record for this girl out of Perfect Soul (IRE) x Spinning World x Dynaformer. Recent run of late which is worth noting is her run in the G1 Rich and Famous Handicap over 10 furlongs and a speed of 109 where she finished second across the line finishing very very strongly and just missing out on the win. Known for her time spent in the rubbish tips collecting junk of all sorts which is put to good use in her stable, she is out of form at the moment but could reproduce a good run particularly with top jockey Wyatt on board. Worth backing – just a feeling I have.
4 BRABASONG(KY)
Owner: brabant
Record: 32-12-3-4
Earnings: $907,195
Jockey: Z Purton
Odds: 11/1
Named after her owner brabant, Brabasong was bred from her game dam in Brabata with the breeding Unbridled’s Song x Sadler’s Wells x Mill Reef. Has 12 wins to her name including some big races at G3 and G2 level but they were back in 2006. Nothing of late really except 3 wins at Allowance level. Will be up against here back in the Stakes racing and poses some chance but really is not at her best anymore. She looked like the champion she was when she was a 2yo but age has caught up with her now. Still a very handy Allowance winner is not one of the favourites here but a chance all the same.
5 MALT MAID(KY)
Owner: hydrogen
Record: 26-6-5-7
Earnings: $169,494
Jockey: C Simien
Odds: 5/1
She has been running exceptionally well at Allowance level and the owner gave her a chance a few runs back straight into G1. She came 8th in that race but ran well with a speed of 101. That was 3 runs ago and she has been getting better with each run at Stakes level. Her last run was a second place finish in the Oak Lard Stakes over 9 furlongs. Have to point out her last run in Allowance company too back in June where she ran a whopping 113 to win that one. So she can run and could well challenge here. Have to keep her in mind in your punting.
6 QUEEN OF SNAKES(IRE)
Owner: khalasar2
Record: 22-7-5-3
Earnings: $234,595
Jockey: M Cameron
Odds: 5/1
From Street Cry(IRE) x Woodman x Sadler’s Wells. A lot of these runners have Sadler’s Wells in their breedings and this one is no different. And why not – champion runner and sire. Being sly and cunning but quick as a snake’s attack she is a very consistent runner. Her best run of late was a third place finish in the G3 Colder Here BB Handicap. Has won at this level before and like I said a model of consistency. I think she will be up there at the finish of this one. Is coming off a win too at Allowance level. Good chance here.
7 SECRET REEF(ENG)
Owner: bountyhawk
Record: 13-4-2-2
Earnings: $116,457
Jockey: T Cox
Odds: 12/1
The baby of the race at 3yo is bred from Motivator(GB) x Mill Reef x Secretariat. In good form won last time out over 7.5 furlongs in the Another Triptych Memorial Stakes. She ran second prior to that in the Bonnie Plus Cut Challenge Stakes again over 7.5 furlongs. She has won over 8 furlongs in Allowance company leading the whole way around. Only question mark is the distance at this level. But local Queensland Residency trainer bountyhawk doesn’t see that as a problem here. Have to wait and see but if that doesn’t trouble her, she could be a good bet at her odds.
8 FLYING WOODY(AUS)
Owner: parramatta
Record: 23-5-2-3
Earnings: $117,996
Jockey: L Lang
Odds: 9/1
From the Hunter Valley Stables group, this Aussie bred girl hails from the parramatta stable and is based at the Queensland Residency. Out of Flying Spur(AUS) x Marscay(AUS) x Sadler’s Wells she has steadily been looking better and better with each run. Likes to run at the rear and make her run in the final stretch. Last two runs at Stakes level resulted in a 3rd and 2nd place finish after what was a consistent career at Allowance level. Every chance here and besides she is Aussie bred!
9 STORM CANDLES
Owner: exploit99
Record: 22-10-4-1
Earnings: $278,380
Jockey: M Radke
Odds: 7/2
Has this strange ritual of lighting a candle prior to each run she stormed home last time out in the Miss Danehill Slew Memorial Stakes over 8.5 furlongs for a win. Speed of 106 and she looked good folks. Favourite on the tote, she has 5 wins out of her last 8 runs so is obviously in fantastic form. Not that this is an off track but she has had the one run on a good turf track and she won that easily. I’d run her again on a similar off track. Still she should be good enough to take this one today. Can she do it though?
10 GENERAL SKYDANCER(KY)
Owner: ecosse
Record: 13-2-1-3
Earnings: $42,691
Jockey: R Guyo
Odds: 28/1
Long shot of the race out of Sky Mesa x Dance Brightly x General Assembly. Her last two runs were at Stakes level including a G3 race but she didnt really perform in either. She looks more suited to Allowance level to be honest but her trainer is giving her maybe her last chance? at the Stakes here. Still it is going to be tough.
11 WE MISS AL(IRE)
Owner: deadwood6
Record: 26-7-6-4
Earnings: $235,224
Jockey: C Bollinger
Odds: 9/2
Coming off a great win in the Wishfully Pedal Bonanza Stakes over 9 furlongs is the 2nd placed favourite of the race. A 5yo out of Giant’s Causeway(IRE) x El Prado(IRE) x Sadler’s Wells, she has 7 wins to her name and has been running very well of late. Well raced at Stakes level now, she knows her way around the track. She looks good and deserves to be up there on the tote – should definitely be in the final three here.
So who is going to win? Thats the big question. My picks which I now realise no-one bothers looking at any more as I never pick the winner are:
3 JUNK COLLECTOR(IRE)
11 WE MISS AL(IRE)
9 STORM CANDLES