Arky’s Back
Week 2580 has come around, and it’s all hands back on deck for the Bugler. Yours truly returns to the paddock at First up after the summer break is the AMERICAN CHANT Challenge over seven and a half furlongs for two year old fillies. A very handy indeed purse of $80,000 is on offer for this main track stoush. Disappointingly only three genuine runners have made the trip, with the field rounded out to four by a single pool entry. Due to such a small field, and unfortunately what looks to be a rather easily predicted race, I thought I’d emphasize more on the very high quality breeding lines of these little ladies. 1. GO FL GATORS – oncloud9 – Lemon Drop Kid/ Affirmed/ Gulch First steps into stakes company for this girl, straight from MSW glory. Sired by one of the more popular Kingmambo sons, her lines are confidently up by tried and tested blood. All in all the combination used absolutely screams sprinter, and if one were to use the second generation as a reference, then it would be difficult to find a better potential sprinter combination sim-wide. Although still technically early in the 2yo season Lemon Drop Kid has only managed a handful or so of Stakes winners, but I’ve no doubt as the season becomes more intense this factor will change. This youngster is the second of a Lemon Drop Kid/ Affirmed combo, the other resulting in another filly by the name of Lemon Fresh. History will show that despite always being thereabouts, it took 15 attempts before the mentioned finally broke her maiden two weeks ago. The difference in our case here however is our DDS. Although of minimal impact independently I believe, the overall combo must make a difference. Our test case Lemon Fresh boasts Carleon as the DDS, and the stats show in this position our DDS totally contradicts our S and DS preferred offspring distance. For the positive Gulch is right on the money, a proven sprinter DDS backing up a sprinter s and DS combo. As for GO FL GATORS, all in all a very well thought out lineage, and one that should prove very fruitful in months if not years to come. So what about the race I hear you ask, well to be honest, this one I don’t think will be hers. She’s up against two competitors with solid runs on the board. She’ll improve no question, but her two rivals are likely to improve just as much at the same time. A few more races down the track however, watch out for this one, she’s a beauty. 2. DESEEKER – rockriver2 – Dehere/ Seeking the Gold/ Nureyev Once again another solidly bred sprinter, and consequently the results have proven just that. Three wins from four starts is a more than desirable start to any horses’ career. I do find it interesting, and highly inspirational I must say, that the far and away the best offspring of this sire, Bird Penguin, was mated to a Northern Dancer lineage. Rockriver2 however decided to take the only real other path and fire up the Mr. Prospector engines, producing awesome success to date. In some ways it makes logical sense, Bird Penguin appears to be a dead set freak, although an extremely wealthy one. On the other hand a vast majority of the Dehere failures have in fact also been mated to a Northern Dancer line in some shape or form. There’s no need for me to wish rockriver2 luck, this filly is destined to be a champion, and she’s already shown that. This week’s race I hear you ask? Goodness me, try and stop her from winning! 3. WONDERGIRL EXTASY – zeco7 – Rahy/ Geri/ Riverman Another well bred sprinter on paper it would seem at first glance but the stat’s show otherwise. Beyond maiden glory, Rahy statistically is a route thrower left right and centre. As a result, one wonders whether this run could be a step towards progressively lengthening things out. This filly is unique in being the only Rahy/ Geri combination thus far in sim history, a trait I look very highly upon. It’s very easy to find a recipe that works, copy it and drown one’s self in the gravy. To go out on a limb and try something new shows bravery, and definitely gets my thumbs up. As with the #1, on face value one could look at the first line and think, “Gee that’s very nice indeed”, but take a step beyond, and the combo becomes very serious stuff indeed. Absolutely extraordinary sprinting power, backed up by a statistically solid and consistent combination. Another star in the making. This one picked up a closing fourth in a stakes last time out straight from MSW company, so apparently it seems has no trouble dealing with the higher level of competition. She won’t beat the favourite, who just that one step ahead of her at the moment, but second is in the bag. 4. BEST LINDA – *Computer – Now before I have thousands pinning my carcass to the fence for target practice, I thought it only fair to take a look at this little lady as well, despite her current living arrangements. Purely due to the fact that she’s amongst the current pool, and for all anybody knows she may be considered in the near future by a new stable, so a written opinion that may happen to be read, might just help in some way. I don’t think it would take Einstein to work out that this gal is pure bargain bred. Her most direct line does give some hope however, the Mr. Prospector factor cannot be ignored, added to that Nijinsky II and Raise a Native. I honestly feel that such a distant relation to real quality in the DS, and DDS lines is more than likely to outweigh the Sire line, but it may just be worth the punt, stranger things have happened. Clearly this season hasn’t done her many favours, but a little maturity on her side, and who’s to say what might happen. A patient trainer might just get success and unquestionable value for money with this one. As for her chances this weekend, she’s good for fourth place. Well there my gusto on