Young Guns!
Residencies come and go, some stay awhile and others disappear within a few months. Two residencies that have managed to soldier on against the odds do battle this Saturday in what is being billed as the shootout for European supremacy. There may be one or two other residencies around who might take issue with that statement but if that is the case, let them put up or shut up.
Reputations are put on the line here to establish which residency has the better horses. Epsom Downs were that confident, they initiated the contest. EAAA are prepared to meet that challenge in the knowledge they can punch above their weight.
Let battle commence!
1 108292 RAISERIDGE(IRE) bwhisper Q Addleman 16/1
Representing EAAA
Very consistent animal in dirt sprints, his record reads 5: 2-1-2. The trip suits and if he runs up to form he’ll be banging on the door at the business end. Dangerous to leave out of calculations.
2 114813 YAFFA ROCK(IRE) deeprock4 W Cox 24/1
Representing Epsom Downs
This bargain-bred colt will have his work cut out for him on Saturday. His best runs have come in claiming company and he’s in here against stakes-quality horses. As good as his penultimate run looks on paper, the class barrier will come crashing down when he lines up with two classy EAAA representatives either side of him.
3 89674 WESTERN ALLIANCE(IRE) kevoman3 K Bedwell 12/1
Representing EAAA
Two dirt sprints from this son of Montjeu have yielded one win and a third in a listed event last time out. He obviously takes after the distaff side of his family where he is inbred 3×4 to Mr. Prospector. He was beaten by two very high-class animals last time and it is doubtful there is anything of their caliber in this field, so he should go very close.
4 49959 MISS BLADE deeprock E Eleniak 27/1
Representing Epsom Downs
Another representative from Epsom Downs that has graduated through the claiming ranks. A personal best last time out in a restricted allowance race shows she’s going the right way, but she will require another PB just to make the top 5 here.
5 114203 SLIPPERY MANN(IRE) glehman B Christopher 22/1
Representing Epsom Downs
Lightly-raced type who has definitely got a future in route races. Did well to get up on the line last time out over this trip but I fear he will be making up his ground far too late on Saturday. Could squeak a top 5 finish.
6 104267 CRIMSON REALITY hawk4 J Plumber 16/1
Representing EAAA
This filly looks equally adept on either surface although marginally preferring the dirt. She was a winner at the distance last time out and looks a solid contender for the EAAA contingent. Two wins from her last three runs mark her out as a filly in form and if any of the more flashier colts fail to shine on the day she could be the one picking up the pieces.
7 100101 MR DEVIOUS londoner R Harzheim 12/1
Representing EAAA
Top jock R Harzheim had his pick of these and this is the one he went with. Multi stakes-winning juvenile, he’s found it tough going in his second season but has recently started to show some of his old sparkle. Patently failed to stay the mile last time out and is brought back to the distance where he fired off a 99 speed figure 3 runs back. A leading contender.
8 20552 MAKEITSHORTER hawk5 C Jericho 23/1
Representing EAAA
This bargain-bred filly has done really well for trainer hawk5. A stakes-winning juvenile, although she probably had the race run to suit on that occasion, she seems to get better the further she goes. Reverting back to 7 furlongs on Saturday will not be ideal but she has enough class to make her prescence felt. Good outside hope.
9 98958 KRIS IS BLUFFING bayourace D Bowie 9/1
Representing Epsom Downs
The 9/1 favorite but I regret the odds-makers have made a boo boo here. Four dirt sprints as a juvenile and the best this son of Pine Bluff could manage was a third-place on two occasions. He didn’t really come into his own until he was stepped up to a mile where admittedly he has looked very impressive. I don’t think the 7 furlongs will see him to best advantage but could finish late for a place.
10 103175 FAR CALL bbudgies J Diggs 14/1
Representing EAAA
Lots of Northern Dancer in this ones pedigree but perversely seems to prefer the dirt. Has two dirt sprint victories to his credit, one in open company, and although possibly in the second tier of entries, he will lend a lot of support to his teams challenge. Could be there or thereabouts.
11 71070 WINGED MESSENGER kevoman T Nugent 10/1
Representing EAAA
This son of Pine Bluff has looked really good since being brought back in trip. A disappointing last of 8 in a listed event last time, he has been given 6 weeks to recover from that poor performance and could well be ready to fire off a big number on Saturday. Three wins in his last five races show he is still on an upward curve.
12 25458 ANCIENT TREASURE kevoman5 A Edwards 10/1
Representing EAAA
Early in this ones career he wasn’t considered anything special, hence the entry for a 25k claimer at the beginning of this season. However, he has matured over the year and when given a sloppy track to run on he can post some impressive numbers. Whether he is as effective on a fast track remains to be seen but until the evidence points to the contrary he is a leading contender here. His chance could be compromised if he gets caught up in a speed dual with Ashlyn’s American and Night Bird.
13 116076 ASHLYN’S AMERICAN sein2912 R Freedman 24/1
Representing Epsom Downs
Difficult to know what to make of this ones chance. He races as though the trip will suit but in his only try in a sprint allowance he performed rather dismally. There’s no doubt he has the numbers to trouble the best in this field and he could be a late-maturing type who is improving with racing but if he gets into a speed dual with fellow team-member Night Bird, they could cut each others throats.
14 55486 VAN VOGT jeremyf F Sharlow 12/1
Representing Epsom Downs
Another contender from Epsom Downs that has far better form over routes than sprints, have they actually checked out the distance of this race? There’s no doubting this ones ability, he may have even more to offer when put over 9 furlongs plus but there are far more speedier types in this field that will make life very uncomfortable for him on Saturday.
15 63381 NIGHT BIRD b4rca S Wylan 14/1
Representing Epsom Downs
Currently sitting on a potential 4-timer, this compact-looking son of Night Shift is another that has done his best running over a mile on the dirt. He was a narrow winner of a listed event last time out and reverts back to sprinting distances for the first time since his juvenile days. As he tends to front-run his races he could be vulnerable to something with a little more pace in the closing stages and the same comments apply as to Ashlyn’s American. Beware the speed duel!
16 108990 ROESCH HI salis2912 J Henson 18/1
Representing Epsom Downs
All credit to this guy for winning 8 straight races from the beginning of the year, not easy in any type of company. However, he was beating up on small fields in minor starter allowance races and now that he has lost his tag, he’s beginning to find out what it’s like being on the other end of a beating. He hasn’t managed a top 3 finish in 5 subsequent races and his confidence must be low. A cavalry charge in a 20-runner field is not what he needs at this point.
17 102811 FERMENT claysam S Ledwith 26/1
Representing Epsom Downs
Nicely-bred son of Red Ransom who although showing improved form over a mile may prefer the drop back to 7 furlongs as he has been tailing off towards the end of his races. The turf-to-dirt angle may work to his advantage as well although I would have liked to have seen more consistently higher speeds before putting him in the front rank. Could hang around long enough to pick up a point or two.
18 108291 CATSKI BIDDER cwhisper S Tevex 16/1
Representing EAAA
He has run over this trip twice on the dirt and the results are impressive. His first attempt resulted in a 2nd place in a listed stakes on his 3yo debut while in his second attempt, he posted a remarkable 101 speed figure in taking a restricted allowance. If he doesn’t get hurt from the class hike then he could do some serious damage here!
19 54994 GIVETILLITHURTS(GER) pogs2 S Shady 12/1
Representing EAAA
Trained by the claiming King of EAAA who has the happy knack of getting the best out of horses that other trainers have given up on. With speed figures in the 90’s in 4 of his last 5 races, this son of German stallion Sumitas has shown he belongs with this group although he would need to step it up a notch on past form to grab the win. He still provides solid support to the EAAA team and could contribute a few points with a place finish.
20 107318 DOC DANNER court4 T Rumber 12/1
Representing Epsom Downs
What a surprise! Yet another Epsom Downs contender who has proved to be a router, not a sprinter. Three sprint races from the son of King Cugat have yielded $704 in money earnt. Compare that to his career total of over $28000 in 10 races. The horse certainly has talent but in the middle of this race he’ll be wondering where all the horses to his inside disappeared to.
Verdict
The distance of this race was actually chosen by Epsom Downs and yet when I look at their nominations, the majority are better in route races!?! Had the race been over a mile then they would certainly hold the advantage but at 7 furlongs the pendulum has swung toward the EAAA residency. I feel that EAAA will come out of this race with a healthy points advantage that may ultimately prove decisive!