Two Year Old Action In Ireland!

Welcome back to Ireland! I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. While we were on break, the youngsters have been busy getting their careers off to a fast start. We have nine of them here today, including a stakeswinner as well as a stakesplaced filly. The race is The Mr. Falutin’ Bonanza, a 6.5 furlong event on the turf for a purse of $75,000. Let’s take a look at the entries.

On the rail at 8/1 is All That Hope (Strong Hope x Glitterman), owned by dioscuri. If you discount his first two starts, which were both on an off track, the 78 speed figure he ran last time out would seem to hold plenty of promise. This trainer has a 3yo Strong Hope colt in another stable who just ran a 107 in a turf sprint, so the hopes are that this one will turn out the same. Mizzi Russell(9%) gets the nod.

In post two at 21/1 is the unraced colt Slip The Boot In(Ire) (Best of the Bests(Ire) x Sharan(GB)), owned by randwick1. It’s hard to guess what kind of horse this baby will grow up to be. His sire has two graded winners, one on each surface. He’s got runners that are sprinting, and runners that are winning at 14f. He’s been given some nice mares, including graded winners like Sister Rum. This mare isn’t quite so nice, but she did win 8 races, and was quite versatile, just like Bests. It’s most likely asking a bit much to start this colt out in stakes, but you never know until they run the race.

In post three at 5/1 is Jacobite Omega (Omega Code x Pilsudski(Ire)), owned by felony. This guy finished second in his debut, then came back in his next race and increased his speed figure by ten whole points, running a 77. This guy is the only winner so far out of Omega Code’s second crop, but his first crop has some pretty nice dirt runners in it. Perhaps this colt can give him a reputation for siring turf runners, also. G. Tiggle(3%) isn’t the best choice, but he’s been riding him in the mornings and seems to have connected with him nicely.

In post four at 5/1 is Elf Sweeper (King Richard x El Gran Senor), owned by rmkj20. He won his debut clear back in March in Michigan, and was promptly shipped to Spain. A not-so-inspiring performance there led to a try on dirt in a stakes, where he finished third by only a length. A return trip on dirt resulted in an identical speed figure, so he went back to turf last time out, where he looked very sharp in winning a NW2L in Norway with a 76. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of this colt. A. Ebert(9%) will be riding.

In post five is the local filly A Wee Bit Irish(Ire) (Doyen(Ire) x Johannesburg), owned by buttons. She won at first asking in a 20 filly field, and then just missed in an allowance next time out. Liking what he saw, her trainer opted for a stakes for her next start, but she met a strong field and finished third, behind an unbeaten Gone West filly and an Aussie-bred filly who is now a graded winner. Her next race against the boys was even tougher, but she should have an easier time of it today even at 8/1, especially with A. Reed(16%) in the leathers.

In post six at 5/1 is Barb’s Rushing Me(Ire) (Manndar(Ire) x Barathea(Ire)), owned by jakematt5. His first two starts, both on an off track, resulted in wins in a maiden and a stakes. In his next race, one of the colts he beat in his previous start got his revenge, beating him by less than a length. He also finished second last time out, but with three of his four runs having speed figures in the 70’s and showing an improvement in his figure each time out, he looks like the horse to beat here. Or at least, he would, if he didn’t have M. Robinson up, who has yet to win a race this year.

In post seven at 9/2 is Greeny(GB) (Diesis(GB) x Theatrical(Ire)), owned by ggoff. He won his last race, a 9 furlong allowance, by an astounding 5 lengths. He has also won an allowance at 6 furlongs, with a top speed figure of 73 in his maiden win, also at 6 furlongs. So he’s proven he has some speed at a sprint distance, but after that last race I’m not sure why he hasn’t been kept in routes, unless there were none to be found. Of course, the cutback in distance often results in a higher speed figure, so between that and having top jockey Z. Kentucky(21%) on board, he’s the top choice to beat the favourite.

Speaking of favourites, ours is coming out of post eight. Paycheck(Ire) (Montjeu(Ire) x Green Desert) goes off at 3/1 and is owned by my buddy deyoto. (Hey Dey! 🙂 ) He’s been running in the Deep South, breaking his maiden in Mississippi with a 75, followed by a head loss in an allowance in Alabama with a 77. Chances are he will improve with distance (ala Wicked Wench), but considering he hasn’t been beyond 5.5, I guess this IS stretching out for him. The lovely E C Doyle(10%) is a nice choice, and will most likely try to keep him out of any speed duels that may develop.

Rounding out the field at 9/1 is Gonzo (Bold Executive x Pass Catcher), owned by aussie02. He began his career by winning a maiden claimer in impressive fashion, by nearly two lengths. He was moved right up into allowances, but didn’t fare so well in his first two. Last time out, though, he found the form he’d been looking for, beating a full field in an open allowance with a 79 speed figure. His pedigree isn’t much, but if he can run back to that performance, he will be right up there with these. N. Bruce(10%) is a decent enough jockey to get it done.

That is our field. As everyone knows, anything can happen in these 2yo events, as these horses all progress and grow at different rates. It looks like a very evenly-matched and competitive group, though, so I’m sure it will be quite exciting. Good luck to all the runners, and may they all come home sound.