$75000 Pal Starting Memorial Stakes

A field of 10 three-year-olds line up for the Pal Starting Memorial Stakes, a turf race over 6.5 furlongs in South Africa. Lest anyone forget, Pal Starting was a dual stakes winner of eight races back in 2000 for trainer hakim, having started out in the longchamp barn.

Back to this weekends feature, the most interesting point is that three of the 10 starters are fillies, and two of those find themselves top of the bookmakers boards. Let’s have a horse-by-horse look at the field, in betting order.

3/1 Brundle Hollandia – oostende3

This homebred daughter of Officer is ranked 8th in her division, has won four times from nine starts, is already a triple stakes winner, and last time out was flying up late to go down under a length in the Gr1 Eric Guerin. If she repeats that effort, though it was on a yielding track, the 3/1 on offer will look amazingly generous. She’s clearly the one to beat, especially with top jock Loesch aboard.

7/2 Fusaichi Inferno – correction

Royally bred, Fusaichi Inferno is a stakes winner of three races from eight starts. She’s held by Brundle Hollandia on their meeting the Eric Guerin last time out and is likely to prefer a touch more ground with her ‘come from the clouds’ running style. She’s a strong contender to finish in the money but is unlikely to turn the tables on the favourite.

4/1 Wigdan – prufrockja

This colt drops back into stakes company following two disappointing efforts at group level. Despite being only a one time winner, that being a maiden victory on debut, he is multiple stakes placed and shows a running style that suggests he will be in contention once they turn for home. A return to the form that he showed at the close of his juvenile season will make him a strong challenger to Brundle Hollandia.

8/1 Wonderboy Escobar – wonder1

A son of Kingmambo, Wonderboy Escobar makes his three-year-old debut having ended his juvenile campaign with a narrow stakes victory over this trip in Australia. Having already raced 11 times, he probably needed the break he has had and much will depend on how he has matured during his break and how fit he is for his return. He has a top rider aboard and could be in with a real chance of top honours.

8/1 King Lure – possumlake

King Lure is a very interesting runner here. His speed figure of 88 last time out brings him right into contention, but this is his first attempt against stakes company. Despite his strong closing style, both of his wins came over 6 furlongs with his losses over 6.5 furlongs. He’s very difficult to rate here, but clearly deserves his place in the field.

9/1 Frosting(Aus) – deeprock10

This Australian bred filly began her career with a big, beating the boys last month by more than four lengths, going away. She stepped straight into stakes company against fillies 11 days later and wasn’t disgraced when midfield. She returns again to face the boys only a week later and there must be a question about whether this is too much too soon. Her speed figures are definitely competitive enough for inclusion though.

9/1 Silver Colony – gamble4fun

With 12 runs behind him, Silver Colony is the most experienced runner in the field. While very consistent in allowance company, his two efforts at a higher level have been poor. A career best speed figure of 80 also suggests that he is not quite up to handling this class at this stage of his career and minor money is probably the best he can hope for here.

12/1 Minor Yours – twotwo

A steadily improving colt, Minor Yours is one of the dark horses in the pack. He comes here for his first attempt in stakes company following back-to-back allowance victories. He could in the shake-up when it matters, if he handles the step up in class.

16/1 Farax – bombsaway

Claimed from breeder Barcelona in a winning debut, Farax followed up with two more victories to be unbeaten in his first three starts. Stepping up to stakes class last time out, he was not disgraced despite being comfortably beaten. The drop back in distance this time will suit, and his connections will not be without hope of a good performance, despite the long odds.

23/1 Da Vinci Co Ed – randwick1

After a promising start to his career, Da Vinci Co Ed has regressed quite badly while trying to beyond sprint distances. Throwing the route and dirt efforts out of his past performances leaves him with a respectable juvenile formline, though he will have to raise his game by a fair margin to be involved in the fight here. In those recent route runs have clouded his true ability, perhaps he could cause an upset.

Summary

This is a very competitive event with many contenders in with a chance of running into the money, but I’m going to suggest that Brundle Hollandia has the class to return to the winners’ enclosure and pull off her fourth stakes victory, though she does face the colts for the first time.