New South Wales Parade of Nations Stakes

Sunshine and a firm surface greets the 8 fillies and mares all striving to add The Parade of Nations Stakes to their resume. This weeks race is to be run over the gruelling 2 miles but it is a distance most of these tuff mares are accustomed to. Let’s have a closer look at the field.

1. UNSCHLAGBAR- (mariana5) Impressively bred 4yo homebred filly by Geri out of the mare Alyrain, who in turn is by the great turf influence Rainbow Quest out of an Alydar mare. Alyrain was able to win and place at stakes level and looks to have past on some of her ability to her daughter. She has only had 8 starts but has shown glimpses of promise. All her runs have been over a distance but this is her first attempt past 13 furlongs. A bit of an unknown quantity over the 2 miles and in this sort of company she may be found wanting but she looks to have a promising future and may well take that extra step today.
2. THIS IS LOVE- (dancer4) 4yo homebred filly by the Storm Cat sire Exploit. Her dam Tempest Maria(FR) is by Irish River from a Sunday Silence mare and was only a modest performer on the track winning 3 sprints from 16 starts all on the dirt. Has been thereabouts this year without ever really threatening to break through. Looks to have a hard task again this week and any share of the prizemoney would probably be a good result.
3. WINDBENEATHMYWINGS(GB)- (rharfbeam1) This 5yo homebred mare by In the Wings(GB) is amazingly backing up from a 13 furlong race on this track last week. She was able to finish 3^rd last week but never really threatened the winner. This will be her 17^th start for the year and 41^st in total and I think the heavy race schedule is starting to take its toll on the mare. On her day she is clearly able to take this out as she has won 10 races this year alone but her best days may be behind her.
4. CARSON A. S.- (johnstable) Trainer johnstable finally worked out Carson A. S. this year after 17 starts he realised that turf long distance routes were her go. After the revelation the daughter of Pine Bluff has gone on to win 9 races this year, including 7 in a row, and 2 placings out of 11 starts. 4 times she has broken the 100sp barrier over a distance of 11 furlongs or greater and any repeat of that will see her romp away with this race. She has yet to try the 2 miles but has won 3 stakes this year over 14 and she shows every indication that she will handle the extra 2 panels. My only concern is the heavy racing schedule may start to take its toll but johnstable has obviously decided to strike while the iron is hot.
5. BAND OUT OF BOSTON- (tigereyes) Group winning 4yo homebred filly by Dixieland Band out of the mare Steve’s Ton, who in turn is by Boston Harbour out of a Mr. Prospector mare. She has been racing in a lot harder company most of the year and while she was able to take out a Gr III over 12 furlongs stakes races appear to be where she is most suited. Biggest query is the distance as she is yet to be tried past 13 furlongs and those two runs were inconclusive. A quality mare on her day definitely able to run the time to take victory and the drop in class may just be the ticket to get her firing again.
6. FANTASTICAL- (hoghead) Beautifully bred 4yo mare out by Fantastic Light out of the Kris S. mare Perfect Water. Perfect Water was able to win 7 turf routes and place in 2 stakes races in her career which netted her owners $278 000 dollars. Fantastical is a very lightly raced mare having only her 8^th start and her first in stakes company. Promising type of mare coming off 2 strong wins but is jumping from 9 furlongs to 16. She has never tried anything past 9 furlongs and while her style of running and breeding would suggest she will enjoy some distance it is a massive ask of the horse and I think she will be found wanting this week. Has a bright future in front of her and just needs some time to run through her grades and distances.
7. FINANCIAL DISASTER(IRE)- (joshua2) 5yo mare by the Sadler’s Well’s stallion Northern Spur(IRE). A grand old campaigner and a great money-spinner for her trainer. This year however has only seen her salute the judge on one occasion and her last 5 or 6 runs have seen a decline in her performance. Despite being in the twilight of her career she is still competitive in most races and should be thereabout again this week.
8. SPEEEEED(IRE)- (apacalypse) 4yo filly by Sinndar(IRE) out of a Storm Creek mare. Prolific winner of 14 races but all but 1 have come in the starter and claimer ranks. She is eligible for much easier races and will find most of these a bit slick.

I think Carson A.S. may have the class to take home the chocolates and her pre post odds of 9/5 certainly point us in that direction. Band Out of Boston is a quality mare and should push Carson A.S. most of the way with Windbeneathmywings(GB) able to pick up a slice in consecutive weeks.

Good luck to all.

Bigkev