Fernazzle Classic Cup to be a Dazzler
This week’s feature race in New South Wales is the Fernazzle Classic Cup at Grade III level over the 10 furlongs on the firm turf track for a purse of $150,000 open to all horses 3 years old, 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 to a higher level 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 11 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.
Roquefort trained by Hipica: An amazing looking colt by super sire Sadler’s Wells, he has won 6 of his 14 career starts but has been out of form in his past 2 races at Grade I level the Sydney Derby and the All Your Bases Are Belong To Us Cup. Prior to those two failed runs he did win a stakes race over the 9.5 furlongs and did win the Pan Handle Derby at Grade III level back in week 3098 with a 97 speed figure. He looks to be out of form but things can turn around quickly with a drop in class. He lookd solid and keen as he galloped with a stable companion over the 10 furlongs to get re familiarised with the track. He quickened up to even time down the stretch and never really looked to be extended. Hipica said “We are perplexed over his last 2 races, he had good form coming into them but he just did not perform and we don’t know why. We will try some different riding tactics here to see if her responds but we are hoping that he can turn it right around”. He will need to turn it around but it is hard to see that happening, probably a rough place chance on class alone.
Exclusive Habitat trained by Iant8: A stunning looking colt by the Arc winner Sakhee and he has won 3 of his 6 starts, so he is still relatively inexperienced. He has stepped up to the highest level his last 2 starts, with a last start second in the Adelaide Derdy and prior to that a second in the All Your Base Are Belong To Us Cup, both at Grade I level. The distance will be no concern for this guy as he is a is proven of this trip and after 2 grade I seconds he does deserve a Grade III win, this looks to be a nice race for him. He looked great in his final leisurely piece of work, he looked very relaxed as he strode the 8 furlongs with even time from the 4 furlong point with a slight quickening down the stretch. Iant8 said “He has been amazing his past 2 starts, who would have expected this from a horse who has only had 6 starts. He has a 103 speed figure over the 9 furlongs 2 starts back so we think that he is going as well if not better than what he did then. He will be on the pace of leading so there should be no excuses”. He looks the class runner and he will be exceptionally hard to beat.
We Hardly Knew Ya trained by Doctahg1: A very impressive looking colt by Dynaformer who has won 6 of his 11 starts. He has been competing at stakes level for his past 2 starts and ran well last time out for a super third in the grade II Ascot Mile when he recorded a 96 speed figure. This is the longest distance at which he has competed so far and he looks as though the distance should not be of concerns as he has a strong finishing style and races of the pace. He looked stylish as he worked easily over the 10 furlongs on the course proper and quickened up over the last 5 furlongs with a let down the final 2 furlongs. Doctahq1 said “He was impressive there, that was really nice work and he was really strong at the end. We really needed to see how he would go at the end of the distance as there has to be some doubt over his ability to run the trip, I was concerned, but now I am not. I expect a strong showing”. He will perform very well, a genuine place chance.
Spanish Harlan trained by Fleet1: A compact looking colt by Harlan’s
Jenyan trained by Dowelly: A lovely looking colt by Beat Hollow, he has won 8 of his 18 starts and this includes 3 stakes victories. He ran well two starts back when 6th in the Adelaide Derby and then bounced back to winning form in an open allowance last time out over the 11 furlongs. The distance will not be a problem for this guy however he will need to lift his speed figures probably 5-6 points into the 90’s to be a real contender. He looked very good in his final workout as he and Spanish Harlan headed around to the 8 furlong marker and then headed off at even time, they quickened at the 4 furlong marker and then really worked home solidly from the 2 furlongs to the post. Dowelly said “He is a trier, whatever he runs in he tries his heart out. He might not have the fasted sprint but he can certainly grind them and we hope that he will do that here. He will be up on the speed so he will look to go from a long way out and give them something to catch”. He looks a rough place chance for mine.
American Werewolf trained by Kensai: A super colt here who is by Storm Cat and he has won 5 of his 14 starts and they include 2 stakes wins. He remains in graded class after his last 2 races on the turf which yielded a 5th place and s very good second place in the Grade III Craven Stakes when he finished strongly in the stretch to miss by 2 ¾ lengths. He recorded a super impressive 101 speed figure in that race so a repeat here makes him very hard to beat. The question for this guy is the distance, can he make the 10 furlongs? He looked good as he just did some trotting and cantering on the morning that I saw him and her looked bright and alert. Kensai said “He is in good form and we hope the drop back to this class of Grade III will help with the distance worry. We are not overly worried about it as he has done a huge amount of work so we expect him to make it easily, he has a super finish so he will be off the speed and charging late”. Promising words for a promising horse, looks to be a real contender.
Mt Doom trained by Super21: A wonderful specimen of a colt here who is by Montjeu and has won 4 of his 10 starts including his last 2 in a row. He is a stakes winners in his last start over this distance in the Exciting Cozzene Special when he recorded a 95 speed figure and won with a super stretch run. He looks to be a horse on the rise and the distance of this race is certainly not going to be of any concern. He looked solid as he worked stylishly over the 5 furlongs at ¾ pace with a let down over the final 2 furlongs. Super21 said “He is an up and comer who just continues to improve with every run, we certainly think that this is his preferred distance so hopefully everything falls in his favour here and he can get over this line for his first graded win”. He looks to be a solid chance.
Elusive Riley trained by Okdavid196: A super looking colt by Elusive Quality and he has won 3 of his 10 starts but has really thrived since he switched to the turd 4 starts back. Those 4 starts have yielded 2 wins and 2 third places and consistently higher speed figures. He is a stakes winner and won last time out in the Corny Forest Memorial Stakes over the 10 furlongs with a 94 speed figure. He looked good that day as he made a super stretch run from 4 lengths from the leader and won relatively easily. He makes his graded race debut here. He looked good as he galloped strongly with Eight Straight from the 8 furlong marker with both quickening from the 3 furlong marker to the post and both finished under a strong hold. Okdavid196 said “He certainly has thrived since the surface switch, it was a surprise actually but now we wish we had tried it a bit earlier. He won well last time out and does deserve his chance here, he is proven at the distance so the class is the only thing which is unknown. We hope that he will run very well”. Another who looks to have a solid place chance.
Eight Straight trained by Catohoula: This is an imposing individual by Smarty Jones and he has won 4 of his 12 starts. He has been racing on the turf for his past 9 starts and he is a stakes winner last time out in the Ollie’s Wars Special where he won over the 12 furlongs with an 89 speed figure. So the distance here will certainly not be of concern. Prior to that run he ran a super race in the Grade III Dante Stakes where he closed hard in the stretch from 11 lengths back to run 4th only 4 lengths from the winner with a 91 speed figure. He looked good as he galloped strongly with Elusive Riley from the 8 furlong marker with both quickening from the 3 furlong marker to the post and both finished under a strong hold. Catohoula said “He certainly has continued to improve with racing and as the distances are increasing. We certainly thing that on his run in the Dante Stakes that he is certainly up to this class and that he will be ultra competitive here, but we have to remember that he is probably best suited by a longer distance but he will be charging at them in the stretch”. He will be charging, but will he catch them, I think he will catch most but probably not all!.
Velocity Rogue trained by Seedly: A very attractive grey colt by Silver Ghost who has won 3 of his 14 starts and he is a dual stakes winner on the turf including a Grade III win in the Booty Call Stakes over the 6 ½ furlongs with a 97 speed figure. The biggest question for this guy is the distance, he has not won over a route trip as yet and was well beaten when tried over a mile in week 2986 as a 2yo. Has he physically matured enough to run out this trip? He looked great as he really worked well over the 6 furlongs with a nice run down over the last 2 furlongs. Seedly said “He is in good form and we have changed his running style so he can come from off the pace. So hopefully that will help him run out the trip, I also think he will be better suited by the slower tempo of the 10 furlong race as opposed to the frenetic pace of the sprints. Look, the distance is the real unknown here and we really are just hoping for a good showing”. Tough to call but I think the distance is too far for this guy.
Street Putt trained by Mv4ever: A nice looking colt by world cup winner Street Cry, he has won only one race from his 6 starts so that makes him eligible for significantly easier races than this. He did compete in the Grade III Fabulous Fab Stakes last time out on the dirt and was well beaten into 11th place, 10 lengths from the winner. There are many factors against this guy here, firstly the switch to the turf, a huge unknown, but with
No tips forthcoming from me, just good luck to all runners!!
Simon