Sea King Cyclone Favoured

This weeks feature stakes race here is Ascot is the Ta Shunka Witco Stake, to be raced over the short and sharp 6 furlongs on the firm turf course. It is open to horses 3 years old and is worth a total of $90,000.

A small but highly competitive field of only 6 runners has nominated for the race but there are 6 winning chances so the race looks to be a cracker as it is almost a repeat of the Grade II After Shave Sprint from week 3217.

Lets get into it, after spending the morning at the track to see which horses I could see and what comments I could get lets go through the runners:

Jenna’s Deputy trained by Dowelly2. This fine looking colt by French Deputy has won 8 of his 17 starts and has raced exclusively on the turf. This colt looks to go straight to the lead and was only just caught last time out in the After Shave Sprint at Grade II level with a 99 speed figure. In that race he was beaten by Sea King Cyclone so he has to turn the table here. He looked good in his final work out when he just when ¾ pace down the straight. Dowelly2 said “He just went a bit hard in front last time and did not have much left in the stretch. We will try to hold him up a bit more this time so he will be harder to get past in the stretch”. He is a chance here.

In Position trained by Maplefarms: A likely looking type of colt by Sky Classic who I would suggest is probably better suited over slightly more ground but he has won 4 of his 13 starts. He ran in the After Shave Sprint last time out and was well held when finishing 10^th. He is yet to break the 100 speed figure barrier and it is difficult to see a sub 100 speed figure being in the finish here. However he looked bright and alert in when he was trotting around the sand track and after the work Maplefarms said “We thought we had found a lower class race here, but what do you know they have all come over from the After Shave. Not sure what we can do differently but we will be in there trying, maybe the smaller field will suit him better”. Hard to see him turning the tables.

Sea King Cyclone trained by Ydracing3: The favourite for the race and deservingly so. He is a magnificent looking colt by Strike the Gold who since switching to the turf 9 starts back is yet to miss a place culminating in the stunning win in the Grade II After Shave Sprint with a 104 speed figure. He looked sensational as he just went ½ pace over 5 furlongs and then went for a quiet walk and roll. Ydracing3 said “That was a super run last time, we always knew he had a Graded win in him, he just needed an easy week to get over the run and the travel, but he had brightened right up and he is as good as we can get him. It will be difficult for the others to turn the tables on him. The only query for us is the small field”. He looks to be the class and the winner.

Day Of A New Start trained by Nickeysyd3: This guy is a very athletic looking Perfect Soul colt who makes his Graded debut after a strong stakes win over this distance with a 99 speed figure. He sat right up on the speed in the City Pillow and was to strong for them in the stretch to draw away with a highly competitive 99 speed figure as we have said. He doesn’t have the long travel factor to contend with and he looked great as he galloped with a companion and they just quickened down the straight and he always had the upper hand. Nickeysyd3 said “he just needed some cobwebs blown out, he had a quiet week after his last race and he just needed the work to top him off. It was a great win last time and he deserves his chance in at graded level. There are some top horses here but I think we have a great chance”. I think you have a great chance as well.

Magnificent Here trained by Ildottore3: This guy is a superb looking colt by Footstepsinthesand and he has won 5 of his 16 starts. He has been competing at the highest level with starts in the Grade I 2000 Guineas and the Sydney Derby, neither of which yielded wins. He drops right back in distance here but he is yet to miss a place when over the sprint trips. He is yet to record a 100+ speed figure which will be required here but he certainly looks to be capable. He had a quiet morning with just a quiet swim and walk. Ildottore3 said “he has been racing against the best and he comes into this off a 3 week break. He needed to be freshened up for the sprint so he has not done a lot of work, just a lot of swimming and walking. He is bright and he can sprint well when he is like that. There are some quick ones in the race and it will be tough”. Definitely a place chance.

Paper Jesus trained by Troy5: A very compact looking colt by Quinton’s Gold who has won 5 of his 13 starts and ran super in the Grade II After Shave Spring when he could just not quite match the stretch run of the winner and he finished a 2 length third with a 99 speed figure which was a career high. He will certainly need further improvement. He looked great when cantering around the inner fibre track and he pulled up on his toes and looked bright and keen. Troy5 said “He did not need much, as he is as fit as he can be. He ran super last time but he will certainly need further improvement here to win as the winner last time was awesome. He certainly can do it, the smaller field will suit us as we won’t have to go so wide like last time and hopefully he can be right there again”. He will certainly be right in the finish here again.

No tips from me but Sea King Cyclone looks a standout but a very tough race.

Good luck to all runners.

Simon