The HEART OF MARBLE memorial stakes,13 furlongs firm turf Ascot
Whilst the World Cup is the undoubted highlight of this weeks action,there is still a full card of action in the sim world. At Ascot,race 10 on their card is The Heart of Marble Memorial, a 13 furlong stakes race on the firm turf for fillies and mares 3yo+ with prizemoney of $90000. A field of 8 are assembled in what looks a competitive and trappy little affair.Here are the runners and riders in racecard order.
1) K`S WESTERM MAGIC sheen 313116 R Williams 7/2 jf
5 yo mare
Sadler`s Wells x Gone West x Blushing Groom
35 races 9 wins 6 seconds 6 thirds $508222
Winner of 6 stakes races in her career,all but one 12 + furlongs on the turf. Also grade 1 placed over 14 furlongs as a 3 yo and grade 2 placed over 14 furlongs in July of last year.LTO stone last beaten 14 lengths + when going off favourite in a 14 furlong stakes in Longchamp.Before that K`s was a winner of 2 16 furlong stakes races from Ostend,where she ran a 93 and Queensland,where her winning speed figure was 90. Chance if returning to her best
2) REIGNING SUPREME futurestar 113312 J Dyson 6/1
3 yo mare
A.P.Indy x Sadlers Wells x Buckpasser
15 races 5 wins 2 seconds 5 thirds $160508
Well bred youngster who has looked better the further she has gone.Winner of a stakes race over 11 furlongs turf and also grade 3 placed,also over 11 furlongs on the turf.Lto found a little improvement for the step up to 13 furlongs when finishing 2nd in the Granny Drill Challenge at New South wales.8 lengths down at halfway,she rallied in the 2nd half of the race and although the winner had flown,recorded a pb speed figure of 95.Cannot be discounted here.
3) DEDICATION zjkj2 210342 Ja White 6/1
5 yo mare
Diesis x Dayjur x Far North
38 races 6 wins 5 seconds 9 thirds $135549
Optimistic first stakes entry for a mare who has done all her winning in claiming and allowance class. Not in the best of form with herself at the moment and it looks to me like a real struggle for this one. Her 6/1 quote early looks very stingy on what she has achieved as even a pb speed figure here might not be enough. Not for me.
4) DA BEAT CH chevry 423334 M Van Dam 9/2
4 yo mare
Beat Hollow x Darshaan x With Approval
26 races 4 wins 6 seconds 6 thirds $141280
Frustrating runner,often posts 90`s speed figures but looks weak in a finish. She has twice been stakes placed.once over 16 furlongs turf when finishing a well being runner up in the Ginger Mama`s Handicap in Ostend back in March. A few months later she finished third in a 13 furlong stakes race in North Korea, once again looking to fade at the finish although she did record a 92 speed figure.LTO finished just out the money over 14 furlongs in a stakes in Norway,running a 92. I cant see any reason for her to end her frustrating run today so she is not for me.
5) CLOSING CREDITS court4 133142 C Lockend-Highbury 13/1
5 yo mare
Kayf Tara x First Albert x The Minstrel
34 races 4 wins 8 seconds 8 thirds $135105
Outsider of the field, slight chance on the pick of her form but no chance in her current form. Run best race of her career when winning a $60000 s.a back in December with a 93 speed figure,but all runs this year have been poor and she has yet to break 90. Would be a huge shock should she prove good enough here.
6) ICY SLUMBER excmeeting 101423 P Funk 7/2 jf
4 yo mare
Elusive Quality x Montjeu x Seeking the Gold
17 races 5 wins 3 seconds 4 thirds $316804
Lightly raced mare with early pace. Looked very sharp as a 3yo,when she enjoyed stakes success and was grade 1 placed twice over 12 furlongs. Not looked so good as a 4 yo, although she has managed a stakes win over 16 furlongs, leading from trap to wire, back in April. Last 2 runs have shown signs of a recovery, finishing 2nd in a 10 furlong allowance where she recorded a 97 speed figure and lto finishing third in a 14 furlongs stakes with a 94. Sure to be competitive here.
7) MARIGOLD breed2sell 321336 B Webb 7/1
6 yo mare
Poliglote x Siberian Summer x Marscay
32 races 6 wins 6 seconds 6 thirds $205520
Another mare who could be competitive at best,but after 3 poor runs confidence is low. Add to that a trip which seems to stretch her stamina and it turns into a proposition that you cannot touch. Will probably lead early doors, but I dont think she will stay there too long. Not too difficult to scratch her from my possible winners list.
8) SATIN SMOOTH farm304 211111 J Wessleman 5/1
4 yo mare
Smarty Jones x Mr Prospector x Danzig
15 races 7 wins 2 seconds 1 third $176235
Lightly raced improving 4yo who is coming off the back of 5 straight wins, 3 allowance wins followed by 2 stake wins. Her first stake win was 2 runs back in Arizona over this very 13 furlongs,where she settled back in fourth before staying on to win by 1/2 a length and record a 93speed figure. Lto she crossed the great track divide and ran her best ever race over 14 furlongs in a stakes in Longchamp,again settling in fourth before staying on but this time won by a commanding 4 lengths. Her 98 speed figure that day was the fastest of her life. Proven over the trip,unexposed i think and in fine form she has everything going for her and will be hard to beat. 5/1 is too big and if I were a punter I would be snapping the bookies hand off for that price.
POGO PREDICTS
Yes quite a trappy race but I like 8 for the win. Reigning Supreme can deny Icy Slumber the runners up spot.So its 8 to beat 2 with 6 in third.