Will The Golden Shoe be the glass slipper for lone filly facing dozen boys ?

Victoria-AUS (VIC) Sunday, September 18, 2016 — 3 PM EST | Race ID : 1602154
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THE   GOLDEN   SHOE
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Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $1,500,000 – 2 Year Olds    
6 Furlongs | ~1200 Meters | Three Quarters of a Mile        Good Turf
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From Flemington Racecourse outside Melbourne in Victoria,  Australia we bring you the Group 1 The Golden Shoe for two year olds.  Contested at ~1200 meters (or six furlongs for the stateside fans),  a field of thirteen youngsters,  including an upstart filly,  will battle for the winner’s share of the nice $1,500,000 purse,  and for the right to star in what promises to be a wild trophy presentation ceremony following the race.  
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The field is loaded with speedy types which should make for a lively pace and may help set up the stretch runners for a crack at G1 glory.  Our sole G1 champion in the field,  Cenury Sail,  has only lost once in five outings;  that came on an “off” track he’ll face on race day if the weather forecasts hold up.  The only other group winner,  Former Sea,  has won two straight G3 efforts and is looking for the hat trick here.  We have three graded placed entrants in the mix,  and a stakes winning filly who looks to embarrass the boys.  There may well be a few Breeders’ Bowl runners that come out of this event.  
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There seems to be a number of contenders in this group.  How will they handle the  “good” surface,  will if affect them,  if at all ?  Let’s take a closer look at the field in post position order and see how they compare.  
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 1
    DARK  AIN’T  LETHAL               ENG     deepesr4         P Harzheim         18/1
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First out on to the track is this roan colt who broke his maiden last out at 7.5 furlongs,  kicking an 82 SP# from just off the pace.  Lethal Force lad,  out of the sim mare Dark North Light (by Thunder Gulch) was 5th one back of that in an open maiden at 6.5 panels,  earning a 71 SP# in a mid pack run.  One before that he was an uninspired 8th in a local bred maiden at this distance with a 59 SP#.  Runner from the deepesr4 racing group gets thrown into the deep water here,  will need top effort to be a factor.     
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2
    CENTURY  SAIL                               KY     somebozo3         D Evans         9/2
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Speedster from the somebozo3 stable goes for a 3rd straight group win after taking the G1 The Firebird at this route,  sizzling an 86 SP# leading all the way.  Bay colt wired the G2 The Norfellow Stakes at 5 panels in his prior run,  smoking an 84 SP#.  Giant’s Causeway guy,  out of the sim mare Poetic Steal (by Cape Cross),  suffered his only defeat over a “yielding” surface at this distance one before that,  snagging an 80 SP# after setting the early fractions.  Faces multiple challenges on the front end with this group,  will the “off” track be his downfall again ?  
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    SUP  BRO                                                 AUS     nuthouse         R Heller         4/1
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Scratch bred Lonhro loper (by Kingmambo) closed with a rush to get 3rd in last try in a G1 Equinics event at this distance,  scalding an 84 SP# from way back in the pack.  Bay colt won a residency stakes,  also at three quarters,   in his  previous start,  stabbing an 84 SP# moving from 9th of eleven.  One before that he took the New Sensations listed at 6 panels,  scorching an 86 SP# from far back.  Nuthouse protege is the top choice of the handicapper,  should be rolling in the lane as the pace should suit;  solid contender.  
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    FISHOF  THE  NILE                          KY     avocado         P Wright         9/2
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Hailing from the avocado racing group is this bay colt,  who exits a nice 3rd in the G2 The Champagne Mile,  nailing an 87 SP# in a mid pack trip.  Scratch bred Pioneerof The Nile papoose (by Danzig) wired an open allowance at 7 furlongs in his prior outing,  notching an 83 SP#.  One before that he got underway tool late to impact the G3 Television Stakes at 5 furlongs on dirt,  coming home 8th for a 72 SP#.  Drops back in distance,  should be in the cavalry charge home;  handicapper likes him as co second choice on the morning line.  
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    SUM  OF  ALL  GOLD                    LA     graywolf20         D Givins         14/1
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Chestnut colt set all the fractions taking a local bred allowance at 7.5 furlongs last time over,  belting a 77 SP#.  One before that he was a gaining 2nd in a local bred allowance at 4.5 panels,  banking a 77 SP# from just off the pace.  Son of Sum Of The Parts,   out of the stakes winning sim mare Goldinsky (by Stravinsky) was a chasing 2nd in a $60,000 claimer at 5 furlongs on the dirt one back of that,  bagging a 70 SP#.  Runner from the graywolf20 racing operation  got thrashed in both prior stake appearance;  may be an early pace factor but unlikely to be around for the decision.
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    BENEATH  THE  MASK              IRE     fairhaven9         L Radzinski         7/1
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Our lone distaff representative comes off an excellent 2nd in the Credit Aplicant listed stakes at this trip,  smoking an 85 SP# after making all the pace.  Holy Roman Emperor honey,  out of the sim mare Shockseeker (by Seeking The Gold) wired a residency stakes one before that,  also at 6 furlongs,  snaring a 78 SP#.  Bay filly wore down the leader to get the money in her prior try in a residency allowance at 5.5 panels,  stashing  72 SP#.  Fairhaven9 trainee should be prominent early;  SP#’s are moving in the right direction,  could surprise the boys in her first grade/group effort.   
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7
    MR  TOWN  CAT                              CAN     graywolf11         F Gossett         11/1
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Stretch running Town Prize tomcat,  out of the sim mare Golden Fame,  broke his maiden in a local bred allowance at 7 furlongs in latest,  cashing a 78 SP# moving from 8th of nine.  One back of that,  this bay colt was a so-so 6th in the G3 Golden Hand Grenade at 7 panels,  catching a 77 SP# from last of ten.  One before that he came on for 2nd in a local bred allowance at 7 furlongs,  casting a 72 SP# moving from last of nine.  Graywolf11 runner drops back in distance,  gets a fast pace to set up his late kick,  but will he have enough stretch to get the job done ?
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    DEEP  RED  LONHRO                 AUS     bmr003         T Tippins         12/1
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Deep Field dasher,  out of the sim mare Lonreddan (by Lonhro) was a gaining 3rd last out in the G3 Finnish Line Stakes at this route,  tossing a 78 SP# in a mid pack trip.  Bay colt took a NW3L allowance,  also at three quarters,  in his prior start,  throwing a 78 SP# in a pace pressing run.  One back of that he closed for 2nd on the dirt in the Phone Dan listed stakes at 5.5 panels,  tabbing a 72 SP#.  Runner from the bmr003 barn could benefit from a shrewd jockey ride, faces faster in this heat but could get the jump on the deep closers.  
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    MONKEY  IN  A  BARREL         IRE     wyndaway19         GD Mate         50/1
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Rank outsider from the wymdaway19 racing operation won his debut at 5 furlongs in an open maiden,  earning a 65 SP# moving from 8th of nine.  The owner/trainer decided to take a shot since there was an open entry slot and the bay colt is kicking down the stall walls.  Bushranger bub,  out of the sim mare Barrel Of Monkeys (by Heliostatic) faces severe test,  handicapper may have it right as the longest shot at 50/1.
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10
    ROCKIN  WEST                                AUS     bevron             J Hernandez         17/1
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Making his stakes debut is this bay colt,  who seeks a 3rd straight win after taking a NW1x allowance at 5.5 furlongs,  flipping a 70 SP# after setting all the pace.  Easy Rocking eaglet,  out of the sim mare Cowgirl Charlie (by Indian Charlie) wired an open maiden at 4.5 panels in his previous outing,  flinging a 73 SP#.  One before that he settled for 3rd in an open maiden at 5 furlongs,  floating a 65 SP# after leading from the break.  Speedster from the bevron racing group stretches out,  should be involved in the early pace struggle,  but may find it tough keeping up in the lane.
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11
    BOTOLA                                                ENG     effepi             B Smith         22/1
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Brown colt easily won his only start in a hot race at this distance,  over a “good” turf surface he’ll face here,  pushing a 59 SP# in a four horse field.  Kheleyf kipper,  out of the sim mare Hereslookin’atukid (by Phone Trick) has been working well in AM trials and some of the back stretch wise guys are keeping an eye on him.  Effepi trainee faces huge task with these,  but repeats first out distance and surface,  could surprise for a minor share.  
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12
    FORMER  SEA                                    IRE     bm3             B Carne         7/1
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Dual Group 3 winner wired the G3 The Cyborg at this trip last time over,  zapping an 82 SP#.  Bay colt triumphed in the G3 The Triple P one back of that,  also at 6 panels,  zinging a 78 SP#.  Born To Sea basher,  out of the sim mare Casparina (by Dynaformer) was a bang up 2nd in a residency stakes at 6.5 furlongs,  zipping a 74 SP# setting the early fractions.  Runner from the bm3 stable likes to be in front,  and has never missed making the exacta;  faces early pressure with this group,  can he hold on to the wire.  
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13
    DARK  BLUSH                                  IRE     deeprock48         T Kavanagh         15/1
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Last out of the paddock is this Bushranger boy,  out of the sim mare Love For Arts (by Not For Love) who exits a tiring 7th in the G1 The Firebird at this route,  getting a 76 SP# in a mid pack effort.  One back of that,  this bay colt was 3rd in a residency stakes,  also at 6 panels,  garnering an 80 SP# from just off the leaders.  In his previous run he wired a NW1x allowance at 5.5 furlongs,  grabbing a 75 SP#.  Deeprock48 protege should benefit from first G1 try,  will have to overcome far outside barrier;  jockey tactics could be the deciding factor in where he finishes.  
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SELECTIONS:  We’ll give it a shot after shying away from prognosticating after dreadful results earlier this year.   
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FISHOF THE NILE
SUP BRO
BENEATH THE MASK
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Good luck everybody and may they all come home fast,  safe and sound.