The SALTED SON Handicap Stakes

The SALTED SON Handicap
Stakes
Seven and half furlongs
Firm Turf
$45,000
Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up

After 2 unspectacular attempts on dirt to begin her career kaif shifted No Promised Land to the Turf and an instant improvement was his reward. After breaking her Maiden over today’s race distance of 7.5f kaif dropped her back to 6f for her last 2 starts as a 3yo for a place and a show. Lightly raced with only 2 starts since turning 4 both wins in Allowance class over 6.5f she makes the jump in class today to have her 1^st attempt in a Stakes.

Breaking 100 sp last start – a continued improvement would put her in with a good chance. Only question – can she handle the jump to Stakes racing?

Didn’t start her racing career until this year and with 5 wins from 7 starts including a last start win in The ALYCOON HOROSCOPE(IRE) Stakes  she has proven her ability to compete at this level. A proven winner around both 1 and 2 turns and with 4 wins from 5 sprint starts the distance today of 7.5f won’t trouble her

Looks to be one of the Main chances

Goes to the gate today as the equal pre-post favorite, although considering the quality of her opposition today I would be looking for at least 5 points better before I would consider backing her to win. Her last 2 starts have shown a weakening of her previous good form, and she is yet to break 100 sp this year, something she would need to do to have any chance of winning.

Under the odds – she may well take home some prize money but a finish in the top 3 would surprise

Has shown a marked improvement since being shifted to the turf 5 starts back, and has run 90’s in each of those 5 starts, but yet to win a Stakes race. 2 Starts back she did finish hard in the Gr 3 Las Vegas Hcp, making up 5 lengths in the straight to finish 6^th.

Will need to improve to figure in the finish here, but expect her to be showing her best in the final 2 furlongs

The other equal favorite today, and rightfully so. She won The SWAMPY HUNT Challenge 2 starts back in a very impressive 103 sp. After giving the leaders 6 ½ lengths with just over 3 furlongs to run she swooped around the field from 10^th before winning by just over 2 lengths eased down. Forget her last start “failure” where the pace just didn’t suit, and she was left lamenting at the wire by a tad over 3 lengths after being baulked for a run on the turn.

Should make her presence felt today – expect a bold showing

One thing for certain, if you put your money on Hero’s Luck, if she doesn’t lead from the gate (or at least is no further back than 1 length) you can tear up your tickets. She seems to do her best over distances shorter than today’s 7.5f, even though her best ever sp of 101 (the only time she has broken the century) was over a mile (maybe the stewards should have checked her more closely after that run). She has also been very heavily raced in recent weeks

Racing like a tired horse as shown in her last start when faded to 8^th after leading into the stretch – not for my money

The only 5yo mare in a field of 4yo fillies, who hasn’t run in a sprint since her 1^st 3 race starts over 18 months ago. She has shown some early speed in her recent starts and better than average form, but coming back so far in distance is a big ask.

Unknown quantity in the field – but would prefer her chances over more ground

Another whose recent starts have been around 2 turns, she also has shown early speed and been able to lead around 2 turns. Her only 2 sprint starts were also her only 2 starts on the dirt, and the 1^st 2 starts of her career. Nothing in those 2 starts showed that she had any inclination to like taking on the speedsters, but then again it could be she just hated the feel of dirt.

Watch – with her natural ability to fly from the gates, if given a soft ride up front may surprise these

 The Yellow Dog Betting Syndicate suggests the following

$10  Box Trifecta – 1, 2, 6, 8 Cost $240

$4 Multiple Trifecta – 2, 6/ 1, 2, 6, 8/Field Cost $144

$10 Box Exacta – 1, 2, 6, 8 Cost $120

$50 Across the board No 8 Cost $150

Total outlay $654