G2- The Victoria Cup
THE VICTORIA CUP
8 entrants have come to Victoria, Australia for this year’s running of the VICTORIA CUP a Grade 2 event with a purse of $375,000. It will be contested on the Turf course over the distance of 10 furlongs (a mile and a quarter). The event is restricted to 4-year olds and older. Starting time is Sunday, March 11th at 2:30 pm EST.
THIS YEAR’S FIELD:
1- BEHOLD THE KINGDOM (6-1) deyoto R. Dogs
Sire : GIANT’S CAUSEWAY Dam : TAYLOR’S STORY
Comes in after struggling in last 3 starts since stepping up the level of his competition. Has 3 wins in 9 lifetime turf starts. Last time out ran 7th in ABERDASHER TURF STAYER at Spain. Before that came home 4th in the G3- THE NIKKAN SPORT where he snagged a 112 SP. He likes coming from off the pace.
2- MADOFFWITHTHEGOLD (16-1) gr8white J. Castillo
Sire : GOLDENCENTS Dam : MADOFFWITHTHEMONEY
Has been off the stakes trail since last August. Comes in off a win in a 16f allowance race in Minnesota on a sloppy dirt track. Last race on turf got caught finishing second by 1 length posting his best 107 SP. Is 3 for 3 in his career on off tracks. In last Graded race faded to finish 6th in G2- POLISH DAMSIRE. Hit the board in 7 of 9 turf starts with 5 victories. He likes to run out in front.
3- LIAM’S CRACKER (11-1) liam T. Small
Sire : DAWN APPROAH (IRE) Dam : WIERLANGTA
Comes in off a win in the HER CAP TURF ROUTE at 14-1 on a yielding turf at Korea. Prior race ran 4th as the favorite in a 67k Allowance and before that in the G2- EARLY MONTHS STAKES faded after leading to finish in 5th place, but posted a 107 SP. Has 6 wins in 11 turf races. Likes to run up front but has been caught a few times.
4- NEW PLAYOFF RECORD (5-1) ladofmanor D. Evans
Sire : STARCRAFT (NZ) Dam : FROM THE BRINK
Last race was a LOCAL CHAMP. STAKES here on Victoria turf where he faded to finish in 7th. Closed out 2017 with a wire to wire win in the TEARS OF A CLOWN DIRT ROUTE tying his best of 113 SP. Before that had a 4-race win streak snapped coming in 6th in the G1- COXLESS STAKES also here at Victoria. Has 6 wins in 11 turf starts and is definitely a front runner.
5- PLAYING DEEP (5-1) supertaffy Z. Kentucky
Sire : DEEP IMPACT Dam : DIABOLUS ADVOCATUS
Comes in off a victory in the FLUMINENSE TURF ROUTE. Prior race came second in the XTREMELY A FAN TURF CHALLENGE, and before that had a second in the DANFOR TURF ROUTE posting a 114 SP at Florida, which ended a 3-race win streak. Has hit the board in 12 of 15 career turf races with 6 wins and likes to set back off the pace before closing.
6- DUTCH HAZE (3-1) bbaffert K. Ledwith
Sire : DYNASTY (SAF) Dam : GAME MISCONDUCT
Has made 9 straight Graded starts. Caught and finished third in the G1- MR MET CAP in February but posted a 114 SP with Ledwith in the saddle. Closed out last year disappointing in the G1- KING KONG CUP finishing 10th. Prior to that won the G3- ALLISON STAKES at New Zealand. Has 6 career turf wins. Likes to come from off the pace.
7- EXBOURNE’S KINGMAY (4-1) ojai08 A. Craig
Sire : KING KAMEHAMEHA Dam : NANA MAY
Will be making his first ever start in a stakes race of any level. Has hit the board in 7 out of 8 races since being gelded with 4 victories, with 6 of those starts coming here on the Victoria turf. Has a lifetime best SP of 113. He likes to settle in mid-pack before making his run.
8- BREAKOUT OFFENSIVE (7/2) mtk76 P. Harzheim
Sire : MALIBU MOON Dam : RACE TO JUDGEMENT
Has 6 career wins in 12 turf starts. Last race bested a field of 13 in a NW1s allowance. Prior race was on the dirt coming home 4th. Before that ran 8th in the G1- ECLIPSE STAKES. Posted his career high SP of 115 in the OBSCENE MALE TURF ROUTE at Virginia last July. Looks like he should settle in around mid-pack before turning it on.
MY SELECTIONS:
6- DUTCH HAZE
8- BREAKOUT OFFENSIVE
5- PLAYING DEEP
Thanks for the write up JB!