Two Going For Three In A Row

Two Going For Three In A Row

Dubai – Only six trainers came forward to drop entries in The King Kong Memorial this week at this desert oasis racetrack.  The King Kong is a one mile event for 2 YOs over the main track and carries a purse of $95,000.  King Kong (the horse) must have been owned by one of the officials here at the track in order to have a race named after him.  The 8 YO horse by Touch Gold won only the first two of 12 races, including one stake.  He was retired later in the year due to injury with earnings of almost $140,000.

I found myself a place by the rail just in time to see what might possibly be the ugliest horse I have ever seen come by.  From his roman nose to his stump tail he was all parts.  Luckily, pretty is as pretty does and Funster’s ugly duckling flies like a swan (his top speed figure is a 96).  Ranked # 12, Depravity (4/5), a 2 YO son of Red Bullet has four wins from seven starts and over $300,000 in the bank.  Certainly a lot more than King Kong ever won.  The sway backed, dark bay colt came by with the pony and was obviously saving his energy for the coming race as he was all business.  A winner at distances from 5/8 to a mile, including the Grade II Faber College and the Grade III Cryogenics Juveniles, he has shipped as much as Lost In The Fog, but certainly fits here.

Rock Opera and Miesques Mix came by together in a strong gallop.  Rock Opera (4/1) is by Dalakhani and is trained by Kyclocker8.  A bright red chestnut, trimmed in white, he looked sharp and agile as he continuously asked for more rein.  He was switched to the dirt after his first start and is undefeated since then, including a win in the Locked Kangaroo with a speed figure of 89.  Both of his victories came gate to wire and he will likely try the same again.  Improving numbers give this one a big chance.

Miesques Mix (4/1) is a filly, one of two in this race, and is by Fair Mix.  A dark grey stocky built lady, she is owned and trained by Irebreed and is 4/6 in the money with two wins.  She was victorious in the Grim Dancer which she won by a short nose in a teen minute photo that about gave her owner a heart attack.  She is stretching out for the first time but has been gaining in every race and should appreciate the extra real estate.  She went by, grabbing at the reins, obviously upset that she was being held to a gallop along side the other.

Mad Scientist (7/1) came by alone, gliding effortlessly over the track in the early morning sunshine with the pony.  The bright bay filly by Pure Prize looked resplendent in her bright red polos and was showing them off with high kicks much to the delight of her trainer Inzamam5.  She has three wins from eight starts and along with Rock Opera is going for three in a row.  She also likes the front end and will probably go with Rock Opera in a battle to the wire.

Hide Behind Glass (8/1) is by Pulpit and is a dark bay, almost black colt.  He has only one win in five starts and this will be his second start on the dirt.  Trained by Cjt4 his best recent effort was a third place finish in the Saratoga Stud.  He went by in a two minute lick and looked very sharp but he will need his best to be in the top half of these.

Testa Rossa is represented by Test The Slew (9/1), a light bay colt trained by Alagou.  He has three wins and galloped a sharp mile, blowing out down the lane in a bit of a lung opener.  He won the Ratty Dancer and the Queensland Juvenile and tried to step up in class but was not mature enough to compete at that level.  He is switching back to the dirt and may be one to watch as I am not sure that he should be the longshot in this race.

This should be a fun race to watch as it is a very evenly matched field of nice horses and I wish every one of them Good Luck.