Murf in Viking raid

1 – 254~0894 – Singing Stone – Bdhp – W. Farthing – 8/1

Experienced Palace Music mare who has won 10 of her 51 starts and amassed just under $500k in win and place prizemoney. A Grade 2 6f winner early on as a 3 year old, she has maintained much of her speed throughout her career and was placed twice in G3 class last season. She was just under 3 lengths behind Lily Mansfield at the Equinics where she found the 5.5f on the sharp side, and came with a late run to finish in the midfield. She comes here off a 4th in a Stakes race which should set her up nicely for this but, even though higher quality races seem to suit her style, she has`nt managed a win in her last 13 races now and it`s doubtful she`ll break that losing streak in this company.

2 – 81~41261 – Bengal Murf – Ossy10 – J. Jacobsen – 4/1fav

Apparently late developing 7 year old, by Zafonic, who did`nt see the racetrack until 4 where, after winning a maiden, she came back injured and was sidelined for over a year. After resuming full training at the beginning of last season it did`nt take long for this chestnut mare to put the stop-start nature of her beginnings firmly behind her. After winning 3 allowances she was`nt disgraced when leading for most of the way in the G1 Tryptich Memorial and, after disappointing in a G3, she was switched to Ossy10`s stable at the end of the year. Her new owner has been keeping her busy with 5 runs already this season and judging by her last run (a career best 105sp and her first Stakes victory) she is still an improving, if relatively older, mare. She`ll ensure there`s plenty of pace on here and is a leading player.

3 – 2075~102 – Kylie – Thediv – P. Ibrox – 5/1

Ranked 53 in the turf sprinting division is this daughter of Langfuhr who took until her 4th year to start making a genuine impact on the sim and she was a 3 time stakes winner. She was competing well, without ever winning, in G1 races last season and it must of been a relief for her owner to see her taking a G3 (on her first try in that grade) over 7f at the beginning of this year. She ran well in a decent looking Stakes race last time out, the overall balance of her form suggests she is more than capable in this class and she has every chance.

4 – 613~2424 – Dance Lover – Stlcards2 – M. Santos – 12/1

This lovely looking dark grey mare, by Unbridled`s Song out of a mare by Gulch, is another of the runners who has had an intermittent racing career since her 3 year old debut back in 2002. Stricken with niggling injuries early in her career it was`nt until the end of last season, after being snapped up by Stlcards2 for $35k (no doubt with breeding possibilities in mind), that she looked like she could finally start putting a sequence together. After going close in allowance class she was stepped up to Stakes level for the first time 2 weeks ago where she was always up with the pace and kept on well for 4th (3l behind Bengal Smurf) with her best ever sp of a 100. This is another step up for this 7 year old and even though she has plenty to find with the favourite she could`nt be completely ruled out.

5 – 792~2321 – Wildest Slew – Anymore – P. Cody – 7/1

4yo filly from an indistinguished family began her early career on dirt (multiple Stakes winner) but she lost her way and was only switched to grass towards the backend of last year. Her 4 runs this year all imply that her owner`s descision to give her a change in surface has worked the trick and she`s been in the money in 3 small Stakes races, winning last time out. She is another of the field making their Graded debut and, even though not far behind a good sort on her first run this year, she will need a lifetime best if she is to challenge for this.

6 – 60215~01 – A P Rizz kid – Lordpye2 – R. Douglass – 7/1

Superbly bred 4yo, by AP Indy, who is related to the G1 winning Donnire Rizzo has been handled with care by her prudent owner. She was placed in a G2 at 2 in only 4 races and then an inconsistent 3 year old campaign was abruptly ended and she was given plenty of time off. After blowing away the cobwebs on her return to the track on her penultimate run, she was very impressive when taking a 7f allowance last time by almost 4 lengths. Although she`s still a fair way off her best juvenile form, the manner of her latest win could`nt be ignored and she`s one for the shortlist.

7 – 55~41044 – Undoubled Dane G – Medusa – M. Mason – 5/1

Veteren mare, by Danehill, has been a consistent Stakes runner through the years and this will be her 63rd start. She has been a great servant to her owner and is a cracking prospect as a broodmare but, after a switch across the Atlantic this season failed to bring about any improvement, it looks like she`s past her best and is likely to struggle in this class.

8 – 314~1276 – Lily Mansfield – Bigmoose2 – P. Jones – 8/1

Lightly raced Deputy Minister filly was the subject of some good reports from Bigmoose`s stable prior to her first 3 runs in maidens on dirt where she was the beaten favourite on two of those occasions. Switching to grass brought an immediate improvement and she won on her debut on that surface aswell as taking an allowance at the end of her 3 year old season. The inevitable trip across the Atlantic happened at the beginning of this year where she travelled to Italy for an owner restricted Stakes trial race which she narrowly won and that victory got her picked for a place on the GR Simsters team for the Equinics. Coming from midfield she done her residency proud in the Yves Saint-Martin to finish 1 length 2nd to a proven Grade winner and, even though she`s had two disappointing efforts since, a reproduction of that Equinics form would see her go close.

9 – 6142~351 – Sassyfrassy – Mossbunker – D. Jacobssen – 15/1

Outsider of the 10 is this 5yo daughter of Jade Hunter who has won 3 allowances throughout her career but has always struggled in Stakes class and there is a strong suspicion that this graded company will be beyond her.

10 – 63~15112 – Hide And Chic – 2totango – R. Lyles – 5/1

Although this Seeking The Gold filly is the least experienced of the field she is certainly one of those with a big chance. Unraced at 2, she won her first 3 starts last season as a 3 year old on dirt and it was`nt until a poor effort in a G3 at the beginning of this year that she was given a go on turf. After taking an allowance race, she ran out a cosy winner of the Big Nijinsky Stakes and then ran well for 2nd in that class 2 weeks ago in Texas. She makes the trip from America for this and, provided that long haul journey has`nt took it`s toll, she is still unexposed on this surface and could still be improving.

Summary

The old guard of Singing Stone, Undoubled Dane G and Kylie all look vulnerable to one of the younger fillies although the latter still retains plenty of ability. Favourite Bengal Murf would of preferred a few drops of rain but she will still make a bold bid from the front and, judging by the time of her latest win, she could be difficult to get past. It`s hard to see Dance Lover reversing placings with the favourite especially over half a furlong less, Wildest Slew has plenty to prove in this grade and the distance is an unknown for Hide And Chic in the outside box. The 2 most likely challengers to BM are AP Rizz Kid, who was most impressive last time out and signalled a return to her best, and Lily Mansfield, the highest ranked in the field, who bids to put her 2 poor latest efforts behind her.

1 – Bengal Murf

2 – AP Rizz Kid

3 – Lily Mansfield