Need for Speed: World Cup 2yo Fillies Turf Sprint

The World Cup Juvenile Filly Turf Sprint 2007

Hello readers, and welcome to the bi-yearly World Cup race day. A prestigious event on the sim racing calendar, where we see 36 G1 races, contested by the top horses from all corners of the globe. This year I am covering the 2yo Fillies Turf Sprint event over 6F. The field is full of speed so we can expect to see some sp# hitting the high 80’s, which is very good for a 2yo filly at this stage of their career. Being such an outstanding race, I’ve taken the privilege of talking to a number of trainers, with major runners, about their horse’s chances during the week. Without further ado let’s look at the hot field.

PP1: MISS MOORS(KY) 10/1

Drawn in gate one is the well breed DEHERE x DANZIG x GENERAL ASSEMBLY filly, from Australian trainer parramatta. Breeding stats would suggest she is suited to the dirt, where she is 1 from 1, but has proven herself on the turf tracks thus far. Her last start was a little disappointing when dropping back in grade, she was beaten 4 ½ lengths in a small stakes field. The multiple Graded Placed filly will most likely be sitting just in behind the hot pace, and look for her to be working her way to the line from the 3F marker. Top Sp# 81, and with some improvement on that we can expect her to be there about.

PP2: STARRAHY EYED(KY) 8/1

Danzig mares have had a massive year in producing 2yo winners, and Starrahy Eyed is no exception, winning 3 of her 4 starts. She has gone from strength to strength, making the step up to graded racing today. Her 4 runs have only seen her produce a top SP# of 73. Although she has been racing in small fields, we are going to need to see an improvement on that figure today. M Buck ( 632 – 152 – 109 – 95 – 24% ) is having a very good year and will be looking to have the filly sitting just off the leaders backs coming into the straight. May need time to mature yet, but so far she has done everything right.

PP3: KEPLER RSM(KY) 6/1

Equal favorite in this very open field is another Rahy filly, this time out of a Storm Cat mare. 3 from 4 including a win on the dirt, Kepler Rsm ran an absolute bottler last start. Coming from 4 lengths off the speed, she really sprinted hard to cross the line first by 1 ½ lengths and a SP# 83 to take out the G3 event. One of two graded winners in the field, she is going to have the race within her grasp at the top of the straight. Expect the early pace to be perfect for her racing style, and a top 3 finish is more than likely. The one to beat according to form and early markets.

PP4: SISSON’S AZAMOUR(IRE) 11/1

From the moonbeam stable comes this unbeaten daughter of Azamour. Only the 2 races so far, one a MSW and the other a Alw, have resulting in 2 untested victories. Today she makes the huge step up to G1 level, but the expectation is good from the stable, believing that this is her class. Although lightly raced, she has proven she is more than ready for this with a nice SP# of 80 last start. If she keeps improving at this current rate, we can expect her to be in the finish. Should be up there contesting for the lead.

PP5: ANABAABIN(KY) 12/1

This bold, front running horse was just caught on the line last start, finding the 1400m just a bit too long. We see her dropping back to her preferred distance today of 6F. Trainer toosharp has this horse trained to the minute, giving her a good let up between runs should have her fresh enough to drop back in distance and still produce a SP# over 80. She is quick out of the gates and we might see her leading in the early stages. Even though she is the outsider of the field, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her leading over the line too.

PP6: LARF DA HOUSEDOWN(KY) 6/1

This GP daughter of Limehouse likes to over-race a bit in her races resulting in her just pegging out over the concluding stages. Last time out making the switch to turf, trainer rharfbeam used a change of riding tactics on her, electing to just settle her off the leaders back. This gave her the opportunity to relax and finish off, which she did in good time and recording an SP# 76. Would like to see a bit of improvement on that today, before I lay any hard-earned on her. Equal fav, but should be starting a lot longer odds I feel. Talented but needs time.

PP7: PROCLAIM THE TRUTH(IRE) 10/1

A late entry for this event, Proclaim the Truth is not without her place in this field. She’s won 2 from 5 and nearly 200k in stakes. But her form has come in her last to runs, where she stormed home to place in the Fauster’s Juvenile Cup -G1 and the Escapade Juvenile -G3, just running out of ground both times. Her trainer Irishman has pinpointed this race long in advance and convinced his colleagues she was entitled to race. He commented on her during the week, “She is out of one of my favorite, and very productive, retired mares… Alyjet.  Her sire may not be considered a “big” name by many but “IVAN DENISOVICH (IRE) is far from terrible (3/4 brother to War Chant) and out of the fantastic Hollywood Wildcat.  I expect her to run a very game race and I think she has a very good chance of winning.” Form is good, and if she isn’t winning here, look for her in the oaks next year.

PP8: CK MOSH PIT(KY) 7/1

An outstanding career so far, Ck Mosh Pit is a winner of 5 races and ranked 2^nd in turf sprints. This small but very athletic, light dappled grey filly has taken every race in her small stride thus far, winning the Little Ones Juvenile Filly -G2 stakes 4 starts ago. The highly strung filly can be a hand full for her handlers, but head trainer of Ck Stables, Jack Allen says its all part of her routine. “She has quite the attitude, she thinks she is the best thing on 4 feet. She likes to buck and kick her feet out to the side, so all her handlers and Jockeys are a little bit extra careful around her. B. Wu is her favorite person in the world and if I get lucky and can get him for the ride in the World Cup I think she will win, she would run her heart out for him.” Unfortunately Wu couldn’t make the trip but champion jockey T Loesch ( 646 – 159 – 144 – 101 – 25% ) has been booked for the ride. Jack also stated the horse is sharp and wont fail to try as hard as she can. Expect to see a big run from this little filly with a big heart.

PP9: MOLINERA(ENG) 9/1

Breeding would suggest that this filly is a dirt specialist, but so far Molinera has proven her worth on the turf tracks. The very underrated T Monk ( 585 – 105 – 91 – 93 – 18% ) takes the mount. He is riding in terrific form and always has the horse right where you want it. With 2 stakes wins to her name already, its hard to count this filly out of the race as she seems to improve with every run. It’s anyone’s guess where she will settle in the running, but one thing she does know what to do is find the line. Will need to improve on a top SP# of 78.

PP10: LEARAWI(ENG) 7/1

What a very interesting runner we have here. Head trainer of zeppelinz stables, Terry has told me during the week that he thinks his filly is good enough to win the race despite still being a maiden runner. When asked what her chances were in the race Terry replied “Fair to hopeful, if she made top 3 i would be pleased, worse than 5th disappointed. She has been working extremely well at present, her preps have been perfect apart from getting the win in those two races, but nice time to get the win now. I think 6f is a bit on the short side but her condition is sharp.” And I’m starting to agree with him, she is one of only a few in the race who have run a SP# over 80 and her runs have her cherry ripe to break the maiden status. I think it would have to go down in the record books as the only horse in World Cup history to break the duck in a WC event. Good luck Terry.

PP11: VIXEN VALLEY(KY) 7/1

Undefeated in 3 starts Vixen Valley is a filly on the rise. She has won on dirt and turf and produced some good SP# to boot. She is by Orientate, out of the good race mare Vixen Prospector, who was trained and owned by the team at focusforce stables who also train this filly. During the week we caught up with the trainer of this filly who gave us a good insight into his filly chances and his good race mare Vixen Prospector. “Vixen Valley is the fifth foal of my very quick Vixen Prospector.  Vixen Prospector had the most lethal stretch kick of any horse I ever trained in my eight years around here.  In three successive races, including the Grade III Flying Pig at just five furlongs, Vixen Prospector came from many lengths behind to win going away at the wire.  She could flat out fly in the lane.”  As with many Capotes, the big mare was particularly effective on wet tracks, amassing a career record of 3-4-1 in eight starts over the off going.  So it is no accident that all three of Vixen Valley‘s starts have been on a wet track.  Like mother like daughter.  Trainer focusforce knew he’d have to race her over a dry surface some day, but was hoping for rain in Minnesota this week to bolster his chances. No such luck. She’s had a good break between runs and if she handles the firm track, there’s a good chance she will still be undefeated after the race.

PP12: CIRCUS PLUME(ENG) 12/1

Well this filly might not have the breeding of a World Cup runner, but she certainly has a place in this field. From 5 starts she has won 3 and run 2^nd in her other two. They have all been at stakes level except for her maiden win. She is the 1^st stakes winner for her sire Piccolo and might yet be his 1^st graded winner. Last start she came from midfield to just miss out on running down the winner, recording the fastest SP#, for this field, of 85. A repeat performance could see her in the winners circle again.

Whisper from the Wizard:

Plenty of speed and skill is the order of the day. Here’s my top 3:

1^st– KEPLER RSM(KY): Ready for this. Will get a nice run off the speed and will really sprint hard to the line. If there is any improvement in her, we will see her winning today.

2^nd– VIXEN VALLEY(KY): From such a good family of race horses , this filly is continuing the tread. Would love to see her remain unbeaten here today, and won’t be far off if she does get beat.

3^rd– PROCLAIM THE TRUTH(IRE): Untapped potential, here is a horse who I don’t think we will see the best of until her 3yo year. Look for her to be flashing home down the centre of the track late. Can’t wait to see her over a mile and further.

Good Luck to all runners, you have done well just to be here!!

Vettori