Ruby Slipper Final

Welcome all beautiful Victoria for the biggest race on the Australian Conglomerate’s calendar – the final of the Ruby Slipper. After Deyoto Lefranse unleashed a bombshell when leaving for the UK and reportedly initiating talks to jump ship from the DUR to EAAA residency, many in the conglomerate are fuming and wish to exact revenge on Lefranse and his horses. In a race built on national pride and respect all looks set for a fiery ending as tempers reach boiling point and friendships are stretched beyond boundaries.

The four big time Australian Conglomerate trainers Wolfgang Vansheen (vansheen), Deyoto Lefranse (deyoto), Captain Nog (hawk43) and Gianluigi Aggulotto (ladofmanor) will all go head to head this week with Nog having 5 runners, Deyoto having 3 and Vansheen and Aggulotto represented with 2 runners each. All these runners finished in the first six in either the colts or fillies preludes and have therefore earned their spot and with it, a chance to become entrenched in conglomerate history as the first ever winner of the Ruby Slipper.

The lack of rain in the last 77 years has left us with a rock hard turf track with the race stepping up an extra furlong after the prelude runs to 6f means it will be a tough test. $50,000 will be the purse and with the big break in between the preludes to the final, some of these horses that did not hit the board in the preludes may have developed enough to bounce back in this.

It is an interesting race from a breeding point of view with some genuine blue bloods mixed in with some bargain bred missiles that look set to fly. The time for talking has finished and the attention must now be diverted to the scene of battle with only one horse to emerge as the 2yo conglomerate champion.

PP #1 – BUCK’S PARTY(ENG) – MOTIVATOR (GB) x GREEN DESERT x CARSON CITY (Lefranse) 6/1
Grew wings and flew going wire to wire in the prelude, running a SP of 74 whilst holding off a fast finishing Stormavator. The extra furlong is therefore a chink in his armour if he again decides to lead so aggressively and Kohlmorgen aboard must ride him for the 6f which he is more than capable of. This Motivator colt is sitting on top of his sire’s top 2yo earnings list which includes six winners – five of them on turf. Stable mate of emerging gun colt Credit Addiction, Buck’s Party on SP looks the goods but there were some colts and fillies who finished their preludes of with gusto! Top 5 is a given.

PP #2 – LOST INNOCENSE(AUS) – KEMPINSKY x STRATEGIC (AUS) x NOT FOR LOVE (Vansheen) 27/1
This bargain bred fellow came from six lengths down to show he will appreciate the extra furlong and rattle home this week. Placing 4th in the prelude, he was running on improving from 9th to finish 4th whilst passing others with ease. After struggling for runners in the prelude, Vansheen has two good chances this week and will most defiantly get ITM with one of them. R Dogs is aboard Lost Innocense this week attempting to improve on his 4 wins this year at 7.3% and must time the run well allowing him enough ground to reel in the leaders in the stretch.

PP #3 – STORMAVATOR(ENG) – MOTIVATOR (GB) x MINING x STORM CAT (Nog) 6/1
Motivator was responsible for the first two colts across the line in the colts prelude which included this fast finishing fellow. Punching out a SP of 71, he came from the clouds indicating that he will be there at the business end this week and with the extra furlong that would have seen him take out the prelude he certainly looks the goods. His game dam had two wins, both on dirt at sprint distance and with his inbreding to Mr. Prospector 3DX4S, he does like to sprint. Nichols is important for him this week as he doesn’t want to get too far back and just miss nailing the winner on the line. If not the winner – ITM certainty.

PP #4 – RATTLE ‘N’ HUM(ENG) – SAKHEE x FORTY NINER x NORTHERN DANCER (Aggulotto) 6/1
Sat at the rear of the field to show plenty of zip towards the end of the race in the prelude and I believe she is a red hot shot with the extra ground. Sakhee has had thirteen 2yo race wins from forty-four starts this year including 2yo colt Afleet Dreaming who has three wins from three starts on turf, winning stakes with a 73 SP last week. Also has two other multiple winners and multiple stakes placed runners with nine turf wins. Bred specifically for this race, I was wrapped that Rattle ‘N’ Hum showed great turn of foot to get 6th and have big expectations in the final.

PP #5 – INVINCIBILITY(IRE) – INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x SEATTLE SLEW x ROBERTO (Lefranse) 6/1
Was ridden quite in the prelude by self named jockey R Dogs, sitting in eighth position only two lengths away but didn’t show much and held on whilst fading to place 4th. She must grow an extra leg if she is to get close to even running ITM in this as she looks to be anything but invincible in this race even after running a 63 SP on turf last time out. Invincible Sprint has four winners from thirty-five races this year with three wins on turf. M Miller is aboard this week and has just 2 wins at 5.4% this year and will most likely not improve this record on her. Prefer others.

PP #6 – WHO IS PAN(KY) – JOHANNESBURG x ZABEEL(NZ) x SADLER’S WELLS (Nog) 6/1 in the prelude in which she sat two lengths off the leader in 9th position for most of the run, moving up as others dropped off to almost nab the winner. Bred for longer and showed that last time out, she is a huge shot at this but must stand up to the colts to do so. N Fagan aboard this week has 10 winners at just 6.7% this year and will not help her chances this week as she looks to improve on the stables 5.8% success rate. ITM possibility at very best.

PP #7 – GIRLY(AUS) – STRATUM x EL GRAN SENOR x SEATTLE SLEW (Nog) 14/1
Backed up from 5th placing in fillies prelude to get smashed in 3210 by over seven lengths at 5f in MSW and has probably had insufficient rest to push these. Probably also has insufficient ability as well but she has earned her place and she will most likely be spanked like a school girl this week. Jumped from rail in prelude to lead and fade and she may be better off attempting to close this week.

PP #8 – ANOTHER CAT(TUR) – MOUNTAIN CAT x GONE WEST x DANZIG (Nog) 6/1
From the same stale as Who Is Pan, Another Cat battled for the lead in the prelude and paid the price, subsequently dropping off to be beaten almost three lengths but still nabbed 3rd spot. Mountain Cat has five winners from forty-two races this year but four of those wins have been on dirt. Adler has just 4 wins at 4.8% this year however I believe that Another Cat will put in another good showing if she is able to take a sit and not battle for the lead.

PP #9 – BORN SLIPPY(AUS) – BEL ESPRIT (AUS) x GILDED TIME x DANEHILL (Vansheen) 16/1
After a disappointing DUR Glass Slipper run on dirt, Born Slippy then belted out a SP of 70 in the prelude to win by a half length on the turf as her pedigree suggests would most suit. I actually tipped her as the winner and got a great return for my punt at 24/1. She stalked the leader in the prelude sitting only a hand of them and slowly edging past to draw away and win. Extra furlong looks to suit and she is defiantly a great chance. Bel Esprit has had nine progeny to race this year for two wins. Her highest earning is 2yo colt Spell Esprit who was stakes placed last week. Born Slippy should run ITM this week at good odds.

PP #10 – INSANITY PLEA(KY) – TOCCET x HONOR GRADES x VICE REGENT (Aggulotto) 18/1
This guy was my purpose bred colt aimed to win this race. He was demolished in the prelude when attempting to go with the leaders and Ward will have instructions to ride from near the rear and attempt to close. In his third year as sire, Toccet has been used predominantly as a dirt sprinter and has three winners from nine progeny this year with only one win on turf. Prefer others and had he not qualified for this he would be on dirt.

PP #11 – HEARTWOOD RAGER(IRE) – SHAMARDAL x RED RANSOM x SEEKING THE GOLD (Lefranse) 8/1
It was a very coy Deyoto Lefranse that showed mixed feelings when the prelude was run and won as he had previously stated that the unraced Heartwood Rager was a champion in the making and that his breeding is rock solid and he will back it up on the track. He was beaten by four lengths and whist placing 5th, he was improving and making ground. Second year sire Shamardal has been used predominantly on turf and has produced four winners including a stakes winner. Three of those wins have been on turf with SP’s of 62 and 74. Had D Evans aboard in the prelude and will resume their relationship this week the champ who has 84 wins at 25.3% this year.

PP #12 – BLOODY INVINCIBLE(IRE) – INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x CONQUISTADOR CIELO x SEATTLE SLEW (Nog) 7/1
Hardly…. Ran a SP of 68 to place 3rd by over two lengths whilst giving ground to the winner. He was fortunate that his opposition didn’t handle the ground and faded as he wasn’t looking like a flying machine in the stretch. The horses that were making ground on him will nail him this week if he attempts to sit on the pace again and Nightingale who has 10 wins this year at 11% must ensure a good ride. Although Invincible Spirit progeny are not jumping out of their skin to date, he can produce some good sprinters as in 5yo horse Once Upon A Nog. Cannot see him firing a shot this week.

My tips:

Born Slippy ahead of Stormavator and Rattle N’ Hum with Heartwood Rager next with massive advantage of Evans aboard.