The Wizard Memorial Stakes

Welcome to the week 2825 Good Friday Black Type Bugler coverage of The Wizard Memorial Stakes here in South Africa. The race is to be held over the six and one half furlongs on the firm turf course and is open to all horses who are 3 years old and is worth $70,000. A small but elite field has been assembled and it looks to be a keenly contested race for the first prize.

#1 Kirby’s Gone trained by Kirby55: A solid performing 3yo here by Ecton Park who has won 2 of his 15 starts. He makes the switch back from dirt to turf after some solid performances in stakes company. This guy has solid speed figures in the mid 80’s and has great stakes experience with 7 of his past 8 runs at this level. He is never far away but the query for me is the move back to the turf surface, he has been placed on the turf so hopefully that concern is unfounded. Looks a solid chance.

#2 Fleet Overture trained by Swale007: A very nice 3yo here who is by Afleet and has won 3 of his 12 races. Has been competing in stakes company for the majority of his races and has won at this level 4 starts back over the 6 furlongs. Did not appreciate the yielding turf 2 starts back but did bounce straight back last time out with a solid second in an allowance race. Has good speed figures and will jump straight to the lead and with the extra distance I think he will hold them off in the stretch.

#3 Conservatory trained by Elesto: Nice looking horse by Forty Niner and has won 2 of his 8 races. Has been competing well in stakes race his past 4 races when he has won at this level 4 starts back over this distance and on this surface with an 89 speed figure. Appears to have lost all form since then and that makes him difficult to tip but he does have the ability to be right in the finish here.

#4 Mister Migrane trained by Unclebucky. Nice looking colt by Pulpit who has only the one win to his record. Stepped right up in class to the Grade I All Your Base Are Belong To Us last time out and ran a respectable 8^th in that race. Drops right back in distance here and that could count against him. Has solid speed figures in the mid 80’s and give the right run he could be right in the mix here as he has a good sprinting record.

#5 Green Fields Ivor trained by Hawk7. A very nice looking horse by Green Desert here who has won 3 of his 11 starts including one at stakes level back in week 2580 over this distance and surface. Since then has not left stakes company and has always been around the mark but has not yet made that second win at this level, Has solid speed figures in the low 80’s but does like this distance. Interestingly is yet to try a route distance and with his closing third 2 runs back would appear to be crying out for atleast a mile in distance. A chance here however!

#6 Kawaka Niner trained by Kateri: Another nicely performed colt here who has won 4 of 9 races including one at stakes level. Dropped back to allowance level last time out for his first try at a route distance and was well held so drops back in distance here to his more favoured sprint trip but does rise back in class to stakes level. A solid stakes performer with speed figures in the high 80’s over these trips and he will definitely be right in the finish here.

A tricky race here with a number changing surfaces and distances, I think the winner looks to be #2 Fleet Overture from #6 Kawika Nine with a host who could run third.

Good luck to all.

Simon