GENERAL’S CHARIOT CHOICE FOR GOLD

GENERAL’S CHARIOT CHOICE FOR GOLD

*SPRINT CHAMPION LOOKS TO ADD EQUINICS GLORY*


By: Kingab

(Italy) Making his first start as a four-year-old, Proudtruth Stable’s hugely-popular sprint star General’s Chariot will be favored to humble nineteen rivals and add an Equinics gold medal to his already sparkling resume. The gorgeous little pudding-brown son of Gone West has won Eclipse Awards in each of the last two years, as well as the adoration of racing fans everywhere. It can easily be argued that he is possibly the most well loved horse ever in the sim, due his muscular good looks, along with his outstanding race record. It doesn’t hurt him at all that he is owned and trained by one of the sim’s all time favorite people, the charismatic editor of the BTB, snowchief. The beautiful turf course of Italy will be the setting for the G1 six-furlong turf test for a purse of $1million and a shiny gold medal, as well as heartfelt thanks from the residency members to which the winner belongs. No one will admit to settling for them now, but the second and third place horses will receive a silver and bronze medal for their efforts.

However, before we give The General his gold medal and all of the applause and plaudits that come with it, he has a race to win against nineteen hard-trying rivals. The field is loaded with potential upsetters, and The General will have to return to the races ready to fire to pull off a victory over the bulky field. There are a few in here with a solid chance to pull off a victory, while some are in here only because they were the best that their residency had to enter. No matter. It’s an honor just to run in these Equinics races, and its history is loaded with horses that ‘had no chance‘ but took home the gold. Let’s take a look at the twenty-horse field.


PP 1 – Digging The Grave – Zewango2 – 7/1 – DelPenn – An absolute rocket out of the gate, this grey streak is the one the field will have to catch if they want to have their picture taken. He lost a heartbreaker to General’s Chariot in a three-horse photograph on Breeders Bowl day, and has come back to win a G1 and a G3 since then. He’s as honest as they come, and has proven it with 11 wins in 19 starts. If the rest of the field allows him to set his own pace, he will be very difficult to catch, and a gold medal possibility for the DelPenn gang. The number one post is usually a very bad draw for a sprinter, but in The Grave’s case it isn’t since he is leaving the switch flying anyway, and only a bad break could see him trapped behind a wall of horses. Very dangerous no matter how the race is run, and a threat every time he goes in the gate.

PP 2 – Xtremely Today – Mrfu – 15/1 – Ireland – This horse’s new trainer got a lot out of his new acquisition, finishing third against some very good company in a graded stakes race. That being said, I am sure that this field is much tougher, so it’s going to be hard for him to pull this off. However, a lot of handicappers think that the second start off the claim is the time to bet a horse, because the new trainer now knows a lot more about his new charge, and will improve him in the second start. Still, to me, losing to $35k claimers two starts back make him a risky bet to beat a group of this caliber.

PP 3 – Gold Inferno – Correction – 11/1 –Vermont – Five-star rated trainer doesn’t spot his horses where they can’t win, and they’re always ready to run, so this colt can’t be completely ignored. He does have a graded stakes win on his resume, and in his last graded try he simply ran out of room going five and one-half furlongs. Like a number of others in here, he is at his best when falling far off the pace, so a lot of things will have to go his way for him to get the gold. You can do a lot worse than backing this trainer’s horses, so don’t be surprised if he runs well. Kind of an outsider against these, but not completely out of it and a medal would not shock me.

PP 4 – General’s Chariot – Proudtruth – 5/1 – North West Racing Circuit – Two-time Eclipse Award winning champion makes his first start as a four-year-old, and his first start off of an eight-week freshening. This is the longest break he has ever had between starts in his career, and no one can be positive how it will affect him. However, he won his debut race very easily, and he won his first start as a three-year-old with no problems at all, so he runs well fresh. When at the top of his game, there is no turf sprinter in the world that can handle ‘The General’, as his lethal stretch kick has brought him home first 13 times in 14 sprint starts. Not sure if he needs a race or not to be at his best, but I would think that he needed a little rest after his exhausting three-year-old campaign. Nobody knows this little package of dynamite like his very astute trainer, and I am sure she has him ready to go. He is one of the all-time favorite horses to ever race in the sim, and his legion of fans will certainly be there to cheer him on. He is the one to beat and my pick to take home the gold.

PP 5 – Wonderboy Brian – Zeco2 – 29/1 – Benelux – At one time this veteran was a threat to win anytime he went to the post, but those days look like they have long passed him by. He hasn’t posted a speed figure in some time that would come close to winning this. I think you can throw out the last two starts because of the off-track, but he still would have to show much more than he has in quite some time to be a threat here.

PP 6 – Tete Not Galileo(IRE) – Racelord – 10/1 – Viking Racing – One of the all-time great trainers will saddle this very dangerous five-year-old. He is another among many in here who is completely void of any early speed, and will make a late run for medal glory. These late closers will all be compromised by the sheer size of the field, and luck will certainly play a part for a few of them. Some will be lucky to find running room, while others will fall victim to poor racing luck and never get a chance to show their best. This son of Galileo(IRE) lost to The General by only a length the last time they met at this very distance, so you know he is quite capable. With good racing luck he is a threat to medal, and gold is not out of the question. Dangerous with his best run, and because of his trainer, has to be respected.

PP 7 – Living Dead – Aces1201 – 39/1 – Great Plains – It’s certainly an honor to compete in an Equinics race, and this guy’s trainer will always remember that his charge was here. If he wins it, we will all remember that he was here because it would be one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game. He is a nice allowance horse, but he looks simply over-matched against these.

PP 8 – Quite Right – Gamehhh – 24/1 – Aaa Racing – Seven-year-old has a lot going against him in this spot. He appears to be a ‘need-the-lead’ type to win, and I doubt if he can outrun Digging The Grave for early command of the race. Dangerous if he is on the lead alone, but it’s hard to see that happening in this situation. His last four speed figures make me think he is going in the wrong direction. He has a lot to overcome and is a dicey proposition at best.

PP 9 – Dixie Leon – Court1 – 43/1 – Epsom Downs Residency – Only three wins in twenty-four lifetime starts, and not one speed figure in the triple-digit range, make it extremely hard for me to find any positives for this colt. It’s an honor to be selected for the Equinics, but I doubt there will be any medals for this guy.

PP10 – Duex Bloon(IRE) – Mofofarms – 14/1 – The Kentucky Horsemen – You have to go back a dozen starts to find the last time this over-achieving son of Double Trigger(IRE) ran in a sprint race. His sprint record is five wins from seven starts, but that fine record was not earned against the type of horses he faces today. A very versatile colt, he can lead, stalk, or close, and it will be up to his rider to make that call. However he chooses to make his run he has his work cut out for him, because despite his seven stakes victories he has yet to win a graded race of any kind. Not an impossible feat, but a lot would have to go his way to make that dream come true. Any medal would have to be considered a good day.

PP11 – Otto O – 2die4 – 9/1 – GR Simsters – Solid connections for this impeccably bred son of Storm Cat, who with some luck, can pull this off. He is a stone-cold closer, who is probably running about a furlong short of his best distance, thus the need for luck There are very few horses in the world that possess a closing kick like he does, but with a full field of twenty and the traffic problems it presents, it’s asking a lot of him. If the early speed all knock themselves out, and the stalkers don’t get a big jump on him, then this guy could nail them all at the wire. If you bet on him don’t bother watching until they hit the eighth pole, because you may get discouraged. However, he won’t be hard to find at that point because he will probably be the one running fastest of all. He has a chance if he can find running room among the bulky field, and you can upgrade his chances if the turf comes up soggy. A medal of some sort, including gold, is very possible for this grade-one winner of over $1.5 million.

PP12 – Azure Giant – Nameless – 42/1 – Ohio Thoroughbred Racing – No ‘in-the-money’ stakes finishes and not one triple-digit speed figure in his entire 15 race career tell you all you need to know about this guy’s chances. Welcome to the Equinics and I hope everyone associated with this horse enjoys all the festivities. There is food, drink, and some great racing going on, so except for this race, his connections should at least enjoy the day – but we wish you luck.

PP13 – Kris Deberg – Roberto – 34/1 – Down Under Racing – Well-bred, lightly raced four-year-old could have a nice future, but that future doesn’t look like it will include today. The switch to turf was like a light going on for this guy. His speed figures and ability are much higher and much better on grass than on the main track. His two stakes appearances were dismal at best, and unfortunately this race should be more of the same. Would be a real shock to see him make an impact with this group and take home a medal.

PP14 – Muadib – Eddielegg – 26/1 – Alpine Turf Club – Lightly raced four-year-old seems to be improving, but I’m not sure if he has improved enough to handle this field. His connections have to be thrilled that he came from out-of-the-clouds to almost catch Digital Overture in his last start, while running a half-furlong shorter than today’s distance. Lots to overcome against these, but stranger things have happened, and even at this price a medal is not out of the question.

PP15 – Third String –Ashokfarms – 17/1 – Minnesota – Talented trainer brings a solid allowance horse to the big dance, but it will take a lot more than that to get the job done here. Eight wins and eight seconds attest to his honesty, but he has only run in one stakes race his entire career. He did finish a good second in that race, so I am not sure why he hasn’t been tried again in stakes. Bottom line is that this G1 spot looks way too tough for this colt, and any medal would surprise me.

PP16 – Kvort – Hullwayne – 20/1 – GSR – I think his very fine trainer now knows that this guy wants to sprint, because that last race at two turns was nothing like what this horse has shown so far. Lightly raced with only a dozen starts, this son of Cat Thief has seven wins already, including three stakes. This is his first attempt at graded quality horses so a win would be a surprise, but he does have a good stalk and pounce style going for him. However, needing to raise his speed figures considerably, as well as tackling graded foes for the first time, makes him a tough sell against this field.

PP17 – Weed Rat(IRE) – Nancy – 27/1 – The CR Racers – Another very lightly raced four-year-old who is representing the residency that I belong to, so I wish him the best of luck. This is the first time he is leaving the wading pool to go swim with the big fishes, and I’m not exactly sure what to expect. His speed figures are on the rise, but they would have to jump considerably higher for him to be a major threat. It’s also the first graded race for this guy, and his connections sure never picked an easy spot for that. I think a medal would be a bit of a surprise today, but the future certainly looks rosy for this son of Noverre(IRE). Besides, don’t you absolutely love that name for a turfer?

PP18 – Digital Overture – Spelunker – 10/1 – Nexis – Speedy colt who possesses almost as much speed as Digging The Grave. He was never more than a length and one-half behind that top rival in the G1 Japan Cup at today’s distance, but couldn’t quite run him down while finishing a solid second. Not sure how his trainer is going to try to have him run this race, but we have been looking at horrible post positions for a few horses now, and the draw didn’t help this guy any. You know a speed duel can’t help him, nor would it help Digging The Grave, but it sure looks like it’s coming. While one is buried down inside the other is extremely wide, so they will both have to use their natural speed to secure position. I doubt they can take back much on this speedball, as he is sure to resent it, but wouldn’t it be fascinating to see what happens if he outbreaks Digging The Grave? You can never ignore quality that can set or stalk the pace, so he does have a chance to medal if everything goes his way.

PP19 – Hear Him Roar – Smubs – 76/1 – Fun And Friends Stable Club – At this point in his career this colt is more comfortable in $50k claiming races than he is anywhere else. He has some speed, but he will quickly find out that claiming speed is not quite the same as stakes speed. I don’t think he has any shot at all with this group, and very little hope of leaving with a medal.

PP20 – Twice Told Tale – Nextbonus – 8/1 – Queensland – There is no doubt that Bonus can train, and he shows up here with a most interesting horse, but has a lot of obstacles that will challenge him. This six-year-old warhorse is pennies shy of becoming a millionaire, but he does have problems to overcome today, including the horrible post he drew. He has posted speed figures that are no doubt good enough to win this, but he has won most of his cash at a mile or longer. It really looks like this distance is too short for him, but he has won three of five sprint starts, so it wouldn’t come as a complete surprise. It’s impossible to ignore a horse that has posted a 121-speed figure, so whatever he accomplishes today can’t be too shocking. A threat to medal if he can overcome the post draw, shorten up in distance, and bring his ‘A’ game.

SUMMARY: With the appearance of The General, this Equinics turf dash is in the spotlight more than ever before. However, this is NOT a walkover for snow’s colt, as there are a number of top-flight challengers in here. A win by Digging The Gold, Otto O, Tete Not Galileo, Digital Overture, and Twice Told Tale would come as no surprise. There are even a couple of longer shots that could surprise and take home the gold. It’s a fascinating race, and I can’t wait to see it. Good luck to all