Black Type Bugler

eHorseracing.com’s Official Online News Source

Black Type Bugler

eHorseracing.com’s Official Online News Source

Can Gun Hill Live Up To The Hype

tntfarms

Thoroughbred racing is as unpredictable and crazy as anything there is, but when you add two year olds to the mix, anything and everything is likely to happen – and anything and everything usually does happen. In Ireland this weekend we have the two year olds in The $500,000 Grade 1 Nationwide Stakes at 7 furlongs on the grass. With four horses co-favored at 6/1 on the morning line this race is a punter’s delight. Among the four favorites is the impressive maiden winner Gun Hill, who brings a flashy pedigree and a tremendous amount of hype to the race. He faces a stiff challange this weekend, so let’s take a look at the field from the rail out.

ONCE A FAN (KY)   12/1                                            Divisional Turf Rank: n/a

ID# 5367

(GOOD REWARD x A.P. INDY x KRIS S.)

R Inch ( 65 – 4 – 8 – 4 – 6% )

Record: (2: 2-0-0) $32,100        Best Speed Figure: 73

This is the first foal by the dual Grade 1 winning mare Xtremely A Fan. There are high hopes for this colt and so far he is unbeaten in two career starts. Both his wins have come on the grass in British Columbia at six furlongs, and he closed well from mid-pack in both those races. He makes his stakes debut this weekend and also goes beyond six furlongs for the first time. With his pedigree he should welcome the extra furlong and if he continues to improve he should be a factor in here. As the distances increases this colt should improve.

 

MUGGSY (AUS)       22/1                                          Divisional Turf Rank: n/a

ID# 31077

(COMMANDS (AUS) x PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) x RAINBOW QUEST)

C Rice ( 84 – 8 – 8 – 9 – 10% )

Record: (3: 2-0-1) $39,900        Best Speed Figure: 77

After winning his first two starts quite impressively this Australian bred colt was then beaten into third place last time out in his stakes debut. Despite the defeat it was his best performance thus far in terms of speed numbers. After that outing his connections decided to give him a rest and he enters this race off an eight week freshening. The rest should have done him no harm and if he improves off his last start he is well worth a wager at 22/1 odds.

 

ARCANGELO (KY)              6/1                                 Divisional Turf Rank: 2

ID# 88182

(ARTIE SCHILLER x CHESTER HOUSE x NUREYEV)

Z Kentucky ( 641 – 133 – 115 – 79 – 21% )

Record: (4: 2-1-1) $353,240        Best Speed Figure: 86

The tepid morning line co-favorite, this colt is the highest earner in the field. Most of those earnings came when he won the Grade 2 Little Ones Juvenile at Longchamp two starts back. Last out he just missed by a head in The Restricted Smackdown Stakes in his first try at seven furlongs. Like Muggsy he also enters this race off an eight week layoff and all he has to do is hold his form and he will be dangerous.

 

SLAINTE CHUGAT (IRE)               10/1                       Divisional Turf Rank: 19

ID# 141987

(NOVERRE (IRE) x KRIS S. x SEEKING THE GOLD)

E C Doyle ( 515 – 58 – 65 – 76 – 11% )

Record: (3: 3-0-0) $106,260        Best Speed Figure: 82

Three starts, three wins. Last time out he moved from the allowance ranks to register a hard fought half length win in the Grade 3 Bad Deal Stakes at Ascot. The only concern is if this colt can match or even improve on such a huge effort off just 28 days rest. He has great tactical speed to lay close to the pace and if that last effort didn’t take too much out of him he offers great value for punters at 10/1.

 

GUN HILL (KY)                    6/1                        Divisional Turf Rank: n/a

ID# 146894

(GONE WEST x UNFUWAIN x BLUSHING GROOM(FR))

C Shull ( 121 – 13 – 10 – 7 – 11% )

Record: (1: 1-0-0) $30,000        Best Speed Figure: 80

This colt seems to be the most exciting horse on the grounds this weekend. He comes into this race having just broken his maiden four weeks ago in his career debut. This is just his second start and yet the odds-maker has seen it fit to make him the joint morning line favorite. Last out he closed with a rush from far back to just get up by a nose going six furlongs. His speed figure for that maiden race was 80 and there has been talk that he may be something special. He is faced with a major test on Saturday and if he comes through this unscathed then a Sim star may be born.

 

BEAM AND COKE (KY)                 27/1                   Divisional Turf Rank: n/a

ID# 136495

(VICTORY GALLOP x CAT THIEF x THIRD WORLD)

E Newcomb ( 72 – 6 – 6 – 10 – 8% )

Record: (6: 2-0-0) $26,300        Best Speed Figure: 59

The longest shot on the board, this colt’s best efforts have come on the dirt and his two grass outings, which were the first two starts of his career, have resulted in a high speed number of just 59. This suggests that he will have to improve dramatically to even hit the board in here. His connections believe that the colt has improved since those first two starts and they have decided to try the colt on the grass again after he was well beaten on the dirt in Graded stakes company his last two starts.

 

CREZZINO (ENG)                6/1                                  Divisional Turf Rank: 75

ID# 82845

(CACIQUE (IRE) x A.P. INDY x MR. PROSPECTOR)

M Russell ( 395 – 39 – 36 – 55 – 10% )

Record: (3: 2-0-1) $108,220        Best Speed Figure: 83

This colt was third last time out in The Restricted Smackdown Stakes just behind Arcangelo. After winning his first two starts in wire to wire fashion he was rated just off the lead in the Smackdown. He did make the lead in the stretch but was unable to hold off the closers in that race. There has been talk on the backstretch that his connections may resort to the front running tactics that brought him success in his first two outings. When asked by the press earlier this week about his tactics for this race, jockey Mark Russell replied, “I haven’t spoken to the trainer as yet, but it seems that the colt has speed and I’ll just let him run his race unless told otherwise”.

 

OF A REVOLUTION (KY)               6/1                    Divisional Turf Rank: 124

ID# 94692

(ROCK HARD TEN x CAPOTE x STORM CAT)

S Jaeger ( 79 – 4 – 7 – 7 – 5% )

Record: (6: 2-1-0) $76,910        Best Speed Figure: 71

Another colt whose best performances have been on the dirt. However, in his lone try on the lawn he was second in a six furlong stakes race in Tennessee. His speed figure for that race was a respectable 77, which puts him in the reckoning here. His connections will be looking for an improved effort after his last two outings have resulted in off the board finishes against Graded stakes company.

 

DANEHILL NINER (IRE)               11/1                      Divisional Turf Rank: n/a

ID# 148086

(DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) x FORTY NINER x INVERNESS DRIVE)

Pu Jenkins ( 73 – 5 – 10 – 6 – 7% )

Record: (1: 1-0-0) $16,500        Best Speed Figure: 72

Broke his maiden in his career debut just three weeks ago and now finds himself in Graded stakes company. He rocketed to the front in that 6.5 furlong test and did not look back, winning by just over three lengths with a speed number of 72. If his connections decide to send him away from the gate again this week he should have some company on the lead with him this time around. He must move forward off his lone start and his connections feel he is very capable of doing so on Saturday, given the ease with which he won last time out. No doubt a colt with some promise.

 

FLOWER ACCOUNT (KY)           21/1                            Divisional Turf Rank: 394

ID# 120614

(FLOWER ALLEY x NUREYEV x PRIVATE ACCOUNT)

M Kirkpatrick ( 91 – 9 – 3 – 7 – 10% )

Record: (6: 2-0-1) $50,668        Best Speed Figure: 75

This colt has won twice in six starts, but has been off the board in his two tries against stakes company. In his last start he was eighth, beaten 5-1/4 lengths by Slainte Chugat in the Grade 3 Bad Deal Stakes at Ascot. This is a very touch spot for this guy and he will need a giant leap in form to contend in here.

 

KING OF INDY (SAF)                  8/1                       Divisional Turf Rank: 64

ID# 136009

(KING OF KINGS (IRE) x A.P. INDY x MILL REEF)

F Dirks ( 154 – 21 – 18 – 19 – 14% )

Record: (6: 2-1-2) $87,010        Best Speed Figure: 86

This South African bred colt’s form has steadily improved in each of his six career starts. In his last start he took a major step forward and was second in The DINKEY’S WINKEY Challenge at 7.5 furlongs in Ostend. His speed rating of 86 for that race makes him a major player on Saturday if he can duplicate that effort or even continue to improve as he has done in each of his starts so far.

 

PURE OIL (KY)                     15/1                           Divisional Turf Rank: 84

ID# 60396

(MORE THAN READY x GRAND SLAM x SKY CLASSIC)

G Withers ( 32 – 3 – 5 – 2 – 9% )

Record: (4: 2-1-0) $83,945        Best Speed Figure: 78

This colt took three tries to break his maiden and in his last start he took down the six furlong KEY RUSH Memorial. He is yet to record an 80 plus speed figure, but with just four career starts, there is room for improvement this weekend. He has the speed to ensure a lively pace up front and this will also benefit his stable mate Of A Revolution. Has a speed oriented pedigree but his dam won going as far as 14 furlongs, so he may improve as the distances get longer.

 

ALKAHOLIK (JPN)             13/1                               Divisional Turf Rank: 13

ID# 140547

(ALKAASED x MT. LIVERMORE x EL GRAN SENOR)

A Reed ( 613 – 110 – 105 – 73 – 18% )

Record: (5: 3-0-2) $112,980        Best Speed Figure: 82

This colt from Japan has never been off the board in five career starts. He comes into Ireland on a two race winning streak and will look to complete a hat-trick of wins on Saturday. His speed figures have not been high, so despite his consistent record and high divisional ranking he has been dismissed in the betting at 13/1. That could be a mistake.

 

SPREADING CHAOS (KY)             10/1                        Divisional Turf Rank: 81

ID# 143254

(SMARTY JONES x EL PRADO(IRE) x UNBRIDLED)

B Barnes ( 144 – 16 – 13 – 14 – 11% )

Record: (3: 2-0-0) $74,620        Best Speed Figure: 75

After two gate to wire wins to open his career, this colt was beaten into fifth last time out in The Grade 3 Finnish Line Stakes. In that race he also set the pace but on that occasion he faded in the stretch. All three of those races were at six furlongs, so he goes a furlong further on Saturday and if his connections employ the same front running tactics he will have some company on the lead. However don’t be surprised if this guy improves in just his fourth career start off a five week rest.

 

Good Luck to all!

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