Lil’ Drummer Boy – To set off Five Alarms
This week’s feature race at Newmarket is the Lil’ Drummer Boy Handicap at Grade III level over the 8.5 furlongs on the fast turf track for a purse of $125,000 open to all fillies and mares 3 years old and up, and it is always exciting when there is a Graded race on the card for a day. The excitement level at the track is elevated as owners of the horses come from all places to hopefully see their wonderful investment or passion claim the ultimate prize in racing.
This weekend’s race has attracted a top quality field of 7 runners from all over the European division and I have flown here a few days early and have had the opportunity to watch the runners go through their final paces and have a chat to what trainers I could catch up with to get their opinions.
So let’s get into it and have a look at the field in more detail:
Five Alarm trained by Zoz: This 5yo mare is a beautiful and athletic figure by Van Nistelrooy who has won 9 of her 35 starts. She has certainly appreciated the last 2 races on off tracks with a superb win last time in the Grade 3 Sure Will Cap and a super closing second the start before in the Grade 2 Frank’s Love Stakes. She has her last 3 races with 100+ speed figures capped by last starts 107. She looked magnificent trotting around the centre of the track as her track rider let her stop and look around and even at one stage to have a pick. Zoz said “She has had a lot of work last week so she did not need much work this week. She likes to lead so we needed to keep her fresh. She won well last time so we are hoping for a repeat here in what we think is a slightly easier race”. She looks the class and should be hard to beat.
Dynamin trained by Leesnyder: A very athletic 4yo mare here by Dynaformer. She has won 9 of her 16 starts and has only missed a place once, back in her Nw1x start in week 2629, where she came 5th. She is yet to win at Graded level but has won 3 times at stakes level. This could be her favoured distance and she has four 100+ speed figures to her credit including a 106, 3 starts back over 9 furlongs. She looked magnificent in galloping over 5 furlongs with a quickening over the last 3 furlongs and the came off the track on her toes. Leesnyder said “She has been an outstanding mare for us, she has a great record. She ran well last start but was not favoured by the off track. She is much better on top of the ground so she should run much better here”. Well that is an omen, she will be hard to beat if that is the case.
Semi Spectacular trained by Steelewolf: A resplendent 4yo grey mare who has won 6 of her 20 starts including a great head seconds back in week 3105 in the Exploding Outhouse Stakes at Grade 3 level. She tried to lead all the way there and was just caught right on the post. She has several 100+ speed figures and she is dropping back slightly in distance from her past 2 runs. She looked a picture in her last workout when she just strode down the stretch with a slight quickening over the last furlong or so. Steelewolf said “She did not need much work this week as she has had some longer races so we have tried to lighten her workload to freshen her up. She has been competitive in every race she has been in so there is no reason to think differently here. She will be up on the speed and will certainly challenge in the stretch. We are hopeful of a super showing here”. She will run well and is a place chance.
Prabha trained by United: This mare is a compact 4yo mare by Testa Rossa who is a multiple graded winner with a Grade 1 win in the Green Bullet in week 2944 and a Grade 3 win as a 2yo in week 2552. She is yet to be placed in a route run after 5 starts so she may have her work cut out here. She looked solid in her last work out when she just went even time over 8 furlongs. United said “She is a much better sprinter but as she get older we think she will get more ground. She has worked well leading into this race so hopefully she gets a nice run and she can be in the finish this time”. With a poor record over a route trip it is hard to recommend her here.
Firsttime trained by Lookout: A very attractive brown 3yo filly by Slew’s Pot of Gold who has won 4 of her 10 starts. She has spent her last 9 starts on the turf after starting her career on the dirt. She has won 4 races on the turf with the best of these being at stakes level, she did step up to Grade 3 level last time out where she ran 3rd in the Latonia Special with a 96 speed figure over the 7 furlongs. I think she will appreciate more distance so this race should suit. She looked a picture in her final workout where she galloped strongly down the stretch and she came off the track kicking and squealing. Lookout, said “She is in good form but just struggled to win her last 4 races while being super competitive. I think she will appreciate the extra distance and she needed the hard hit out this morning to top her off for this race. She will be out in front and they will have to catch her”. She will give them something to chase, maybe she can hang on for a place.
Son’s Mt trained by Oneworld: A very athletic looking 4yo mare by Miesques Son who has won 3 of her 23 starts but has raced in stakes class for her past 3 starts for an excellent second last time out in the Frugal Jessie Memorial. She makes her graded debut here and she has solid speed figures in the mid 90’s which give her a chance here over this distance. She looked good as the sun rose and she galloped down the straight with the track rider having her under a strong hold. She cantered off the track and even gave a squeal as she went past. Onceworld said “She has had 3 stakes races to get her fit for this, she just needed a little bit of work to keep her mind on the job. She is usually a lazy track worker but that work was good this morning. I hope that is an omen for her race performance. When she is switched on she runs well, as she has shown her past 5-6 races”. She is a good place chance here.
Hi C And Turkey trained by Sam812218: This nicely bread 4yo mare by High Chaparral is the least experienced runner in the field with only 10 starts under her belt, but she has been well performed winning 3 of them and being placed 5 other times. She stepped up to graded class last time out with a nice 5th in the A Plus Mile where she was slightly hampered by the off track but still ran an 89 speed figure. She continues in graded class here and on the firm course so expect some further improvement. She did not do much for her last work out other than a walk around the stalls and a roll where she bucked and squealed and it took sometime before her strapper could get into the roll to catch her. Sam812218 said “Well if her performance in the roll is anything to go by then she is certainly ready to go. She took a bit of time to get over the last run as it took a bit out of her but she is bright, fresh and fit so she should acquit herself very well here. We hope she gets a nice run just off the speed so the small field will help her in the stretch”. She is another who looks a good place chance.
No tips forthcoming from me, just good luck to all runners!!
Simon