Small Field in Ostend

Race ID:2958.3610
Race # 10
The NEW ATLANTIS Memorial
Stakes
A mile and five sixteenths
Firm Turf
$40,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

PP  Age      Horse                           Owner              Odds     Pedigree
1    3M        AZKABAN                     lenny4              13/1     Rainbow Quest x Lyphard x Roberto

Record: 9 races: 2-4-1 (wins: MSW + 1 allowance)

Trainer Lenny has a very nicely bred colt here which indeed should be suited for longer distances. In 9 races he only won twice and those were his first two races.  In his third races he managed to run 3th in a Stakes, but the G2 that followed was too soon for him. Afterwards he ran 5 allowances of which the swith to dirt did not work out , but in the 4 turfallowances he always finished second place. It is clear seeing his results that he needs more distance and it looks like the trainer is very slowly stretching him. He found a small Stakesfield here and the horse is the outsider. This one needs some time and will improve with growing older.

2    4M        BARB’S COMFORT(IRE)  marybarn          5/2       Theatrical x Seeking the Gold x AP Indy

Record: 25 races: 10-2-4 (wins: MSW + 1 allowance + 7 Stakes + 1 G2)

Wow, what a record. This surely is a colt with a history. From day 1 he started racing as a 3y old he won a lot and had a great year last year. This year however he only won 1 Stakes and hit the board twice in two other Stakes. At first sight it looks like he had his part of the fame and his best days are over. I do not think he is competitive at this moment in the Graded Races but in a small Stakesfield like this he can be deadly. Don’t forget he is still at place 44 in the Turf Classic Ranks and I do think his last 3 results may be deceiving. He did ran a 98SP in a G1 last time. This is a step back which might suit him better.  Only ran on turf in his carreer btw and first time on 10.5f now.

3    4M        EXBOURNE’S BREACH    punter69           5/1       Runaway Groom x Danehill x Sadler’s W.

Record: 23 races: 6-5-5 (wins: MSW + 5 allowances)

This one is bred out of a mare (grade F) who won 7 races all on Turf (also no Stakeswins btw).

It took some time for this colt to break his maiden last year, but as soon as he broke it he clearly improved fast. Unlike the first two horses in this race he already did run a lot of races in routes and with good speeds. So I do think the distance in this race will be a bit too short for him. He does not have a lot of Stakesexperience and his last race was a similar Stakes (bigger field though). He will need to improve if he wants to make a chance. I would have given hime a better chance with more ground.

4    6M        RONALDO’S SWORD      jh                     9/5       Pentelicus x Explodent x Bold Bidder

Record: 29 races: 10-7-6 (wins: MSW + 3 allowances + 6 Stakes)

Amazing if you see that he ran top 3  in 23 of his 29 races. Almost for 3 years this colt is racing on Stakeslevel. His very best times seem to be behind him but he still is going over 100SP very regularily. Very much suited for the Classic Distance but his results show that his speeds over 10 furlong or not so good. To me he still looks very competitive but I think the race will be 1 furlong too long for him and there are better candidates. His last win also is about half a year ago. Very nice horse though and he drew the topjockey. Not only for the booies but also for me the favourite in this race.

5    4M        BANE(IRE)                    samurai                        5/1       High Chaparral x Danehill x Pleasant Col.

Record: 21 races: 7-4-1 (wins: MSW + 1 allowance + 5 Stakes)

This colt won 5 Stakes but was only able to run +100 SP twice in his carreer. That fact was what struck me most on this very nice breed. He also does not really seem to be in form and already finished way back in 4 of his 7 races this year. The distance of 10,5 f in this race must though be ideal for this one and I hope for his trainer that this race might be a chance to improve again and pick up some form. He surely must be capable to do that.

6    5M        BROCCO’S WILD CAT    princematt        3/1       Tactical Cat x Brocco x Naskra

Record: 32 races: 8-4-10 (wins: MSW + 2 claimers + 4 allowances + 1 Stakes)

Not the oldest horse of this bunch but the one with most races. This guy had a difficult time as a 2 year old and only broke his maiden in a turfsprint at the end of his first year. No spectacular speed though and so his trainer wisely started entering him in claimers: he picked up checks very often , was never claimed by someone else, disappointed in a Starter Allowance. Still his trainer held on to this horse, probably thinking that this one was a good bpearner. At 4y he was entered on 12f and won. Since then things started turning around and he got competitive in the allowanceraces and recorded his first 100SP end of last year. Beginning of this year he was still in the allowanceranks and then his trainer decided to go for the Stakes. With success: he won his first Stakes last race (small field though) and did record 3 times a +100SP this year. I admire the patience of the trainer: it certainly was worth it.

Prediction: with the topjock on his back and a lot of experience RONALDO’S SWORD will be the colt to beat. BROCCO’S WILD CAT and BARB’S COMFORT will be his direct rivals. The young AZKABAN will have to watch out to not to be dropped out off the pack too soon

PP4

PP2

PP6