Preview – New Market Handicap (G1)
Preview – New Market Handicap (G1)
Post Time Saturday 3:00:00 OGT
2012 Champion Sprinter on Turf Cabsarehere is looking for his fourth grade one win in a row in the New Market Handicap in Victoria, Australia this weekend. The race is run over six furlongs on a firm turf for a purse of $800,000 and has attracted a strong field of thirteen. Let’s take a look at the field.
#1 Jim Beam is a five year old who won a grade two as a three year old but his current form is a bit questionable. He’s coming off a second place finish in an allowance race with a 99 speed.
#2 Haguenau is a five year old who won twice at the grade two level in 2012 although his last two starts of the year were subpar. He hasn’t run since December and this is an ambitious spot to make a return in.
#3 Cabsarehere is the reigning champion in the division off an authoritative victory in the Breeders’ Bowl. He’s done nothing wrong in two starts since, merely taking two grade ones with back to back 113 speeds. Fifth in this race last year, Cabsarehere looks to improve.
#4 Two Below is a four year old who enters off two victories, a listed stakes versus three year olds in December and an allowance race against older in January. As a two year old Two Below won a grade three.
#5 Chalked Up is a four year old who won a grade two against sophomores in November. He’s taken on his elders in his two most recent starts and acquitted himself well, finishing in a photo for second in a grade three and fifth beaten less than three lengths in a grade one.
#6 Horse Ball and Run is a five year old who is in career best form. Three starts back he won a grade two with a 116 speed. He finished fifth in a grade one in December and most recently was beaten three quarters of a length in another grade one.
#7 Hardihood is a five year old coming in off some odd form. He has run second in each of his last three starts, which included a stint in HOT racing. He’s failed to break triple digit speeds in that time.
#8 Atomic Storm is a five year old grade two winner who enters off three third place finishes in his most recent races. The best of those races was his last; he was beaten a length and one quarter by Cabsarehere and Horse Ball and Run in a grade one.
#9 B Day Wishes is the only mare in the field and she has a grade three win over the distance on her resume (albeit in a race against fillies). She was very impressive winning a listed last out with a 108 speed on a track labeled good.
#10 Monsun From West got hot last fall, winning a grade one and then running third in the Breeders’ Bowl. He had a long rest after that race and returned to win a listed but finished seventh in his most recent race.
#11 Preposterageous is a six year old who has been well beaten by Cabsarehere in each of his last three starts. He won this race last year but would need a reversal in recent form to repeat.
#12 Schickedanz is a six year old who was named Champion Turf Sprinter in 2011 after winning three grade one events, including the Breeders’ Bowl. He fell off form after that win but did run a strong fourth in the 2012 edition. Since then he has run in two allowances with a win and a second.
#13 Author of Pain is a five year old who won his first graded race in his most recent start. He ran a 110 that day and has been near that number in his last three races, with the other two being 109 and 112. He’s obviously in the best form of his career and could be an upsetter in this field.
Good luck to all!