EPSOM’S GI CORONATION CUP

All eyes will pointed towards the final race on the card at Epsom this weekend for the running of the feature event THE CORONATION CUP.

1 88095 CASE STUDY broadbrush A Edwards 8/1 : Breaking from the inside gate is the broadbrush trained Case Study, racing for the snowchief racing stables. This beautifully bred Thunder Gulch 4yo colt, out of the race mare Seven Way Shake (Sadler’s Wells x Storm Of Angels) has yet to score a win at graded level, but this “once upon a time claimer” has matured into a very consistent race horse under the guidance of snowchief and her stable team, and on the efforts of his last start run, looks as though he could foot it with the higher regarded rivals in this event. Last time out Case Study took on 5 rivals in the GIII Slow Tree Special, a 12 furlong turf event where he faced one of those higher regarded rivals in the form of that race’s winner, Lex Luthor, closing to within 2-¾ lengths of the Galileo trained colt. Unsure as to what race plan snowchief has instructed jockey A Edwards to adopt, with this horse’s ability to race in practically any race position upon leaving the gate, but with Lex Luthor likely to be out to dictate terms up front, maybe a closing stretch run could be the most beneficial. So much hinges on the race pattern as to how successful Case Study performs, but at 8/1 the odds makers are wary of this runner’s ability and snowchief could be short on voice come Monday should she be required to cheer her steed to success in this event.

2 111308 RON DUGUAY calumet F Flav 15/1 : The sjmeola racing syndicate breaks from the number 2 gate with the calumet stabled Smarty Jones 4yo, Ron Duguay. Out of a Fappiano x Irish River mare, this versatile router steps up to graded level racing for the first time in his 18 race career after fashioning a very tidy race record whilst running over the longer distances of 14 – 16 furlongs. With the ability to run on both dirt and turf surfaces, Ron Duguay has probably left sjmeola scratching his head as to exactly where this Smarty Jones 4yo wants to be placed … but in recent racing it has become apparent that this horses future looks best placed on the grass, with the option to return to the dirt should successes not come at a decent clip. Racing pattern seems to be dominated by a hard closing second half of any given event, with a closing stretch run that would have broken the hearts and hopes of past pace making rivals. Ron Duguay’s ability to pick up the lead and storm away for success in the home stretch was more than apparent in the three stakes successes that he strung together prior to his last start 3^rd placing. He was again seen making huge in roads into the eventual winner’s break, but ran out of room to make it four stakes wins on end, but would have had those ahead of him watching nervously for the finish line. Unsure if the drop in distance was the right move here, nor was a race with two previous Eclipse winners entered, but if the camulet management want to know if he can compete in a higher grade or a lesser distance, they have found a real testing arena for the experiment. At 15/1, the bookies have hinted that they expect this colt to finish mid pack, but I feel that he may be charging hard late and could finish in at least the top four or five placings.

3 29303 FLYING ACADEMY(AUS) mrkyle G Montoya 55/1 : The Coronation Cup’s longshot will bounce from the number three stall in the form of the mrkyle trained Flying Spur 4yo Flying Academy. A winner of 5 of 19 career starts, this colt comes into this GI event on the back of a rather disappointing listed stakes event on the turf over 12 furlongs, where he finished a very ordinary 23-¼ length 5^th of 7, scoring an SP# of just 77. Scrolling through Flying Academy’s race record you find his best effort being registered just 4 starts back, where he scored an impressive stakes victory on the turf over 13 furlongs. Facing only 4 other rivals on the day, he was not tested too much and cruised to a comfortable 4-¾ length victory with an sp# of 85. That win was preceded by a just as easy allowance win over 14 furlongs, again on the turf and again, was untested by his 3 rivals in that event, just needing an effort producing an SP# of 78 to secure the 8+ length victory. At 55/1 it is pretty hard for anyone to get over enthused about this colt chances … too much counting against this runner, ranging from the disappointing last start effort to the previous graded stakes failure, let alone the Lex Luthor/ Sunnybank Memorial factor. Is in with a “runner’s chance”, but some “runner’s chances” are obviously better than others, but stranger things have happened. An amazing turn about in form is required.

4 98045 LEX LUTHOR galileo R Harzheim 7/2 : Breaking from the number 4 gate is, what looks to be the biggest threat to Sunnybank Memorial, the race favourite, is Lex Luthor, running for the galileo stable grouping. This stylishly bred Empire Maker 4yo, out of a Theatrical x Seeking The Gold mare, comes into this event on the back of his last start 2-¾ length success in the GIII Slow Tree Special, a turf event ran over 12 furlongs. As in previous victories, Lex Luther was able to break well and secure the pace making roll, and dictate the remainder of the event, cruising to the wire, with a little in reserve and scoring a comfortable sp# of 104 in the process. The last start success followed a confidence seeking ungraded stakes victory over 13 furlongs, where he ran his 6 rivals off their feet with a well controlled 4-¾ length winning margin on the rain affected turf surface. His 4yo season started horribly with a very ordinary 13-¼ length 7^th of 13 in a GIII turf event over 11 furlongs, but prior form to that, in his 3yo season, was super impressive, boasting a GI victory in the Japan Classic (12 furlongs scoring an sp# of 109), preceded by a runner up run in the GI Breeder’s Bowl Turf (12 furlongs – sp# of 113) and 2^nd place in the GI Arc de Triumph (12 furlongs – sp# of 110). The last three events listed prove how well performed this now 4yo is … placing top 2 and then winning 3 of the biggest turf routes in the sim and racing against some of the biggest names in the sim in the process. If Sunnybank Memorial be the ‘Superman’ of this field, then Lex Luthor is definitely packing enough kryptonite to topple his nemesis. Luthor will need to dominate up front and the easier the pace making role is, the better the chance of his success. Should be the second half of a home stretch match race!

5 46836 SHADOW FORCE(IRE) assault99 H Karma 15/1 : Shadow Force will jump mid gate from number 5 and the techranger owned 7yo, racing out of the assault99 stable for the Chayely conglomerate, will be hoping to secure a run just in behind the pace makers, likely to include Lex Luthor, it seems. This well bred Giant’s Causeway horse out of the 2 times stakes winning Deputy Minister x Alydar mare Redneck Velvet, although getting on in years, still has a bit of kick to offer yet and could be in the thick of things late in the piece. That said, it seems Ol’ Father Time has grabbed a hold of his hind quarters, with both starts in this, his seventh year producing two rather lack lustre runs, having been soundly beaten at allowance level by 16-¼ lengths when 4th of 8 over 13 furlongs, and then last time out beaten 15 lengths 3^rd of 8 over 14 furlongs … neither the kind of result one wants heading into a graded event against 2 of the best in the sim. But Shadow Force is trained by one wily, experienced trainer in the form of Techranger, and if anyone can prep this horse for a big event, Larry is just the guy! Was racing in solid form at comparable distances in the latter half of ‘06, winning 2 and placing second twice in his last 5 ‘06 starts, albeit in allowance racing. Scored some very nice wins in his 4yo season, were he was probably at his peak, but with only limited starts since those hectic years, the management team at assault99 barn have done all they can to ensure the longevity of this 7yo’s racing career. Start 40 could be a real career decider for Larry and co. … up against some proven types as well as a couple of up and comers … success is pretty unlikely, but a solid enough run in this event could see a make or break run to retirement, going after as many spoils as possible before the curtain is drawn of this 7yo’s racing days … but with another disappointing run, the team could be forced to a drop to lower allowance racing or even a well deserved lush green retiree’s paddock, and no one would begrudge this well performed horse that luxury. Needs to take a step back in time here and probably have to produce a career best to be competitive, but at 15/1 and on latest form, hard to see Shadow Force gracing the winner’s circle here.

6 84209 OLDER DREAM dundey3 S Ledwith 25/1 : Dundey Acres brings into this graded event one of those up and coming types in the form of Older Dream. Looked to be destined for the top brigade after going 4 for 4 once hitting the race track, but as the level of competition has increased, this 4yo son of Sakhee, out of a Ela-Mana-Mou x Herbager mare, has struggled to continue in the same vain as his career opening efforts. From day one, dundey had this one set as a turf router and after chalking up wins at 8.5 furlongs, in his MSW debut, he then scored 3 more back to back victories at 8, 8.5 and then 9 furlongs all at allowance level, scoring a career best sp# of 102 when recording the final of his 4 wins, over 9 furlongs. Although without success since the opening four race day starts, Older Dream has always been seen closing well from rearward positions in practically all his starts since, the best result probably being the 14 furlong stakes effort, when seen closing to within 3-¼ lengths for second in a 4 horse event. Prior to that start, the dundey trained colt, who although looking well beaten on paper, competed well enough in the GIII Jennifer Connley BC Turf Cap, run over a distance of 9 furlongs, closed from way, WAY off the pace for a creditable 10-¼ length 7^th of 12 … well beaten as stated, but making up big chunks in the closing half.

As to Older Dream’s chances here, I say don’t discount altogether … this horse looks as though he is going to relish the 12 furlongs and could surprise quite a few in this event, not to mention the bookies, who have been less than kind with odds of 25/1 … not saying this son of Sahkee is gonna sweep all before him, but can see him charging past the tiring brigade and could fill a top 5 spot, if things go his way. Will need to be at his best, but can upset with the right run.

7 25106 SINANJU frosty T Smith 9/2 : Jumping from the 7 stall we have who the book makers think will complete the trifecta with Sunnybank Memorial and Lex Luthor. Hailing from the frosty stable out of the Ace B? grouping, this nicely bred Rahy colt out of a Nijinsky II x Key To The Mint mare has returning to the turf surface for the first time since his career debut, some 29 starts ago … that turf debut was less than impressive finishing a 11-¼ length 10^th of 13 with an SP# of 43 for the 5.5 furlong distance. Since that ordinary debut, Sinanju has greeted the judge first on 9 occasions, with all successes coming on the dirt and all at route distances, ranging from 9 furlongs up to 14 furlongs. Wins have also been achieved at a pretty high level, with a career highlight being the success in the GI Out Of The City Handicap, a 10 furlong event on the dirt where he scored an sp# of 105 coming from well off the pace to score an easing 3-¼ length win in the 14 horse field. Since that victory as a 4yo, he has won again at graded level when winning the GIII Gallant Socks Handicap, a dirt event raced over 13 furlongs and was seen once again storming home from well off the pace to easily score a 4-¼ length win over 11 rivals with an sp# of 106. As to recent racing, Sinanju raced last time out in the GI Kentucky Horseman Whiskey Cup on the dirt at a distance of 16 furlongs where he finished second of 12 and was making up ground on the winner late in the piece … a pattern that has followed this 5yo throughout his racing record. As for his chances here, so much is reliant on how he handles the return to the turf … if he cops the track, he could be one for Sunnybank Memorial and Lex Luthor to watch out for … but if the turf is just not where he wants to be, he could find himself languishing in the also rans of this event. SOOOOOO much is hinging on his ability to cop the grass, and the bookmakers have covered their collective hides by offering the shortish odds of 9/2 … so Sinanju’s closing burst and ability to get the distance has been taken into account, but with the surface and the 2% jockey on board, the odds seem way too short for this humble reporter … I hope for the connections sake that their noble steed can run up to the odds offered.

8 277 DRAGON OF DORN tripwire J Diggs 19/1: Team Given brings to the fold the first offspring of broodmare Aragon Indy, Dragon Of Dorn, boasting the breeding line of SADLER’S WELLS x A.P. INDY x MISWAKI … the envy of any sim breeder I’m sure. Dragon Of Dorn, a now 4yo colt, has start 20 in this event and will be looking to add to his 5 career wins and career earnings of just under $200,000. Another runner with form on both turf and dirt surfaces, Dragon Of Dorn has kept the team at tripwire barn guessing as to where his real ability lies, with the majority of his success coming on the grass track, which he will get in this event. Since his latest return to the turf, he has secured 2 victories and a second placing from 4 starts, the first of the four runs being a very tidy allowance victory at the same distance as this event, where he cruised to an easy 4-¼ length victory over 4 rivals with an sp# of 91. Followed up that effort with a just as easy stakes win in the Dawn Chat Handicap, an ungraded stakes on the turf over 13 furlongs, cruising to a comfortable 4-¾ length victory in the 9 horse field with an sp# of 96. A ‘flop’ was thrown in for good measure at his next start with a disappointing 20-½ length 9^th of 12 over 14 furlongs at stakes level, but showed a bit of the true Dragon Of Dorn last time out with a positive 2 length second of six, being run down late after setting a slick pace out front, and scoring an sp# of 96 for that effort raced over 13 furlongs … only down side was the ordinary random breeding that past him on that day. Chances in this event hang on his ability to pick up his heels over the closing half of this event … he will likely travel handy to the pace, but doubt he will take on Lex Luthor for the pace making role, if jockey J Diggs attempts this, I think we could write off Given’s chances of success there and then. Is going to require a career best effort to stay competitive, but with the bookies installing odds of 19/1, they don’t think Dragon Of Dorn has the fire in his belly to topple the Eclipse winners in this event.

9 124882 FREEZE(NZ) aggots C Jericho 8/1 : The card was listed and the connections of aggots stables where on the phone (message Board PM) with their thoughts on their Zabeel sired 4yo Freeze. Ladomanor, spokesman for the Briant Breeding and Racing Empire, hopes that Freeze can continue in the same vain as his last outing when kicking away to an easy 4-¼ length victory in an 8 horse NW4X allowance event on the turf over 12 furlongs, registering a very impressive sp# of 109. Lado mentioned that this was the first time Freeze had been ‘sharp’ in his last 5 outings and ran with a totally different temperament, and the result was that of a horse that wanted to be on the race track … Freeze is ‘sharp’ again this weekend … make of that what you will! Prior form leading up to the last start allowance victory was solid enough, without being dazzling … but a good run of top 5 placings in both graded and ungraded stakes events had proven to the aggots stable team that Freeze was a long turf router of some class. Scrolling back through Freeze’s results from the last start win, you need to slip back 6 races to find his last victory, where he soundly defeated a 6 horse stakes field over 11 furlongs, churning out an sp# of 101 in the comfortable 5 length winning margin. Between that win and the last start Freeze has been twice placed 5^th and a 4^th in graded events at distances comparable to this race, and was been by no means shamed in any of the graded events, making up good ground when raced to come from a little further off the pace, a racing pattern that seems to be preferred by the colt. In the next 2 runs after the graded tilts, he dropped a ‘clanger’ in an ungraded stakes over 14 furlongs, finishing a rather ordinary 22-½ length 5^th of 8, but bounced back two starts back with a very respectable 5 length second of 6 racing over 10.5 furlongs, coming from a long way back at the half way mark … that run was followed by the last start win. Throwing all of that into a big ball, the chances of Freeze are not looking too shabby. The Briant Empire are expecting a big run from Freeze, and confidence is higher still due to the ‘kicking down the barn door’ sharp condition that Freeze is in coming into this event. On the back of the last run and recent form in graded events at comparable distances, the tidy odds of 8/1 are not to be sniffed at, Freeze could quite easily run into a top 3 finish … and Lado is expecting nothing less than an ITM finish.

10 101909 MANDURAMA sedation K Marky 20/1: Prolific placegetter, Mandurama jumps from the widish gate of number 10 in the Coronation Cup and is running for the sedation barn. This 4yo Fantastic Light x The Minstrel ‘claimer come good’ has placed second no less than 13 times in his 31 race career, adding to his 4 race day wins and 6 third placed efforts. Although racing way up in grade here, Mandurama cannot be totally disregarded in this field, especially if a stiff pace is set up front from the jump. This colt can make up many lengths in the closing half of his races, but feel that he could be looking for even further than the 12 furlongs on offer here. He has not yet started in a stakes event, let alone a graded event featuring 2 former Eclipse winners, so one may suggest that if he cannot knock off a few starter allowance rivals, how is he expected to win here? The odds makers suggest that he will find this class a bit too hot for Mandurama, offering 20/1, but if he gets a race pattern to suit, he might just surprise a few of his rivals in this race. Last three starts have been at this events 12 furlong distance on the turf, albeit in starter allowance and then NW2S allowance last time out. The last start resulted in him finishing 1-¼ lengths 2^nd of 8 with an sp# of 98, and although that field was not the strongest allowance field ever assembled, it was a handy enough effort. His two previous starts were in starter allowance ranks, which in this day and age can be pretty competitive in the sim. Two starts back he won with consummate ease, beating a former graded stakes winner by an easy 3 lengths with an sp# of 94 in the $20k starter event … a far cry from this graded stakes event. In short, jockey K Marky is going to be at the top of his game to get this horse home, the rise in class looks pretty steep despite from very good results on his way to this event, but doubt he has the finish to worry many of his rivals in this event. Would love to see this colt running at 14 or 16 furlongs, I think then, the sim will see a very solid performer, maybe something for the sedation team to consider after this weekend.

11 85429 SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL sunnybank T Nugent 4/1: 2004’s Eclipse Horse Of The Year jumps from gate 11 in this weekend’s Coronation Cup, but with his running style, the widish will hold no fears for the Lilbitfarm stables management team. Lines up for start 52 here and may be slowly feeling the effects of a long, but remarkably successful racing career, boasting 25 victories and another 16 top 3 finishes, the majority of those results coming at the highest level of sim racing. Sifting through Sunnybank Memorial’s illustrious career you find no less than 18 GI victories, multiple graded wins and more graded placings than one can shake a stick at! … and some absolutely mind boggling speeds and winning margins at the highest level … just an awesome record all round. But as stated earlier, the wear and tear of such an impressive race career may be slowly stealing a little of the infamous closing kick that made Sunnybank Memorial such a fierce rival back in his 3, 4 and 5yo seasons. We have to scroll back to early September 2006 to find his last success when winning the GI Man Of War stakes over 11 furlongs against 8 competitors whom he beat by an easing 1-¼ lengths with an sp# of 106 … it would have taken a brave and somewhat idiotic person to suggest that that this win would be his last victory for 9 months, but that is how long the winless streak has now been. But in that nine month stretch, Sunnybank Memorial has not run in any other event other than GI racing … a grade of racing that he had dominated throughout his career. His connections could have easily slipped down to an easier level as the tougher racing slowly took toll on his body, but continued to race the best against the best … kudos to the sunnybank team. Although the victories have tapered off, Sunnybank Memorial has placed 2^nd or 3^rd in five of the eight GI starts since the win in the Man Of War event, still making big gains of leaders in his events, but just lacking the final burst that was so prevalent earlier in his formidable career. Too say that this champion is done and dusted would be very immature … he may lack a stride or two of pace, but I would still hesitate to line my very best against him in any event. He finds a graded event here that is not too rich in champion stock, but does have a very good adversary in Lex Luthor and will be tested to the full by the fore mentioned. Installed pre race favourite and despite the waning kick of old, is very much the horse to beat in this event and his class has been respected by the bookies and should be respected by those who choose to take him on, even at this stage of his race career.

12 5139 GALLIC CHARM(FR) alba1 I Swanny 18/1: Springing from all but the outside gate of 12, is the alba1 trained Silic x Shahrastani 4yo colt Gallic Charm, running for the Pict racing team. The 4 win from 40 starts has earned in excess of $400,000 despite just the 4 victories, which points to him running and placing in some pretty heftily pursed events. His most recent win came in a Restricted Owner Stakes event at Ohio in mid November last year, a race run on the turf over 10 furlongs, which he won by a comfortable length margin with an sp# of 101, a career high speed rating at that time. Three races after that event the alba1 team lined him up in the GI Godzilla Vs The World Turf Classic which resulted in an 11-¾ length 3^rd of 12 with an sp# of 101, coming in behind the very impressive race horse in the form of Rapid Grey, staying within 12 lengths of Rapid Grey is easier said than done! Followed up that result with a hard finishing 2-¼ length 2^nd of 12 in an ungraded stakes event over 12 furlongs with a speed rating of 97, which is competitive enough heading into this event. It is Gallic Charms latest two starts that make one wince a little as he heads into this GI assignment … where his GI effort two starts back resulted in a demoralising 37 length 14^th of 14 over 14 furlongs, taking on some big names on that occasion, but delivered very little and backed up that effort with a last start effort that was only slightly better than the previous attempt, where he only managed an ordinary 16-½ length 6^th of 8^th in the GII Confederate Stakes, a race over 9 furlongs on the turf, an sp# of 90 resulted for the effort. Unsure where the Pict team will instruct jockey I Swanny to position their runner in the Coronation Cup with Gallic Charm seemingly having the ability to race in any position after leaving the gate, although better runs have been achieved when racing on or closer to the pace, but he seems to be a horse that would not want to spend too much gas early on in trying to secure an on-pace position. Not too sure what to hope for from Gallic Charm, on latest efforts, he can only get better – or cannot get too much worse. Apart from the two Eclipse winners, Sunnybank Memorial and Lex Luthor, there is not a whole lot else to beat, no disrespect to the other trainers in the field … and with the remaining runners in the field, Gallic Charm is really racing to make up the trifecta behind Sunnybank Memorial and Lex Luthor. Alba1 management will just be hoping that Gallic Charm brings his game face to the Epsom race track and can show a little fight of old.

13 51735 GALLANT WINGS(GB) gboro B Dawg 8/1: Rounding out the Coronation Cup field and breaking from the outside gate is the gboro trained son of In The Wings, Gallant Wings. The 5yo out of a Key To The Mint x Gallant Man mare enters the gates for career start 39, with the previous 38 starts netting just over $375,000 in earnings, from 8 victories and another 13 top three placings. Career highlight to date would be the winning of the GIII Carlton Fisk Handicap, a turf event run over 12 furlongs, which Gallant Wings won as a 4yo in November last year, by 3 lengths with an sp# of 104. Impressive as that win was, it was his last taste of success, with the last seven starts since not bringing the desired winning rewards sought … the best finishing result being the last start second placing in an open allowance over 14 furlongs, where as favourite he was run down in the home straight after stretching the field out in the opening 7 furlongs, going down by a 1-½ length margin. What that last start may have done, if nothing else, was maybe hint to the management team at Tom’s Happy Horse Farms that Gallant Wings is about to return to some more rewarding and consistent form, a pattern of consistency that comes in round and abouts throughout his career, so another solid effort would not be too big of a surprise for Tom and co. One more downer for the team is how much better Gallant Wings runs if able to set the pace of an event, a luxurious run can probably be scratched off the wish list with Lex Luthor taking his place in the field and jumping from an inside gate … jockey B Dawg may have to work through a few runners and will likely have to settle for a position just off the leaders, as I doubt he would have the speed to out hassle a couple of the pace makers jumping from inside him. At 8/1 the odds makers have not totally written off Gallant Wings’ chances of tasting success in the Coronation Cup, but in all honesty, he will need to really show some form of yesteryear to trouble the judge at the wire … if he can pull out another strong effort as his last start, he may be able to worry a number of his lesser ranked rivals at least, if not press for a solid top 3 position.

Well, that’s the field covered, a very strong field on paper, boasting a pair of Eclipse awards winners – but at the same time a very ordinary field on paper … suppose that does not make too much sense, but pretty tough to see a field that boasts two Eclipse winners … take those two out of the field and you have a rather average bunch of race horses.

Those two Eclipse recipients, Sunnybank Memorial and Lex Luthor look set to fill the top two placings, with Lex Luthor holding, in my humble opinion, the upper hand over his main rival, Sunnybank Memorial. With Lex Luthor coming into probably his strongest form as he matures and Sunnybank Memorial seemingly feeling the effects of a tough racing career, I think the Galileo trained Empire Maker 4yo might open a big enough gap in the opening six furlongs that Lilbitfarm’s tiring champion’s closing kick may not be quick enough to over-haul the leader in the home stretch, but I would love to be proven wrong and very easily could be! Either way, I am sure we will see a great battle between two great champions, one still on the improve and one that maybe on the decline.

Good luck to all racing in this event and the rest of the card at the Epsom race track.

– Rharfo