12 horse Juvenile field in Coventry Steaks
Hello race fans and welcome to scenic Ascot for what is sure to be an monumentally exciting day of racing . Among the Graded races today is the Juvenile Turf Division’s early class test The Coventry Steaks -G III , a mainstay of the Sim’s training regimen of who’s hot and who’s not .
Among the competitors today are 2 fillies : Violent Femme (IRE) and Crystal Hawks (IRE) taking on ranked colts Septic Squall , Capture the Moment (IRE) , Many Lives (JPN) and Urko’s Master (IRE) in what is sure to be a race for the ages . The stage is set , the post parade is under way so lets take a look at the card .
On the wood representing trainer Sozzled is the heavily bet Septic Squall 6 / 1 ( Septieme Ceil x Summer Squall x Alleged ) , ridden by the modest J. Ackland this week . The latest foal of stakes winning mare Bart’s Sum , this colt has jumped into the # 29 position in the turf division off his 2 career starts . Wintering at Queensland , this colt broke his maiden in a field of 20 March 3 rd going 5 furlongs in 59:3/5 66 Spf . Seeing a glimpse of brilliance , trainer Sozzled went to work prepping his colt for the Queensland Juvenile -Stk going 6 panels for the first time May 5 th and not quite catching Boom Gate (ENG) in the stretch for a 2nd place effort 78 Spf . Today he remains at 6 furlongs and makes the jump to Graded company , a logical move for a talented youngster whom is sure to like more distance later in his career .
In post 2 is the chestnut filly Violent Femme (IRE) 13 / 1 ( High Chaparral (IRE) x Sinndar (IRE) x Sword Dance (IRE) ) the first foal of Stakes winning mare Sinn’s Sword (IRE) representing the stable of trainer Openmind . A terror in the barn , she won first asking April 21 st in a Nevada 4 horse field going 5.5 furlongs in 1:05:2/5 70 Spf . Shipping in earlier this week , she showed no effects from travel and immediately bit her groom exiting the aircraft to the amusement of the attending journalists . This contentious filly likes nothing better than to put her nose out front and grind her opposition down , but the real test of that spirit is today when she runs against the colts in Graded company .
In post 3 at 8 / 1 is the Demon123 trained colt Double Malted (AUS) ( Elvstroem (AUS) x Caerleon x Manila ) , D. Rideout gets the nod . A resident of Longchamp , this colt broke his maiden in his 2nd start May 12 th going 5.5 furlongs in 1:05:3/5 66 Spf . This brown colt likes to set the pace and will be tested thoroughly in his Graded debut over a distance he has run previously .
In post 4 is Capture the Moment (IRE) 7 / 1 ( Kodiak (IRE) x Kingmambo x Seattle Slew ) representing the stables of trainer Roberto with the very hot veteran jock P. Funk in the irons . Undefeated in 2 starts , this colt returns to Europe from his last victory in Delaware April 24 th going 6 furlongs in 1:12:3/5 67 Spf . Considered the # 4 ranked turf runner , he makes the jump up in class to verify his lofty ranking and prove his versatility to date is a maturation of raw talent .
In post 5 is East Coast brawler Act Fast (NZ) 24 / 1 ( Ustinov (AUS) x Fast Play x Conquistador Cielo ) ridden by veteran H. Danger and trained by Podig1 . After a dismal first outing on dirt , this colt showed promise on grass on a surface switch 2nd outing . Third time is a charm held weight for this colt April 28 th in Connecticut where he changed to a stalking style and won a hard fought MSW going 5.5 furlongs in 1:05:1/5 71 Spf . An uneventful trip across the pond has landed this colt smack dab in the middle of a brewing kettle of Juvenile Division conflict .
In post 6 is the Austar trained colt at 7 / 1 Many Lives (JPN) ( War Emblem x Phone Trick x Nijinsky II ) The latest foal of Stakes winning / Graded winning producer Many Trick , this # 9 ranked chestnut colt has had the baptism of fire with a record of 3: 1-2-0 with a MSW win and places in both Allowance and Graded company . His last appearance over this same distance was April 14 th in Dubai on off turf where he ran 1:11:4/5 73 Spf . It will be interesting to see how much this colt has matured coming off his last start in May 19 th’s Belgian Tyke’s Stakes – G III where he gain another 2nd place to his career portfolio .
In post 7 at 10 / 1 is the brown filly Crystal Hawks (IRE) ( High Chaparral (IRE) x Fantastic Light x Machiavellian ) representing trainer Capitanio2 and ridden by talented youngster M. Van Dam . A winner first asking over 5.5 furlongs in Upper New York April 28 th , this filly sat comfortably behind the pace setter and set her nose to the front before the top of the stretch and never looked back . A hand ridden 1:05:3/5 gainer her a 68 Spf and set her up for today’s class test . Bred for grass , she has a great conformation and looks to be fit for the battle ahead of her
In post 8 at 17 / 1 is the Kitana trained Urko’s Master (IRE) ( Fasliyev (IRE) x Rainbow Quest x Sadler’s Wells ) , superstar veteran M. Day gets the nod . With 3 starts under his belt , this son of Stakes mare Urko’s Rainbow is Stakes placed and ranked # 8 in the Turf Juvenile Division . Raced primarily on off turf , it’s unknown what this colt is truly capable of when the conditions are favorable . Today the class question will be answered and the future of his racing career path established .
In post 9 is the betting favorite and Pazprayer trained colt Dancing Prayer (IRE) 7 / 2 ( Danehill Dancer (IRE) x Fappiano x Sadler’s Wells ) with journeyman jock R Williams getting the assignment . A winner first asking in Dubai May 19 th over 6 panels in 1:12:2/5 69 Spf , this bruiser colt is gutsy when he closes . With all the early speed in today’s race , he may have to run a bit closer to the pace if he is to win in Graded company among some of the Juvenile Turf Division’s highest ranked ponies .
In post 10 is the Canadian import Sado (CAN) 9 / 1 ( Old Forester x Awesome Again x Valid Appeal ) representing trainer Ace3 and ridden by crafty journeyman J. Dyson . This brown colt won first asking in Ireland April 21 st going 5.5 furlongs in 1:05:2/5 69 Spf running right off the pace and fighting hard down the stretch . Trainer Ace3 stretches him out to 6 panels and a jump up in class to see what this big hearted battler can produce when it counts .
In post 11 is the Bud Light long shot Lord Frost (SAF) 32 / 1 ( West Man x Clash by Night x Icecapade ) wearing the colors of trainer Scorpion , competent journeyman V. Vincent gets the nod . A winner fist asking , this latest foal of Stakes winning mare Ice by Night ran out of ground last outing in Ostend’s Belgian Tyke’s Stakes – G III May 19 th . A late closer by nature , the stretch out to 6 panels might be exactly what the doctor ordered and is an excellent price at 32 / 1 .
On the outside is the 2 nd betting choice Desert Invader (AUS) 5 / 1 ( Desert King (IRE) x Caerleon x Lyphard ) . Trained by Champions7 and ridden by Classy veteran jock J. McRea , this colt is coming off a huge win April 28 th over 5.5 furlongs 1:05:00 75 Spf in Epsom . A smooth break , stalking the pace and a strong move pre- third call sent this colt to the front and all alone to coast to an easy victory . Goodness knows what he really is capable of , hence the easy decision to move him up to Graded company . With a lot of early speed , he’s not going to get the trip he had last outing so the break will be the key for this youngster .