Short Field for Victoria Feature

Short Field for Victoria Feature

Victoria – Saturday’s feature will be the 11 furlong Viva Vitesse and a relatively well matched field of five older fillies and mares will be trying their best to take home the major portion of the $75,000 purse.  The race will be held over a turf course classified as firm the slight favorite, Auror, is the only horse that is not Irish-bred.  Here’s a look at the field from the inside out.

It’s a good thing I am not a track announcer because I couldn’t pronounce this name if I only had to say it once.  Dr. Schneidbaitzim (7/2) is a well built 7 YO mare by Theatrical and is trained by Frosty.  She has won six of 25 and in her last eight has won two allowance races as well as a restricted stakes but the viable pressure above her left knee may be the reason she has tailed off recently.  The well-bred mare can certainly handle the distance but her under achieving pilot leaves a little something to be desired here.  It is a small field and maybe he can just hang on and let her do it on her own.

Post two will hold Ossy3’s great claim, Bonsai (5/2), a 4 YO, chestnut filly by High Chaperral who loves her new home and connections.  Taken in a winning effort three back, she strove to please by winning her next two also, giving her a total of four career wins.  Her solid speed figures and good form give her a great chance on Saturday to make it four in a row.

Gweneth (4/1) is one of two by Galileo in the race.  Conditioned by Singhis, the plain brown 4 YO filly has won five of 24 starts and she can certainly handle the distance.  She went wire to wire in the Mother Babe at 12 furlongs and came back with a second at the same distance lacking only a needed kick in the stretch.  She didn’t fair well in the Grade I, Pat Eddery and was dropped back in class last time out but the 16 furlongs was a bit beyond her ability and she faded badly.  She’s back in a short field and at a distance she likes and will probably try and take the field gate to wire. 

Devil01 is the trainer of record of Kgbeast (5/2) the other daughter of Galileo.  With six wins from 16 starts she has won three of her last eight including her last two, both at 11 furlongs.  She is moving back up the class ladder but the two confidence builders may have been just what the doctor ordered and with her stakes experience she should place well on Saturday.

The only non-Irish horse in the field is in post five, Auror (2/1).  The 4YO filly by Sadler’s Wells is named after her owner/trainer Auror and has been in the money in 11/18 starts with five wins including three of her last eight.  She loves the distance and also the front end and will be taking on Bonsai in a game of catch us if you can.  She finished second in the Granny English and The Well Runs Deep Memorial and if her jockey (looking for only his 2^nd win of the year) won’t interfere she could get part.  Realistically, jockeys don’t know that they are called pinheads for a reason and will probably try to ride her.