A LOADED FIELD DOWN UNDER IN THE NEW MARKET HDCP
NEW MARKET HANDICAP
A very strong and talented field of 9 gather here in Victoria, Australia for this Grade 1 event. It will be run on the turf course over three quarters of a Mile (6 F) with a total purse of $750,00 for 4 year olds and older. They will hit the starting gate on Saturday, March 10th at 3pm EST.
Among this field are 6 Graded Stakes winners, with the other 3 all having a named stakes victory. 4 horses that have won over 500k and another that has eclipsed the Million mark in earnings. EXCELEBRATION (IRE) has sired 3 of this year’s runners (I AM GROOT, FISSFIEND & BONES OF THE AZTEC), while SEPOY has sired two (EUCLA COROLLA & INVINCIBLE SPOE). 2 entries are returning from last years race (EUCLA COROLLA & FERNANDO WAR). We have a mix of 6 Five-year olds and 3 Four-year olds.
Now the Post Parade:
1- I AM GROOT (5-1) handshobby W. Kewmwa
EXCELEBRATION (IRE) x ARCH out of CAROLINA PEACE.
Opened 2018 in the G2- COOL LIGHTNING STAKES rallying to get 4th but was only ¾ length back. Before that won the KAWIKA NINE TURF SPRINT at Korea posting a 113 SP. Prior race finished third in the G3- UMBRIA at Italy. Likes coming from off the pace and has hit the board in 11 of 16 Turf races, including 6 trips to the winner’s circle.
2- AURIDON (4-1) padrebri B. Peeples
SEA THE STARS x VINDICATION out of CAPTIVATING.
Ran second in first race of 2018 in a G3- purchasedforharrylan over a yielding turf but posted a career best 115 SP. Has made 10 straight Graded starts getting a win, 3 seconds and a third. In December came home 6th in the G1- KING KONG SPRINT. Last win was the G2- GOLDENE at Germanyin August. Does his best work coming from the middle of the pack.
3- EUCLA COROLLA (5-1) tulloch M. Scott
SEPOY x CAPE CROSS out of OUTBACK COROLLA.
Ran 6th in his season opener the G1- PEKAYS REMEMBERANCE STAKES at New Zealand. Caught at the end finishing second by ¾ length in the G1- KING KONG SPRINT posting a 114 SP. Last win came in the G3- MULE BUTTON. Was third in last year’s running of the NEW MARKET HDCP. Most successful when running out in front. Scott will be making 3rd straight and 6th ride.
4- FISSFIEND (7-1) lenny271 L. Radzinski
EXCELEBRATION (IRE) x SMART STRIKE out of SURE AS SUNRISE.
Enters with a 4-race winning streak with 2 wins this year. The victory in January at the CINNAMON CAT TURF CHALLENGE posted a 110 SP, however this will be his first Graded stakes start. Has only missed the board once in 17 races claiming 10 wins. Radzinski will get second trip the other was a win. Likes to settle in around mid-pack before letting go.
5- INVINCIBLE SPOE (5-1) okdavid196 J. Pimental
SEPOY x INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) out of INVINCIBLE VICE.
Had a third-place finish in the G2- COOL LIGHTNING STAKES in February. Has hit the board in 14 out of 15 races with 10 victories. Closed out last year with a third in the G1- KING KONG SPRINT while posting a 113 SP with Pimental in the saddle. Prior race won the G2- ASCOT VAIL at Queensland. Had an 8-race win streak from Dec 2016 thru Aug 2017. Big time off the pace closer.
6- BLUSHING CADET (5-1) cadet A. Jolly
MORE THAN READY x DANEHILL x BLUSHING GROOM.
Started the season cruising to a win in a NW5y allowance in a field of 10 as the favorite. Closed 2017 running 10th in G1- BREEDERS BOWL TURF SPRINT ending his 3-race win streak. Prior race won the G1- LONGCHAMP SPRINT. Has a best SP of 114 from April at Minnesota. Likes to run out in front or near the lead. Jolly will be making his 2nd straight ride.
7- FERNANDO WAR (6-1) fernando O.A. Haack
WAR CHANT x SEEKING THE GOLD out of ZOOM.
Was in the lead pack before finishing 6th in G2- COOL LIGHTNING STAKES in February. Finished out last year getting caught and finishing third in the G3- ZEPPELIN CAP but posted a 111 SP. Prior race won the G3- MR SALLINGER STAKES here at Victoria. Likes to be out in front of the pack. Haack will get third mount including finishing 5th last year in the NEW MARKET HDCP.
8- BONES OF THE AZTEC (42-1) ksparrow J. Sands
EXCELEBRATION (IRE) x HARLINGTON out of THUNDERBONES.
Will be making his first start of the year here. Ended 2017 season with a disappointing 14th place in the G1- KING KONG SPRINT. Before that won the KVORT TURF SPRINT at Korea posting a 106 SP and placed second in the G2- ASCOT VAIL. Has hit the board in 3 out of his 4 races since being gelded, with 2 wins. Does his best work running out in front.
9- STORMY ENCOUNTER (7-1) mtk76 M. Kelly
STORMY ATLANTIC x SADLER’S WELLS out of ORWELLIAN.
Won his February tune-up here on the Victoria Turf in the G2- THE OAK LEE PLATE putting up a 113 SP at 10-1 odds. Has won 7 out of 10 races since he was gelded. This will be his Grade 1 debut race. Closed out 2017 by winning the BLAZING SADDLES BREEDERS SHOWDOWN TURF SPRINT. Likes to run at or near the lead of the race.
MY SELECTIONS :
5- INVINCIBLE SPOE
1- I AM GROOT
2- AURIDON
Nice preview…and my guy Groot got it done!