Big Race Preview 2839

Only three grade I races this week. The mile stars are out to shine again in another grade I mile. Many of the top runners are turning back on short rest for this race. Three year old fillies are set to go a long way and that means a very wide open field. Finally there is a pretty solid field in place for a mile and a quarter in the turf.

Race: 2839.5315 All Comers Stakes – Grade I – $400,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

The top contenders here are all turning around on short rest. Manifest Destiny is the morning line favorite. Last time out in the Dr. Reuben Garr Memorial he ran out of room hard charging from the back to just miss at the wire. Manifest Destiny’s speed figures have declined in each of his last four starts. I think he will reverse that trend here and the short rest should not hurt him.

Xtremely a Fan also ran in the Dr. Reuben Garr Memorial sort of. He never really got going and although he was only three and a quarter lengths from the winner he finished ninth. He was behind a whole lot more runners than he usually runs and that could have had something to do with his off performance. He should fire back to one of his better races and in his case maybe the short rest helps.

Gingobell comes in after running fourth last week in the Sydney mile. He stalked the pace there and that could put him in good position here but on back to back weeks at this level seems a near impossible feat. Recoil also raced two weeks ago in the Texas Mile. He likes to be near the pace so he could be prominent here. Kyogle Tiger is the most well rested of the favorites. He ran a big speed figure in his last race finishing third. He has found it difficult to beat a field like this but is very capable of picking up the pieces and hitting the board.  Johnny Hollandia is the long shot to watch. He has won eight of his first six races and looks to be talented enough to compete here. 

Race: 2839.5415 Sydney Oaks – Grade I – $750,000
Track: New South Wales
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

This thing is wide open. Jaca appears to be a heavy favorite on the surface but she is untested past a mile and a sixteenth. She is the winner of the Breeder’s Bowl Juvy Filly Turf. In her last race she ran strong earning a very nice 97 speed figure. The track here favored the front runners last week but I think the distance is too far for Jaca.

Running Scared (IRE) has the look of a winner. She finally got around to running on the turf in her last race and it was a very good allowance win. Her pedigree would suggest this distance will be no problem and with one of the better speed figures coming into the race I think she is the one to beat. Northern Voyage (NZ) is a runner to watch. She is a deep closer and her few tries at a little bit longer distances have been solid. She has yet to win but they have been good enough to make you think she stands to improve with the added distance here.

Evelin is already a grade I winner. She just missed in a grade III at eleven furlongs two back. Evelin is all speed and that will put her in a good position here. She should give a good account of her self and would be no surprise to see in the winner’s circle.

Race: 2839.5916 The Black Dread Awakens – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Ireland
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

This grade I drew a small field. Preferred Power is the morning line favorite. He has been a very good race horse and is probably one of the best mile and a quarter turf horses going. He is a stalker type never really losing contact with the pace horses and will come flying when asked. He is in a pretty good grove right now despite finishing third in his last two races. Preferred Power should make short work of this field if he is on his game.

Savage Frontier is a grade III winner at this distance. On his best day he is capable of keeping up with the favorite. His last two races have been down from his previous form. He is a runner that has run well on both turf and dirt. Savage Frontier needs to reverse his form and get back to closing strong. Balerion is a pretty solid front runner. He finished second in the grade II Little Guppy last time out and has competed against Savage Frontier in the past. He will have his work cut out for him on the front end here.

Minesweeper sneaks into this race under the radar. He is a two time grade I winner. His form sucked at the beginning of this year but he looks like he might have turned things around with a very nice allowance score last time out. He should be stalking the early pace and if he has found his form again he is a threat.