Breeding Stars in the Breeders Bowl Prep – GP2
If races were determined by breeding alone any number of the fourteen starters in the $250,000 Breeders Bowl Prep – GP2 would be worthy winner. Thankfully for the punter there are many factors they have to rely on in identifying winners such as jockeys, postpositions, distance and most importantly form.
PP1 Zygote isisbabe (95 wins / 439 Starters) D.Givins (55%) 7/2 Fav
A lightly raced four-year-old with the impressive record of eight wins from fourteen starts; seven starts this year has resulted in four stakes wins and two placings at Group One and Group Two level. Three starts back collected the fourth of his four stakes wins in the Colonial Land Challenge Stakes making it three from three over 8 furlongs on dirt. Followed that with first graded appearance in the Primus Memorial – GP2 where he flashed home for second behind millionaire Journeyman. Last start made his Group One debut in the Brokeback Mountain Stakes – GP1 and was scorching home at the end to finish second. Five of his last six starts have resulted in Zygote recording a speed rating in excess of 110 with a season high of 114. Is impressively bred being by A.P.Indy out of Storm Cat through Seeking the Gold. Has been in great form and only needs to reproduce any of his recent efforts to claim his first graded win here.
PP2 Crafty Victory funster (246 from 1216) D.Sherman (32%) 7/1
Is the only million dollars earners entered here and has won at Group Three level as a two-year-old and twice Group Two winner as a three-year-old. Comes into this having raced thirteen starts this year and is yet to win, however has been placed at graded level on five occasions including a 3rd in the Glenn Handicap –GP1 over 9 furlongs on dirt. Has not been too far away last couple with a four lengths 5th in the CA Classic – GP1 and 2½ lengths 4th in the Middle Ground Mile – GP2 when making ground late in both. His sire Victory Gallop currently has the number one ranked Cold Storage in the turf classic for older horses amongst his credits.
PP3 Canungra Folly bigkev (80 from 576) P.Greggor (11%) 6/1
Comes into this having impressively won last three at stakes level, is four times placed at graded level including twice at Group Two level as a three-year-old. Has never finished further back than second over this distance and surface and from 23 career starts has only twice not collected prise money for his connections. Has been very consistent having recorded a speed rating of 100 or more in thirteen of his last sixteen starts. Is bred to be anything being by Danzig out of Storm Cat mare through Forty Niner. Deserves to be given his chance here and everything looks set for him to get that first graded win.
PP4 Caer To Dance beefcake10 (17 from 142) B.Drewery (24%) 16/1
Comes into this with ten wins from twenty-eight career starts having had most of his early years restricted to allowance and starter races. At first stakes start earlier this year finished 2nd in the Vengeful Sea Memorial Stakes before failing at Group Two level. Three starts back finished runner-up again at stakes level in the Boston Seattle Stakes before failing at his last two starts including last start when finished 13¾ lengths off the winner over this distance and surface. Is sired by Cozzene, who has produced several handy types including sole million-dollar earner Delaware Rive, out of Caerleon through Sadler’s Wells. Has still be prove himself at graded level and will need to lift to concern his more fancy rivals in this.
PP5 Crown Me King thebear20 (24 from 181) B.Alt (26%) 9/1
Lightly raced four-year-old having had raced six times this year for two wins. Ran career best speed rating of 110 earlier this year when finished 2nd in the Barkley Handicap –GP3 behind Journeyman over 8 furlongs on dirt. Three starts back won first stakes race when taking out the Epic Conquest Special Stakes, before failing in the Kong Hope Memorial Stakes over 9 furlongs when he found three times Group One winner, Journeyman, too good again. Failed again last start when he finished a disappointing ninth behind Journeyman in the Middle Ground Stakes – GP2 over eight furlongs. Sired by the Storm Cat horse Hold That Tiger, who is still yet to get a graded winner from three crops, out of the a Seeking the Gold mare through Dynaformer. Likes to lead in his races and will not find the competition any easier here than in recent races, would prefer to see in something shorter.
PP6 Tete Rainbow (IRE) vertain (92 from 915) D.Pagel (29%) 17/1
Earlier this year won first graded race when he took out the Galaxy Stakes – GP2 at this track over 11 furlongs on dirt. Surprisingly, his connections immediately returned him to allowance level before three starts back failing at stakes level before going on to win and place 2nd in allowance races. By Grand Lodge out of Rainbow Quest through Lypeor (GB), who have all achieve a degree of success as sires or dam sires. From does not give a lot of confidence that he can win here, but as a Tete horse you never really know what to expect.
PP7 Matavia bronco2 (28 from 386) L.Cardinal (31%) 25/1
The first of three three-year-olds prepared to take on the older horses and comes into this with four wins from four career starts. All racing has been over 8 furlongs on dirt and after winning maiden on debut and allowance at first two was stepped up to stakes level. Easily won first stakes assignment when he recorded a 101 speed rating when winning the Texan Roo Cap Stakes. Last start took on the older horses in the Boston Seattle Bonanza Stakes and again recorded a career high speed rating of 105 to win his fourth in a row. By the very good sire War Chant out of Halo, who is proving to be a success as a dam sire. Has done everything right up to this point and with only being lightly raced has the scope for further improvement.
PP8 Sissonhill anzstable (54 from 443) P.Cadigan (40%) 12/1
Started the year in impressive style by taking out his first graded stakes win when he won the San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl – GP2 over 8.5 furlongs on dirt after leading from post to wire. Tried to lead again at his next start in the Pennsylvannia Power Stakes – GP2 over 10 furlongs when run down late to finish 2nd. Struggled at stakes level next couple before winning three starts back when ran career best speed rating of 110 in winning the Fast and Furious Stakes – GP2 over 7.5 furlongs. Failed at his last two at stakes level after racing handy and suspect he would be better suited over a shorter sprinting distance. By the champion sire Danzig out of His Majesty, which enables him to pull off the occasional big race in the classic distance range when everything falls in his favour.
PP9 Lightbringer greenapple (54 from 242) T.Belser (20%) 9/1
Stakes winner of four and graded placed at Group One level; comes into this with two stakes wins this year and three starts back ran third in the Out of the City Handicap – GP1 over 10 furlongs on dirt. Followed with a disappointing 14th of fifteen in the owner restricted Smackdown II Stakes, before last start equalled career best speed rating of 107 when second in the Insulin Cup – GP2. Is bred to be better suited over more ground being from Touch God, sire of six times Group One winner Extremely Gold, out of Easy Goer, dam sire of six times Group One winner Galloping Ghost. Is stakes placed over this distance and surface but is dropping back in distance and may find this race a fraction short for him to produce his best.
PP10 Androcles lygerbomb (74 from 611) S.Blood (32%) 11/1
After showing promise in his three-year-old season, started the year off at allowance level before taking on graded races. Four starts back surprised when winning the Star Athlete Handicap – GP3 over 8.5 furlongs on dirt. Backed that up with a solid performance when ran home strongly for 3rd in the Iowa Cornhusker BB Classic – GP2 over 9 furlongs on dirt. Last two have been disappointing with an 8th at stakes level followed by a 8th in the Insulin Cup – GP2. From the good sire Cozzene out of the Bering (GB) mare Roman Desert who’s seven career wins were all on turf. Hard to tip on last two efforts but has been placed at this level, would prefer to see him in something longer.
PP11 Call of the Canyon mrvoice (34 from 250) B.Snipe (30%) 8/1
After some good results at stakes level and high-speed ratings at three-years-old, started 2006 with two disappointing stakes runs. Was dropped back to allowance level where he slowly regained form before running a much-improved race to win an allowance with a speed rating of 109. Failed at his next start when his connections threw him into his first graded race where he finished 8th in the Ky Horseman Moonshine Mile – GP1. Came out after that and won his next two at stakes level before failing last start when 5th in the Brokeback Mountain Stakes – GP1. Another who is beautifully bred being by Mr Prospector horse Aldebaran out of Medaille D’Or through Shirley Heights (GB). Has failed at previous two graded attempts and may found to be short against this field.
PP12 Certifably Crazy ashford (40 from 418) S.Lynch (33%) 12/1
Spent three-year-old season restricted to allowance sprints before opening his four-year-old season in a $25k claiming race where he was quickly claimed by “ashford”. After failing first-up at stakes level for new stable returned to allowance races where he won two from three. Followed with a 2nd when returned to stakes level before running 4th in the Perfectionist Stakes – GP3 and 2nd in the Brook Lynn Stakes – GP2. Last start won the Their Foxes Memorial Stakes with a speed rating of 106 over this distance and surface. Another that has been bred to be anything being by Capote out of Rainbow Quest through Black Tie Affair (IRE). Was impressive last start when sat just of the pace but form has been inconsistent and will find this field harder than last start.
PP13 Husker Du Mikehusker (79 from 593) B.Fultz (23%) 15/1
The second of the three-year-olds who won at stakes level and Group Two placed last year. Has taken a while to find form as a four-year-old and last two suggest his connections have found the right formula to getting him to produce his best. Two starts back can career best speed rating of 106 when winning the Duke Trick Bonanza Stakes over 7.5 furlongs on dirt. Followed with another win in the Voluotuous Land Stakes over the same distance with another career best speed rating of 110. From the smart sire Empire Maker who has produced ten graded winners from three crops to race, out of the Deputy Minister mare Deputy Dixie. Last two indicates he’s figured out what the racing caper is all about but would need further improvement to win here and make it three on end.
PP14 Roman Conquest lasthope (258 from 981) P.Carrier (30%) 41/1
The third three-year-old prepared to take on the older horses and comes into this with the record of four wins from twelve starts. Has been mixing form this year at stakes and graded level before returning to allowance races where he ran a shocker when run 5th of five with a speed rating of 20. Last two starts resulted in a 4th and a win at allowance level, last start running a career best speed rating of 101. Is a beautifully bred youngster from A.P.Indy out of Sadler’s Wells through Buckpasser. Despite his stable having a good strike rate unfortunately for his connections this youngster won’t be adding to it this weekend.
Reading through the field Zygote comes to hand quickly and deserves to be the short priced favourite, Canungra Folly is racing very well at the moment and looks to be one of the main dangers. The undefeated three-year-old Mataiva has been impressive in four starts and could be the surprise packet of the field. Crafty Victory and Sissonhill are both proven performers and can’t be overlooked, while Certifably Crazy and Husker Du could be ready to take the next step if either can handle the bad post position.
1st Zygote 2nd Matavia 3 rd Canungra Folly 4th Crafty Victory