Preview – Sand Castle Fee Duty

Star Studded Field go around in Dubai Turf Mile

This year’s running of the Sand Castle Fee Duty will see a field of 14 assemble, featuring 9 Grade I winners, and 5 Grade II winners, and an average of over $1.7mil in prize money earnings. A hot pace should be expected, with a few front runners sure to push the early speed, and leave the back markers with plenty to do in the stretch. Six of the 11 male runners are ranked in the top 15 in the turf route division, and 3 of the top 8 female runners will also line up to battle against the boys. The star studded field will ensure this race goes down as a classic for the ages.

PP1 MAMBO DE CALLE (KINGMAMBO x PLEASANT COLONY x DANZIG) agk04 11/1

Veteran mare running in super form lately, comes here after 2 runs in California, which firstly netted the Grade II The Black Dahlia when she went all the way from gate to wire to hold off the late closers for a ¾ length win, and running an SP 114. Last start she had a bit more pressure early on, which told late when she was over run by STASH YOUR GOLD, but still ran a creditable 2nd, with an SP 114. Five time graded winner, who has been well rested late in her career, and has speed to burn. Tougher against the open horses, but looks certain to be in it for a long way.

PP2 GIFT OF JEWELS (MONSUN (GER) x A.P. INDY x AWESOME AGAIN (CAN)) given 16/1

Came back from a short lay off of just over 2 months last start here in an open allowance, and failed to fire at all, beating just 3 runners home in the field of 10. Before his break he was devastating in two big races, when he won the Grade II Sanders Stakes and the Grade I The Parking Ticket, both in California. He settled right toward the back of the field and swooped home in the Sanders, to score by a ¼ length right on the wire over the breakaway leader. He was more dour in The Parking Ticket, pushing up to be 3rd in the field of 9 by the second call, and drawing to the lead in the stretch to win by 1 ¾ lengths. Last time he was dropped back to allowance class, he backed it up with a graded win. Versatile enough to position anywhere in the field, and can rebound from last start.

PP3 GOLOHNRO (A. P. WARRIOR x NUREYEV x MR. PROSPECTOR) ohlohnro 12/1

Consistent back marker who faces his toughest test here, but has been racing in great heart recently, and looks to be up to the challenge. Did his best work late but was left with too much ground to make up when he was a fast finishing 3rd in the Grade III Strange Brew Turf Handicap last start, with an SP 109 – almost an exact replica of his run in the same race the previous year. Before that he came from last to storm over the top of a listed stakes field, running a career best SP 113. Was placed in listed stakes races at his previous 2 starts to that, when coming from the back of the field. Looks like he still has some improvement left in him, and although he is not as well credentialled as some of his rivals here, it would not surprise to see him swooping over the top at the end.

PP4 STASH YOUR GOLD (REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) x SEEKING THE GOLD x NIJINSKY 2ND (CAN)) skunkbred3 10/1

Since being given a shot at a graded race back in May last year, she has raced in 8 consecutive graded races, winning 5 and finishing with a 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the others. She counts 3 grade I wins amongst the silverware in her trophy cabinet, including The Motherly Love Stakes, Queen Ascot Stakes and an Equinics domination against the 3yo fillies over a mile. Comes into this off a win in the Grade II The Mountain Vista over MAMBO DE CALLE, where she settled midfield and saved her best for the stretch, when she finished off too strongly to score by 1 length. Two starts ago she raced in open company in the Grade I The Santa Claus Special by Baggio, and was left with just a bit too much to do when she finished 3rd with an SP 109. Likely to settle slightly worse than midfield here, and is running so consistently well, she cannot be ruled out.

PP5 WEEKEND ROMANCE (DYNAFORMER x MR. PROSPECTOR x NIJINSKY 2ND (CAN)) chloedawg 8/1

Dropping back significantly in distance after the spanking he handed a listed stakes field at his last start over 11 furlongs running an SP 118. Stormed home at his previous start in the 10f King Kong Cup to just miss by ¼ length, after trailing by as much as 14 lengths, when he ran an SP 119. Never looked comfortable when running in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile 3 starts ago finishing last, but was dominant in his previous 3 races, when winning consecutive Grade II events including the million dollar The Colonial Derby in Virginia. With the exception of the rare blip in the BB, this blue blood scratch bred has barely put a foot wrong, and provided he can adjust to the drop back in distance, he looks a big threat.

PP6 EXBOURNE’S HELIOS (DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS x EXCELLER) futurefarm 21/1

Trainer futurefarm has been mixing up the longshot of the field’s races between sprints and distances up to 10 furlongs, still trying to work out what suits him best. Last start he was game in defeat when he headed the field into the stretch, but was over run late for a 4th place in the Sjeng Schalken Turf Dash. Before that he settled handy but failed to fire when 10th in the Strange Brew Turf Handicap, running an SP 98. Unfortunately he ran into a few monsters in his previous two starts, despite running a career best SP 111 in each race. Firstly, he kicked away on the turn for home, only to be charged down late in an open allowance and then he followed that with battling 4th in the Chief Crown Turf Sprint. Obviously has a great deal of ability, but hasn’t quite put it all together just yet, and will be tested against this field.

PP7 STREET LEADER (STREET CRY (IRE) x THEATRICAL (IRE) x MR. PROSPECTOR) cgk 5/1

The morning line favourite has won only 1 race in the last year, that being the Grade I Canada Mile back in September last year, when he ran an SP 118. But despite not being in great winning form, it is undeniable that he is racing in the best form of any of his rivals here. At his last 5 starts he has reeled off SPs of 117, 115, 115, 118 and 110. His most recent start saw him drop back in class to the Grade III Sussex Handicap where he settled mid pack, but was 10 lengths in arrears by the second call, and bravely rattled home late to finish 2nd, beaten by 1 ¾ lengths. Before that, he was closer to the lead, but had only one behind him at the same point in the Grade I King Kong Mile, but the result was similar, with a 1 ½ length 2nd placing. Boxed on well in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile, but was never really a threat, making up ground late, but finishing just off the board in 4th place. Only needs to run up to his recent form to put himself right in this.

PP8 UNSILENT KILLER (A.P. INDY x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x PLEASANT COLONY) icbomber4 8/1

Looks primed for a big result in a race like this, having been building up against weaker company at his last few starts. Monstered a field of 8 in the Song About Pye Turf Route at his most recent start, when he went up and poured the pressure on the front runner, and then took the lead coming into the stretch and ran away to score by 1 ¼ lengths with an SP 117. He was an easy winner in an open allowance before that against a field of only 4 over 9 furlongs. The last time he ran over 8.5f he was a gate to wire leader, winning the Drop The Bomb Turf Route by 3 lengths, with an SP 116. Perfectly placed here, and should run a bold race up on the pace.

PP9 MISS TIMOSHENKO (NORTH LIGHT (IRE) x DANEHILL x SECRETARIAT) monoroflad 13/1

The former wonder filly who took all before her in her 2yo season, started to find the going a bit tougher as a late 3yo, stringing together a run of 8 runs without a win starting from May of last year. After taking a rest for 2 months, she returned to the track as a 4yo in February in the Kyoto Highway. She sent a big warning to the sim to signify she was back to her all conquering best, when storming home from the tail of the field, and giving LASTPOSTONTHEBUGLE a 15 length head start, and pipping her on the line by a head, running an SP 114. She won her only 2 attempts in races against the males, back in her 2yo season, and will be buoyed by her recent return to form. Meets a cracker field here, but she is the danger runner.

PP10 GRAXIS (GALILEO (IRE) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x THUNDER GULCH) piccolo87 13/1

Winner of last year’s Grade II Fivestarnick Handicap over 9 furlongs, this son of a stakes winning mare, was dropped back in grade two starts ago to regain some winning form. And it seemed to work, when he firstly came from back in the field to win an allowance sprint, and then returned last start to score in the listed Contagious Lord Turf Route with an SP 110. Gunning for a hat trick of wins here, at his first attempt against Grade I company and has had the perfect lead in, with just enough rest to prepare him for a big run here. Is likely to settle toward the back of the field, and should be doing his best work in the home stretch.

PP11 A ROYAL SPIN (SPINNING WORLD x ROYAL ACADEMY x KINGMAMBO) romeshome 8/1

Four starts ago, this son of a Grade III winner, topped his mother’s best result, with an on pace victory in the Grade I The Queen Liz Stakes in England going a mile. Unfortunately, he couldn’t back it up in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile, when he made little impression, despite running an SP 110, finishing 9th, and beaten 7 lengths. He again struggled at his next start in the King Kong Mile, fading to a 10 length plus defeat. Looking for a quick turnaround in form, trainer, romeshome, dropped him back to listed company last time, and he responded on cue, with a slashing win in the Rain Joe Turf Challenge, scoring by 1 ¾ lengths with an SP 114. Should sit just off the speed, and his last start win looks a good sign that he is back to his best.

PP12 MR. FUJI (FUJI KISEKI (JPN) x CARSON CITY x DIXIELAND BAND) apindy001 10/1

Returning to turf after 2 very successful runs on dirt, which saw him score in the Grade III Willing And Able Stakes, and then a 2nd placing in the Grade I Glenn Handicap, both in Florida. His turf form was just as good before that, although he did have a poor run in the Grade I King Kong Mile, where he beat just 3 home in the field of 11. His previous start saw him become a Grade I winner for the first time in the New Zealand 2000 Dark Beers, when he got into a speed battle up front and just got the upper hand over the concluding stages, with a fast finishing HYPERSTORM back in 3rd place. Should have done no harm from his switch over to dirt, and is sure to make his presence felt.

PP13 OUTBACK ANDY (STREET CRY (IRE) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x DANZIG) iluka 6/1

Coming back to Dubai for his second try at this event, after last year going off at similar odds, but disappointing with a middle of the road performance. Had over 3 months break at the end of his 5yo season before returning to the track last month, in the Grade III Sumo Sprint over 7 furlongs in New Zealand where he finished off strongly to end up just behind the place getters with an SP 112. Before that, his last run of 2012 was a narrow defeat in the Breeder’ Bowl Mile, when he went within a ¼ length of pulling off the win, having traveled sweetly just off the lead in the early stages of the race. He was beaten in the Grade I Canada Mile by STREET LEADER prior to that, running an SP 115, having won the same race the previous year. Has been primed for this with the easier, shorter lead in race, and should get the ideal run just off the lead to be a big threat again.

PP14 HYPERSTORM (BERNARDINI x STORM CAT x FORTY NINER) muninn240 17/1

Showed his best form four starts ago when he rocketed home late to score a ¾ length win in the Grade I Maudlin Cup. Since then he has been beaten by horses he will face up against here, in A ROYAL SPIN (twice) and MR FUJI. Was gallant in defeat last time out when he finished off well to be within 3 lengths of the winner, but only managed a 7th placing in the listed Rain Joe Turf Challenge. Before that he got to within a length of the winner and was the best of the back markers in the New Zealand 2000 Dark Beers, when he finished 3rd in the Grade I event with an SP 113. Disappointed in the Queen Liz Stakes when he failed to beat a single runner home 3 starts ago. Will need to show some improvement to turn the tables here, but his last 2 runs have been encouraging, and will be finishing off strongly in the home straight.

Good luck to all trainers – this race looks like a cracker!