Cavalcade Cup Distaff
This year’s Cavalcade Distaff over 9f on the fast dirt throws up some very nice fillies who should give us an interesting heat
Down the card –
Indy’s Awesome Cat (9/1) – Dublinlad. 4 year old filly by Awesome Again out of an A.P. Indy mare, 16 runs, 6 wins.
A mare who is no stranger to winning in Stakes company, lightly raced for her age, unraced as a two year old, she ran three times as three year old, winning once over 8½f, quickly mover up the ranks to Stakes company and has won three stakes races from 9f to 10½f. Trip no problem to this mare, posted a career best SP of 100 over this trip.
Shannara’s Girl (33/1) – Theclan. 4 year old filly by El Prado out of a Pulpit mare, 24 runs, 4 wins.
Unraced as a two year, ran almost exclusively on the turf as a three year old and won one race, as a four year old her old owner dropped her into claiming races and she was eventually claimed by Theclan for $15,000, switched her back to the dirt and she managed an allowance win, has run in Stakes company and her best finish was a fifth. Has something to find on the bare form, has won over this trip but looks a little out of her depth here.
Lady Rider (6/1) – Bullfrogmb. 5 year old mare by Mecke out of a Polish Numbers mare, 44 runs, 6 wins.
A really honest consistent filly, very rarely out of the money, won her maiden as a two year as well as a place and a show in Stakes races, unable to win as a three year old she still managed to finish in the first three in four Stakes races. Finally found the winner’s circle again as a four year old, winning five races but this season she has yet to win a race although she has run some solid SP’s. A mare with talent who should have won more than she has with several SP’s in treble figures, runs best when held up and shouldn’t have a problem with the trip.
Button (7/2) – kaif012. 4 year old filly by Testa Rossa out of a Storm Cat mare, 29 runs, 11 wins.
An excellent wins to runs ratio, won three races as a two year old including a Grade II, kept this up when winning three Grade III and a Stakes race as a three year old, looked just as good this season winning 4 races including a Stakes race, has a career best of 104 SP over 8½f. A class act who should be fine over this trip, a worthy favourite on her past form, my only concern is she is a bounce runner and this is due to be her poor run.
A Bowl And A Mare (7/2) – Derbyking9. 4 year old filly by Storm Cat out of a Forty Niner mare, 17 runs, 7 wins.
Another with excellent wins to runs ratio and thus shares favouritism. Unraced as a two year old, she ran four times as a three year old and won three of those races including a Stakes race. As a four year old she took a little while to find the winner’s circle again but once she did she won 6 times including 3 Stakes races although her fastest SP of 105 was in an allowance. Has proved at her best when racing over further than a mile, has the ability to win and should finish in the top three
Devils’ Therapy (9/1) – Pilot747. 3 year old filly by Smart Strike out of a Devil His Due mare, 16 runs, 6 wins.
Ran just the once as a two year old, broke her maiden on her first start as a three year old and followed that up with an allowance win, unable to win in her next six starts then ran up a hat trick of wins including a Stakes race over 8f for all ages and posted a career best SP of 101 over the 8f, stepped up a little in trip after that and was struggling to last home, back to form with a win over 8f in her latest start. Smart filly who looks happiest over a mile, not sure she can last home over further and although she has beaten the older horses this is still a stiff task for a three year old.
Smart Seven (12/1) – Crash77. 4 year old filly by Smart Strike out of a Bold Ruckus mare, 32 runs, 6 wins.
Unraced as a two year old, this filly took a while to break her maiden as a three year old, finally won her first race and progressed well after that with only one finish out of the top three and three more victories to add to her tally including a Stakes win over 8½f. Picked up two more wins in the early part of this year and ran a career best SP of 102 over 7½f when just beaten in an allowance, gone a bit off the boil in recent runs. Would have been happier if the going was on the wetter side, should be able to handle the trip but needs to regain her form from earlier in the year.
Mountain Greenery (25/1) – Crandyiii. 4 year old filly by Quiet American out of a Woodman mare, 19 runs, 2 wins.
Late maturing type who did run as a two year old but didn’t win her first race until the second half of her third year, followed that up with an allowance win over 14f, hasn’t been near the winner’s circle since and her previous trainer finally gave up on her and ran her in claimers, the most recent running being when her current trainer picked her up for $7,500. Lets see if the switch in barns can wake this filly up, should have no problem with the trip and has been given a lengthy break since her last start but will need to improve dramatically to figure here.
Mr. Magpie (9/2) – Punter59. 4 year old filly by Sadler’s Wells out of a Mr. Prospector mare, 25 runs, 9 wins.
Made her debut as a three year old on the turf, uninspiring and she was immediately switched to the dirt and improved dramatically to win three of her next seven races, ran in last year’s Cavalcade Cup and after leading the field was swamped in the straight to finish fifth. Won two more races after that, continued her winning ways on her four year old debut thereafter she got even better winning three stakes races as well as several placed efforts this season including an impressive SP of 106 over 10f. Goes into this year’s race a better filly than last year and should at least finish in the top three, will take a good filly to beat her.
Congressional ( 5/1) – Dawgpound. 5 year old mare by Storm Cat out of Caerleon mare, 28 runs, 10 wins.
Debuted as a three year old and won straight off, progressed into a nice filly which culminated in a Grade III win, kept up her fine form as a four year old where she won three races including a Grade II and a second place in a Grade I. Hasn’t looked quite as good this season and finally won on her latest start in a Stakes race, has posted several SP in triple figures including 109 over 9f. A top class filly on her day, this trip will suit her down to the ground, however I don’t think she is the force of old, if bouncing back to her past form she would be unbeatable.
My picks for this race would be Mr. Magpie to win, stays the trip really well and looks even better this year, to follow her home I pick A Bowl And A Mare and Congressional
Good luck to all.