The Del Penn Championship: Juvy Turf

Article Written By Scootboy

The Del Penn Championship: Juvy Turf

One Mile Firm Turf

It’s that time of the year again folks; DelPenn Champions Day is here!

It’s time to see what the cat has dragged in for this year’s crop of 2 year olds on the turf and this year it appears a very even field where almost any horse could take away the boasting rights for another year.

Let’s go through the line-up.

9/2

(Motivator (GB) x Blushing Groom (FR) x Creme Dela Crème) fatattack2

This progeny of first year sim sire Motivator has done everything right so far in his career.

After breaking his maiden he immediately went on to win a stakes and then a Grade I race and was unbeaten from his first 4 starts.

His only loss came at the hands of the best young colts going around on the turf in the breeder’s bowl where he finished a disappointing 9th.

But that loss can be forgotten as he drops back in class dramatically (it’s unlikely a horse will break the triple digits here like Mambo Wildcat did in the Breeder’s Bowl).

Will be tough to beat and still looks to be improving with age.

(Deputy Commander x Seeking the Gold x Alydar) rd3

This colt brings with him a lot of dirt influence with a cross to Raise a Native but doesn’t seem to favour any given surface.

His best performance was in a short dirt sprint and this race looks unsuited to him and the field may be too classy on this surface and at this distance.

Don’t discount the roughie but perhaps better places to put your money.

(Jade Hunter x Seattle Slew x Diplomat Way) bobthehat

A Jade Hunter colt out of game dam Omaha Slew, Rip Saw is another of the good chances in this race.

His odds might not reflect it but this colt has shown a lot at the mile on turf and at his best will challenge this field.

Be wary of how far back in the field he gets as this is generally a good parameter for how close he’ll be at the finish.

If things go his way, he’ll take up a nice stalking position and look to pounce on the leaders just as they’re running out of gas.

Keep safe.

(Eurosilver x Beat Hollow (GB) x Icecapade) knightcat

Showed good improvement when switched to the turf last start when outstayed by Alyacademy G after 2 horror starts on the dirt.

Broke his maiden in a dirt sprint but showed enough last start to suggest that he can do it on the turf as well.

Look for this beautiful dark-grey colt to be right up there with the leaders all the way as he looks to leave them behind with his short, sharp bursts of speed.

Good chance at long odds.

(A P Valentine x E Dubai x Polish Numbers) comeonmom

Another solid performer on the turf, this colt has turned it right around since his first 3 unconvincing runs in dirt sprints.

Looks to be getting better with each run and his speed figures are as good as any other horse from this race.

Likes to sit back a bit and close slowly but surely from the halfway point in the race.

If everything goes to plan, this guy will go right past the tiring leaders and onto victory giving his owner a new-found faith in his charge.

Strong closer who’s still improving and will go close.

(Dayjur x El Prado (IRE) x A.P. Indy) sallygee

Yet another horse that made his debut on the dirt with little success before switching to the turf and finding something more.

Has some stamina in his pedigree but seems to perform better in the sprints so far.

Improved last start on the rain-affected track but doesn’t have an 80+ speed figure to his name and may struggle against this field.

Will have to do something special here to come home with the goods but as we know these 2 year old races can often turn flip-side and the outsiders always have a chance.

Place chance at best.

(Fort Wood x Unbridled x Sadler’s Wells) simjunkie

The solitary filly in this race, this daughter of Fort Wood has been improving with every start and looks to have a promising 3 year old year ahead of her.

With a 2×3 cross to Sadler’s Wells in the pedigree, this race and distance looks to suit her nicely.

Like many in this race, she only has one win coming in but has been competitive at NW2L level and with improvement is not the worst of the chances here.

She’ll have her work cut out to beat the boys here but shouldn’t be too far away at the finish.

Place chance.

(Manndar x Barathea x West By West) jakematt5

This beautiful Dark Grey colt has produced the goods so far in his career with a 4th being his only failure to finish in the money.

The big question here is whether he will step up to the mile after doing all his work in sprints, winning stakes races on both surfaces.

It’s a big ask for him to win here against tough competition in his first routing race especially seeing as he has generally showed early speed in the sprints.

Expect him to be close to the lead early but perhaps fading over the extra distance.

Hard to call.

(Peintre Celebre (IRE) x Fappiano x Riverman) sdmf1

3 starts into his career and showing signs of being a promising future prospect, this son of Peintre Celebre has run 3 even races.

His speed figures are reasonably consistent; distances around the mile seem to be suited to him and there should be plenty of improvement left in this one in the not too distant future.

He will have to take another step up here to produce an 80+ speed figure to beat this field, but the odds maker seems to think that he’s capable of it and I tend to agree.

If everything goes to plan, expect him to be storming home at the finish and reeling in the leaders.

A solid chance but must step up.

(French Envoy x Cigar City x Railway Cat) hotfeet

Although this colt has only had 6 starts, his improvement has been somewhat slow and he seems stuck on mid-to-high 70 speed figures.

He hasn’t done a lot wrong in his short career but his stakes performances have been in small fields and his last start was not flattering; beaten 9 lengths in a medium sized stakes field.

Will have to show something special here to compete well against this competition and may find this too tough.

Place chance at best.

(North Light (IRE) x Gone West x Sadler’s Wells) bunsay

The other equal favourite of the race and the progeny of another promising first year sire, Super Light has done nothing wrong so far in his career.

One start for one win with a 79 speed figure over 7 furlongs on the turf is enough to give him equal favouritism here amongst some more experienced 2 year olds.

He will need to improve to bring home the bacon here but after a first start like that, improvement can be expected and he is worthy of the short odds here.

Strong chance.

(The Cliff’s Edge x Chester House x In The Wings (GB)) goldnday

Rounding out the field comes by far the most interesting horse based upon his record so far.

His first few starts were nothing short of disastrous and looked to hint at the horse being bred over sooner rather than later.

However, bought for just $1 at the auction, goldnday picked up a much better horse than he could’ve hoped for as he went on to produce two 80+ speed figures in his next two runs, breaking his maiden in his last start.

The odds are unflattering, but represent his early poor form which looks to be behind him.

There are few other horses in this race who have produced more than one 80+ speed figure and truthfully, this chestnut colt has as good a chance as any to take away this race.

Great chance at mouth-watering odds.

Well, that’s the line-up from top to bottom.

As for my tips, I’ll go with 1-12-11.

Happy punting and enjoy a great day out for the DelPenn Champions Day!