The Coffeefields Cup
Race Preview – Grade One Coffeefields Cup
The feature in Victoria this weekend is the Grade One Coffeefields Cup, worth two million dollars. Run over a mile and one half on a firm turf course, this year’s edition has drawn a seven horse field highlighted by four grade one winners. Perhaps the most interesting runner is The End Begins, a son of 2007 Coffiefields Cup winner Creepshow. But from an excitement factor, the longshot Apex Fallacy adds some sizzle to the race. He’s only started eight times in his career and could go on to be any kind. Let’s take a look at the field.
#1 Kidpasser is a four year old scratch-bred colt by Lemon Drop Kid x Danzig x Buckpasser. After an undistinguished first two seasons of racing, Kidpasser has come alive this year. He has three wins from ten starts but that includes a victory in the Grade One Rhys-Smith Anniversary Turf Classic. He has hit the board in four other graded stakes this year as well. In all ten starts his speeds have exceed triple digits, topping out with a 112 earned when second in the Grade Two Grand Prix. Of some concern is his most recent race, he was seventh in the Grade Three Autumn Stakes. He’ll have to prove that the long campaign hasn’t taken its toll on him.
#2 Shutdown Corner is a four year old scratch-bred son of Distorted Humor x Sadler’s Wells x Alydar. Shutdown Corner hit a hot streak last fall, winning three straight races between September and January, topped off by his only stakes win in the Slew J. Turf Challenge. His form took a downturn when he ran back in a listed and then in a grade one race, finishing off the board in both. He was very inconsistent over the spring and summer but Shutdown Corner seems to have found his stride again. He’s won two straight races, both mile and five eighths allowances. His last run saw him demolish the field by four and one quarter lengths with a 110 speed. He’s proven that when he’s hot he’s very hot and it sure looks like Shutdown Corner is hot.
#3 The End Begins is a five year old son of Medaglia D’oro based on the amazing Rock of Gibraltar x Deputy Minister horse Creepshow. Creepshow earned over seven million dollars in his career and his grade one victories include the 2007 running of this race. This is the first appearance in the Coffeefields for The End Begins and the multiple graded stakes winner is seeking his first graded win of 2012. He does have one listed win this year and has hit the board in three graded races, including his most recent start. In that race he ran second in the Grade Three Winchester Park Cup.
#4 Major Irish is a five year old son of Daiwa Major out of the Kris S. x Irish River mare Starling Road. Starling Road was a grade two winning millionaire and has been a very successful producer. In addition to grade one winner Major Irish she is the dam of two grade three winners and a grade two winning two year old of 2012 from nine foals. Major Irish took the biggest race of his career two starts back when he won the Grade One King Geoff and Queen Beth’s Emerald Stakes with a 111 speed. He had previously been graded placed in 2011 and his only other win this year came in a listed race in February.
#5 Lordofthedanse is a four year old scratch-bred son of Dansili x Sadler’s Wells x Kris S. As a three year old, Lordofthedanse won the Grade Three Prix De Loot at a mile and three quarters. He’s only run in two other graded races since then, finishing fourth in the race immediately following the Prix De Loot and a third place finish in the Grade Three Freer Stakes two starts back. His speeds during that span ranged from a 79 to a 104 but he exploded in his last race by running a 112 speed when third in a listed stakes. Whether that was an anomaly or a sign of good things to come is anyone’s guess, but at 7/1 he makes an interesting proposition.
#6 Apex Fallacy is a four year old scratch-bred son of Montjeu x Darshaan x Caerleon. This colt has only run eight times beginning last December but he has been super impressive in that short period of time. He has five wins and a second from those eight starts including the Grade Two Dutchland Stakes at a mile and one half two races back. He’s done almost everything asked of him and really this could be any kind of horse.
#7 Maximum Spell is a four year old scratch-bred son of A.P. Indy x Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector. Last fall Maximum Spell won back-to-back grade one races in the Jolly Summer Cup and the Allied Assault. He has only one victory this year, in an allowance race, but he’s been knocking at the door in graded company for most of the year. He’s hit the board in four graded races this year and it would be no surprise if with a little luck he came home a winner in this spot.
Good luck to all!