World’s Collide in the Grade II Aussie Queen
The Aussie Queen Grade II
Now that everyone’s Derby hopes have been realized or faded into darkness we can take a selective sigh of relief and keep calm and carry on.
Saturday we have the Aussie Queen, a Grade II race on the Turf over a mile and one quarter. It draws greats turf routers from all over the world from Australia to Kentucky. Let us look at the starters.
In PP1 we have Witherspoon from the cocoabeach stable. Sired by Diawa Major in Japan with some Danehill added in for good measure this 5 year old comes into this race off a rough outing in a G2 Turf Stakes over 10 Furlongs. All seven of his wins have came in Allowance races but the connections feel it is time to try him again in Graded competition. His failures in Graded races in the past lead me to believe he is more of a Listed Stakes horse but he has earned this shot.
In PP2 comes Lumiere Rouge from the jdtrot41 stable. Sired by the amazing Montjeu of Ireland and adding some Kris S. and Blushing groom make this one an excellent Turf horse. He stepped down to an Allowance race last out as a prep for this one and looks primed to go. Four back he won a solid overnight stakes in gate to wire fashion. With eleven wins in thirty two starts he has been very well meant in all his starts so be on the lookout if he finds the front alone.
In PP3 World Down Under gets some home cooking for the jackofoz stable. Sired right here in Australia by Wonderful World, this one also adds some Danehill but goes farther with the added influence of Kingmambo. Just a 4 year old, he seemed to hate to off track in his last start so that will not be a problem here with clear skies projected. With 3 straight figures in the hundreds and a strong closing kick this one is dangerous here.
In PP4 Rutherglen Red ships in from New Zealand for the bbudgies8 stable. An Ireland bred out of Holy Roman Emperor, this one tries to stretch out off of a strong 5th in a G3 race last out. Excellent speed figures above 100 over his last nine races make him an interesting horse here. Last July, he won a G3 at a mile with a very impressive 113 figure. The one fear here is the distance, he has been excellent up to nine furlongs but we can only guess if he can make it the distance today.
In PP5 Kentucky is represented by Mongrel Empire from the knightowl stable. This 5 year old Empire Maker horse has the credentials to be a force here. Knightowl has been running him in listed stakes but after back to back 111 speed figures he has decided to go for the Graded glory. He has good distance breeding and seems to be improving with each race. Coming into this race off an easy prep win versus Allowance company he will be involved.
In PP6 Judd’s Suprise ships in from South Africa for d2912. This German son of Monsun has excellent breeding for distance and turf. He has seen the money in thirteen of his fourteen turf routes including three G3 races. This ML favorite stretches our from a mile but has all the breeding and a very good closing style to have earned the favorite role. If he does get the distance he will be hard to beat.
In PP7 Terpsichore visits the land down under from England for otistaylor. Another Ireland bred from Danehill Dancer. This 5 year old steps up to his first stakes race off back to back wins against Allowance foes. The jump in class may be tough but he is rapidly improving and with his excellent late kick he could find himself earning a paycheck if the cards fall right.
Handicapping the race : I see it as a wide open affair. All of these have the breeding and past performances to get to the winner’s circle. I would have to go with value and take Lumiere Rouge. I like the prep and I do not see much other early speed in the race. If he is allowed to set a slow pace and keep enough in the tank he will be an interesting value bet.