Iago’s Bred to Stay Trophy

A quarter of a million bucks is up for grabs today in the Athens feature event of the week, the Iago’s Bred to Stay Trophy. Assembling for a chance at the prize are 4 of the top 20 long turf routers in the sim. A mix of front runners and back markers should see for an entertaining race, over 14 furlongs on the firm turf track.

PP#1 SURGEON TUBES ID # 26731 ROUSILLON x BE MY GUEST x NEVER SO BOLD(IRE) squirrel4 5/1

A huge run last time out in his defence of the 12 furlong smackdown event, but was not quite up to it this year. He finished off that run like he was looking for more ground, which is what he gets here, rising 2 furlongs. Put together 5 consecutive stakes wins to start his time in the squirrel4 stable, but hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle again since moving up to graded company in March. Probably gets his best chance here, after running two huge races, and he is proven at the distance and on the surface. Has over $1.2mil in the bank so far in stakes money and looking for a share of the cheque again here.

PP#2 CORTEZ(IRE) ID # 19538 HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) x CONQUISTADOR CIELO x FOOLISH TANNER slipknot22 2/1

The morning line favourite will jump from post 2 this week, coming off a massive SP110 to win the Grade II Dawn To Dusk Cup. He was a winner at is last try over this distance, taking home the listed, GG Buda Stakes, three runs ago. Is likely to get back worse than midfield and make a big run well before the stretch. He is the number 15 ranked long turf ranked older male, and looks to be starting to show signs of the promise he showed as a 3yo. T Redding takes the ride (13.6% year), and this fellow, winner of 5 Grade I events including the Irish Derby, the Adelaide Derby and the Sydney Derby, will no doubt look the winner at some stage.

PP#3 WORST DAY EVER ID # 86439 KINGMAMBO x SADLER’S WELLS x SECRETARIAT lenny16 16/1

Beautifully bred 4yo brown horse, who has been mixing form a little of late, winning 3 allowances comfortably and a big second in a Grade II, but last start struggling to a defeat by 34 lengths and 3 starts ago having a mishap when distanced over 2 miles. Ran a career best SP108 when last over this trip, when he had his biggest success, winning the Grade III Every Monday Stakes. Has had his best results when ridden closer to the speed, so jockey, W Brooks (12.1%) will want to be riding him quickly out of the gate, in order to give him his best chance. Maybe a touch over the odds as the outsider of the field at 16/1, he has been able to run solid triple figure SPs on a number of occasions, so definitely a place chance.

PP#4 WORLDFLY’S WELLS ID # 27455 SPINNING WORLD x SADLER’S WELLS x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) dawnrun 14/1

A long route specialist, this guy hasn’t been over a distance shorter than 14 furlongs in a whole year. In that time, he has managed to score 6 listed stakes wins. Not a bad achievement for a 14/1 shot. His problem seems to be getting the results in the better class events, such as he faces today, with 4 tries in Graded events in the last 12 months and yet to finish on the board. Winning form is good form, and he has been doing a lot of that, but his inability to crack triple figure SPs on a regular basis recently may see him finding this event a little tough.

PP#5 GOLD DOORS ID # 23573 TOUCH GOLD x ONCE WILD x STAGE DOOR JOHNNY crowbar 8/1

After finishing third in the The Master (Grade I) behind DIRECTOR, he brought himself right into contention for this after last time out smashing the favoured runner here, CORTEZ(IRE), by almost 4 lengths. Hasn’t missed a top three finish in his last 10 starts, and seems to have found his calling as a marathon turfer, scoring a career best SP 101 last run, over 2 miles. Is up in class from that, so this will be a test, but at 4 years old he looks to have matured to now be at his peak. Will have to improve to turn around the result on DIRECTOR, who is the likely leader. Promising type, who will be closing late and making his presence felt.

PP#6 DIRECTOR ID # 120643 EMPIRE MAKER x THEATRICAL(IRE) x NIJINSKY II snappa4 6/1

Failed badly in the Smackdown III 12 furlong race, won by FREEZE(NZ), when he couldn’t manage to get to the front early, and was beaten a long way from home. Will be aiming to get to the lead from the gate this time to set the backmarkers something to catch. Prior to his last start fail, he was just run down by SIMULATION KING(IRE) who trailed him by 12 lengths at the third call in the Longstickgoboom Stakes (Grade II), and before that he went all the way for a pair of Graded victories in The Master (Grade I) and the CEO Classic (Grade II). Doesn’t look to have too many challenges for the early lead so should be able to dictate terms. Will take some catching.

PP#7 BAND OF BUDAS ID # 26169 TRIBAL RULE x AFFIRMED x NATIVE DANCER chop 7/1

The top ranked long turf router in the field, managed to secure the ride of V Drosos(23%) for this event today which will do his chances no harm. He came from the clouds 3 starts back to charge away for a huge victory in the Grade I Bourbon Cup, before struggling to a 4th place finish in the Grade I Gold Glass when the winner, TOTAL CHAOS, was far too good. He came with a big run last start but couldn’t get near the winner, with a break of over 8 lengths back to WORLDFLY’S WELLS in third. Despite being proven in this class, he hasn’t been hitting triple figure SPs quite as often as some of his more fancied rivals, so will have to step it up a gear to figure in the finish today. Drops back in distance from his pet event of 2 miles, and is looking to notch win number 19 here.

PP#8 XTREMELY GOLD ID# 92070 TOUCH GOLD x UNBRIDLED x ALYDAR grracers 7/2

After breaking her maiden on the turf by almost 6 lengths, the only mare of the field has made only one return to the green surface in her first start for the grracers stable for a gallant second in a listed stakes. Has been set a huge task here to chase some of the best turf routers in the sim home, but her recent form suggests she could be up to it, with 4 wins in her last 5 starts. Came home from over 12 lengths behind at the half way mark last time in the Smackdown III to reach the front just before the line to win by a length and a quarter. Strolled in for an easy win before that, coming from 15 lengths behind to take a 3 length margin home at her start before that in the Grade III Denied Special. Has been clocking in some impressive SPs lately, and if she can do the same on turf, she’ll be sure to make her presence felt.

PP#9 SHACKLEBOLT ID# 111912 JOHANNESBURG x KINGMAMBO x HIS MAJESTY lenny17 10/1

4yo colt who made the switch back to turf last time to breeze home by 3 lengths in the Sir State Special Stakes. His best result in a Graded race was a third in the Adelaide Oaks behind CORTEZ(IRE), but hasn’t been able to finish on the board in 4 other attempts, which does not bode well for this, in such a tough race. Career best SP of 100 was achieved over 2 miles in California, but has never managed triple figures again, all season. His versatile running style could be an advantage here, as he could go forward or back, depending on the tempo of the race. Would need to lift in order to trouble some of these, but coming off big win, so could be hitting some form.

PP#10 F SPEED(ENG) ID# 68711 SAKHEE x STORM BOOT x NORTHERN PROSPECT jsimpson 15/1

The only 3yo in the race, trainer jsimpson sets the winner of this season’s Derby De Danish (Grade III) a big challenge here, taking on the older horses for the first time, and rising to over 14 furlongs for the first time. Only had the 9 starts so far in his short career, and he is likely to go forward and try and outlast the late closers. Has only missed the board once in his lifetime against his own age group, but will have a huge task to keep pace with some of these here today from the widest alley. His two most recent runs have been most impressive, but this will be much tougher, and despite looking to have a bright future ahead of him, he is probably better suited in something a bit easier.