The Aslan Memorial Turf Classic (6th Running)

The Aslan Memorial Turf Classic (6th Running)
Grade I
12 furlongs
Firm Turf
$500,000
All horses, 4 years old and up

A firm Kentucky track in 3026 will see the 6th running of the Grade 1 Aslan Memorial Turf Classic over 12 furlongs for a purse of $500,000. In what can only be described as ‘a dominance’, Sunnybank Memorial has won this race the last 3 years, running a SP of 112 to beat Rain God and Puppet Regime by almost five lengths last year. He will be back again this year to nail yet another Aslan whilst a field of varying depth will confront the starter.

PP #1 – SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL – A.P. INDY X SADLER’S WELLS X BUCKPASSER (sunnybank) 5/2
Record: 47/25-8-5 & $10,506,889 – Turf Long Ranking: 2
This 6yo horse needs to introduction. Apart from being the winner of the previous three Aslan Memorial’s, he also has eight Grade 1 victories and twelve Grade placings. Towards the end of last year he did it tough with a 5th in the Classic Turf to Cortez and a 9th in the Breeder’s Bowl. He was then 2nd in the G1 Japan Classic in 3049 and was 2nd in the G1 Penn Allied Assault narrowly beaten by Confederacy. He has had an extended break of eight weeks as he does at the end of each year and will be primed for this run. Drawing the fence will neither help nor hinder as he tends to race back in the pack. Although both Confederacy and Cortez have beaten him recently, I believe that Sunnybank Memorial will race very well in his first up assignment as a 6yo and turn the tables on both gallopers.

PP #2 – A BIT IMPERIAL – IMPERIAL FALCON X LAABITY X RAMBO DANCER (sherman8) 99/1
Record: 74/7-7-7 & $93,782 – Turf Long Ranking: –
A long way out of his depth and looks as if he may be better suited to a lower class of racing. His only run on turf at more than 10 furlongs was in 2916 in which he ran a SP of 55 to finish last by a long way! Will struggle with the trip, the class, the speed and looks as if he will be chasing the field home. Drawn near the inside and has had his last two starts at this track.

PP #3 – KOOL THING(IRE) – BLACK SAM BELLAMY (IRE) X SEPTIEME CIEL X BLUSHING GROOM(FR (eddieatc) 11/1
Record: 17/7-4-1 & $553,642 – Turf Long Ranking: 16
This 4yo colt is coming into this race on the back of a 4 race winning run which includes a last start 4 length Grade 1 win in 3091 in the Marathon Cup over 16 furlongs. This was his first Graded race and he has shown he is a versatile galloper that has now won Stakes races from 11 – 16 furlongs. His last 4 wins have seen him racing either in the lead or stalking the leader and with a good barrier such as this he will be able to resume this racing pattern. He has won 6 and placed 3 times in his last 11 starts and brings this as his main positive into the race. Would prefer to see him racing these horses over a longer distance to gain an advantage as some of them way be a bit too quick over 12 furlongs.

PP #4 – CORTEZ(IRE) – HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) X CONQUISTADOR CIELO X FOOLISH TANNER (slipknot22) 6/1
Record: 19/9-1-4 & $2,812,460 – Turf Long Ranking: 4
Although coming into this race on the back of a last start drubbing at Del Penn Champions Day where he raced on dirt after twelve consecutive Graded turf runs, this 4yo colt should hit back this week. His nine career wins have seen five Grade 1 victories and include beating Lex Luthor in the Sydney Derby and Sunnybank Memorial in the Classic Turf Stakes whilst finishing ahead of him in the Breeder’s Bowl when 3rd to both Lex Luther and Horseshoe Bay. He has coming off an eight week break which is the longest break he has had and this may be his only problem. Cortez races best when taking a sit around mid-field and will be charging at the leader in the stretch.

PP #5 – TENPIN GOLD – STRIKE THE GOLD X EL PRADO(IRE) X STORM CAT (tenpin6) 6/1
Record: 34/11-6-5 & $864,168 – Turf Long Ranking: 36
This 5yo son of Strike The Gold has one Graded and five Ungraded Stakes wins and comes into this race after a 3rd placing in 3098 in the G3 Mean Joe Green Classic over 11 furlongs in which he finished eight lengths ahead of Japan Classic winner, Lex Luthor. Races best when he leads, however as with Confederacy, he can come undone when shuffled back in the field. Tenpin Gold is having he first run at Kentucky and in his last run at 12 furlongs, he was beaten by twenty lengths in the G3 Carlton Fisk Handicap in 3028.

PP #6 – PETE FOUNTAIN – DIXIELAND BAND X ROBERTO X DAMASCUS (zooomr) 3/1
Record: 30/8-8-3 & $466,695 – Turf Long Ranking: 421
This 5yo horse could find himself in some trouble over 12 furlongs. He has never raced over 10 furlongs and although his breeding suggests he should be able to get the 12, it is an unknown. In 2951 he had his only run at 10 furlongs and placed 10th beaten eighteen lengths. He has won one Graded and 5 Ungraded Stakes all 9 furlongs or under and has not shown he will get better with distance. Pete Fountain usually runs in the last quarter of the field and looks as if he will drop back when the pressure mounts over the final furlongs.

PP #7 – YOUKNOWYOUWANTME – TEN MOST WANTED X SADLER’S WELLS X UNBRIDLED (vsmdinc) 91/1
Record: 9/3-1-0 & $56,685 – Turf Long Ranking: 255
Concerned about the chances of this 4yo colt that has not run since 2874 when winning his first Ungraded Stakes race over 12 furlongs running a SP of 85 to win by a hand. He has won a maiden and an allowance early last year and looks as if he may be blown away this weekend by some of the sim heavyweights. His natural racing pattern is from the very back of the field and looks as if he might improve just one spot before the line. Still, he has drawn into this race and is therefore one step closer to winning it.

PP #8 – DRAGNIPUR – SADLER’S WELLS X BLUSHING GROOM(FR) X NEVER SAY DIE (dormello) 11/1
Record: 17/6-3-4 & $425,054 – Turf Long Ranking: 85
This 4yo colt is coming into this race on the back of three good runs including a 4th place in G3 New Oaks Stakes over 11 furlongs and wins in the Colonel Southpaw Memorial Stakes over 11 furlongs and his most recent run in the Royal Story Memorial Stakes over 10.5 furlongs in 3098. In 2832 however, he was beaten almost thirteen lengths by Cortez in the Sydney Derby and again looks to be a little out of his depth. Class not distance looks to be the problem for Dragnipur who will be sitting a few lengths off the speed. He looks outgunned but has the breeding to cover the distance well.

PP #9 – TOP JIMMY – PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) X VICE REGENT X SHIRLEY HEIGHTS(GB (sdmf2) 7/1
Record: 33/8-6-5 & $2,179,218 – Turf Long Ranking: 123
Top Jimmy’s last run was in the 16 furlong G1 Marathon Cup where he ran 4th to Kool Thing and was beaten almost seven lengths in 3091. His previous runs before that have been a 2nd place in an owner restricted Stakes over 12 furlongs, a 12th place when along with Tenpin Gold was beaten by twenty-three lengths in the G3 Carlton Fisk Handicap in 3028 and in 3000 was 4th in the Arc De Triumph to Horseshoe Bay. He is a two-time Grade 1 winner that appears perform best over 9 – 10 furlongs and this is reflected in his superior turf classic divisional ranking of 46. This 6yo horse tends to race from a long way back and will have some trouble running on through the field.

PP #10 – CONFEDERACY(IRE) – HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) X CAERLEON X CONQUISTADOR CIELO (dawgpound) 5/1
Record: 25/10-5-5 & 2.33million – Turf Long Ranking 8
This 5yo horse sat on the speed during last start in Penn Allied Assault in 3070 over 12 furlongs on Del Penn Champions Day nudging a half length ahead in the stretch to beat Sunnybank Memorial and Horseshoe Bay whilst running a SP of 106. Before that in 3028 he was nailed in the Breeder’s Bowl by Horseshoe and Lex Luthor to finish 13th over 12 furlongs in his first run at Kentucky. Has three Graded Stakes wins and five other Graded runs in the money which includes a Grade 1 win over 14 furlongs. He has failed when he sits worse than mid-field and the outside barrier will not help this.

Prediction – Tenpin Gold should set the tempo out in front for the body of the race with Kool Thing and Confederacy stalking him. Cortez, Sunnybank Memorial and Dragnipur should sit mid-field whilst being followed by Top Jimmy and Pete Fountain. When the pressure mounts with 2 – 3 furlongs left, Cortez and Sunnybank will stride up to the leaders with Top Jimmy and Pete Fountain attempting to stick on behind. Up front, Tenpin Gold may begin to fade whilst Kool Thing and Confederacy hold on and wait for Cortez and Sunnybank Memorial to arrive. In the stretch, Cortez and Confederacy will go for the line as Sunnybank Memorial strides past to win.

1st – Sunnybank Memorial
2nd – Cortez
3rd – Confederacy
4th – Kool Thing