The Grade I Strike First, Strike Hard, Show No Mercy

Well welcome back to this edition of The Black Type Bugler, This week I have ventured back across the border to Queensland and the famous Doomben race course just outside Brisbane, home of the Stradbroke Handicap.

This week I will be covering the Grade I Strike First Strike Hard Show No Mercy. This race will be held over the 8 furlongs on the firm turf.

This race is at Grade I level over the 8 furlongs on the Fast turf course and worth $500,000 and open to all fillies and mare, 3 years old.   

So lets have a look through the field and assess their chances.

#1 Smackdown trained by Peeps5. Well we start with the class 3 year old filly, this girl is ranked #1 in the turf classic division. She is by Rock of Gibraltar and has won 4 of her 11 runs for $1,242k in earnings. She stepped right out in distance to 11 furlongs last start where she failed to handle the distance rise and was well beaten. She is back to her pet trip with is the mile and she will run well. She had 2 solid seconds the one 3 starts back was a close second in the Grade II Lillispelis Cup where she had a 101 speed figure. Her last win was back in week 2440 in the How Are You Gentlemen Cup at Grade I level. She has solid speed figures in the low 100’s and being the #1 filly she will be right in the finish here back at her pet trip.

#2 Tree Spirit trained by Anymore. This filly is by Woodman and she has won 3 of her 13 starts for $154k in earnings. This filly has been mixing her distances and surfaces recently and as such return to the mile on turf here. She won 2 starts back over the 7 furlongs on the turf, but looking at her form she is yet to be placed over a route trip. She has run some solid speed figures in the high 80’s over the 7.5 furlongs but looks to struggle with the extra half and that will be the big query here. Probably a place chance at best.

#3 Suffragette City trained by Sdmf5. This filly is by Carson City and has won 1 of her 2 starts for $20k in earnings. Well the most inexperienced runner in the field with 2 starts. She returns to the turf this race after debuting on the turf then switching to the dirt for her first win, can the bounce work for her here? She won last time out with an 89 speed figure but can she carry that speed on the turf and even more importantly can she make the step from maiden lass to Grade 1 winner in consecutive starts? I think that is a huge ask, but a place chance at best.

#4 Thirteenth Date trained by Congie5. Well a superbred filly here by Gone West who has won 4 of her 12 starts for $181k in earnings. This filly has solid form for this race, she ran a close fourth to Smackdown in the How Are You Gentlemen Cup back in week 2440 when she closed quickly in the stretch. Last time out she ran a nice fourth in The West Point Thoroughbreds Turf Derby over the 9 furlongs but was held 8 lengths from the winner, but did run a 99 speed figure. She is continuing to improve and a 100+ speed figure would not surprise and she is back slightly in distance which I think is in her favour. She will stalk the speed and be a huge challenger in the stretch.

#5 Dynahigh trained by Burnin. This filly is the favorite for this race and she has won 4 of her 13 races for $268k in earnings. Another where we can draw the formline through the How Are You Gentlemen Cup back in week 2440, this filly ran a 4 length 8^th place after trying to lead all the way. She will definitely go to the front of the field and the slightly shorter distance of the mile here will suit her. She was collared on the line 2 starts back in the Grade II Lillispelis Cup whre she was beaten by Smackdown. She will go very quick this filly and she will definitely be the one that they all have to catch in the stretch, but can she hang on? She is definitely one of the winning chances.

#6 My Laine trained by Eddie72. Nice looking filly by Lonhro who has won 3 of her 6 starts for $53k in earnings. This filly could be the value in this race and possibly give Lonhro his first Grade I Winner in the Sim. This filly has been mixing her distances and surfaces but I think is best placed over this type of trip. She destroyed them last time out over 7 furlongs when she closed very hard in the stretch to draw away by 2 lengths in the finish, She will settle off the speed and she will be charging at them very late in the stretch and she could be the knockout horse here at good value. Definitely do not dismiss this one!

#7 Theatrical Cry trained by Docpaul. This filly is by Street Cry and has won 3 of her 6 starts with and is yet to be unplaced for $88k in earnings. This filly steps up tot eh Grade I class and she won last time out at stakes level when she led all the way over the 7 furlongs. She has recorded 2 solid 100 speed figures her past 2 runs and she looks to have further improvement. She is best suited by this distance but the question is can she make the step up to the very highest class here? Well I think she is definitely a place chance here and she could be hard to catch in the stretch.

Well a tough little race here with some contenders and pretenders. The #1 ranked filly is the class horse with the proven form and should win, so #1 Smackdown to win from #6 My Laine who should run a bold race with #7 Theatrical Cry for third.

Good luck to all runners.

Simon