Genna Lou to swoop home at Ostend
This weekend, Ostend will play host to a field of 8 4yo+ fillies and mares, doing battle in The Alot Until Bar(FR) Stakes, worth $40,000. The event is run twice a year, and the first running last year saw a time of 1:28 4/5 posted by K’S ADDIKTION to win with an SP# of 106.
This time there are three charges that dominate the betting, with a few good each way hopes thrown in to make things interesting. Most of these fillies have good gate speed, so it could set it up for a late swooper to close home over the top.
PP1 GONE RED ID#1033 ragman 5/1
The switch back to turf may have been what got this Red Ransom filly going last start. She improved 18 SP#s to go a 101 and take home an allowance by almost 3 lengths. Hasn’t run a sprint since very early in her career, but has a great record nevertheless. Her last run signalled that she might still have more improvement left, and has genuine speed from the gate, so should be in a prominent position throughout. Good chance to win her debut stakes try.
PP2 ROCK OF THIRROUL ID#6917 crawl 17/1
Wasn’t up to it last start when only managed an SP#72 over the same distance she faces here when last in the Don’t Look Back Special. Had much better results to her name before that when leading from the start, although has trouble with consistency. Looks outclassed in this, and it would take a huge form reversal from her last run to figure in the finish.
PP3 JUMP ON THE YOLLE ID#95259 bobmarley 10/1
Another who failed to fire in the Don’t Look Back Special, and followed it up with a fair effort last start when ran home ok to finish 4th in an allowance. This Montjeu filly has been quite handy, with a record of 28 5-4-4, but hasn’t quite been up to stakes level so far. Her best results have come when ridden handy to the speed, and jockey B.B.Thornton (4%) would be best advised to go with that tactic to giver her the best shot, although competition will be tough up front. Rough place chance.
PP4 KISS MY KRIS ID#98162 slades 7/1
Has hit the board at 16 of her 19 career starts and has now topped a quarter of a million dollars in winnings. Her last outing in a stake race was an all the way win back in July last year over a mile. The slight drop back in distance from what she has been going of late shouldn’t be a problem, and she is another on pacer who, at her best will be very hard to beat. Should go close if she can put it all together.
PP5 GENNA LOU HOO ID#21784 marilyn847 3/1
Worked home well, but just not quite up to it last time in a Grade III. Looks ideally placed here, back in listed stakes company, and her latest form indicates she deserves her short odds. She likes to come from the back of the pack, so the predicted hot early speed should suit her down to the ground, and the step up to 7.5 furlongs will give her every chance to run over the top. T.Maes (20%) has been in great touch, and this pair will take some beating.
PP6 RENACER ID#81299 juliotto 5/2
Has been in career best form since making the switch to turf, and finally hit a triple figure SP# last start when just held on to get the prize. Before that, she strolled home by 4 lengths in a small field, battled gamely for a 5th placing in a Graded stakes, and had 2 impressive wins in allowances in very quick times. If she can hold her form into this race, she will certainly go close.
PP7 BEANSTALK ID#63571 icechaser 2/1
Morningline favourite, but has been knocked off at her last two when sent out favourite in smaller fields, both over this distance. Ran well to finish 4th in both the Rock of Cashel Grade I, and the Prancing Ferry Grade II to finish off last year. Prior to that she strung 3 strong stakes wins together in a row, including an SP#106. Should be fitter for this, and is the class runner of the field. Her pet distance, and in form jockey, A.Smith (21%) on board won’t hurt her chances. The one to beat.
PP8 RED MISS ID#111604 wallylewis 32/1
Lightly raced filly who has had 7 weeks off since she did what she had to do to get the prize in a weak allowance. Was midfield on the dirt before that, and three starts ago she broke through for her maiden win over this distance. This is a massive leap in class, and a big test to see if she can compete at this level, but she is likely to be run off her feet.