A talented field of older horses take aim at the G1 New Zealand Darby.

I was up here in Michigan freezing my bohuncas off in this brutally cold winter.  I looked at my frequent flyer miles and said lets head South.  So I decided to cash in a pile of points and take in the G1 New Zealand Darby, where hey look at this, its going to be 72 degress on race day (or 22 down here)………..SOLD.

The race which will be conducted on the Turf course over a distance of 12 furlongs and has attracted some of the sims better older horses.  We have 13 Graded Stakes (9 of them G1) winners and 10 Million dollar earners taking to the gates on Saturday.  The race has also drawn a lot of the sims better trainers with its 1.5 Million purse.  The field features just three 4 year olds and only two 6 year olds.  4 Geldings will make the run.  There are 6 Irish breds, 3 from Kentucky, 2 from Australia and 1 each from Japan, France and England.  GALILEO was the sire for 3 of the runners, while SEA THE STARS sired a pair of the entrants.  SADLER’S WELLS appears in 5 of the entries pedigrees.  There are 4 Scratchbreds in the race.

 

THE POST PARADE:

1 – EXCEL UNDER SADDLE               (36-1)                     JOCKEYMAX Stables

EXCELEBRATION x A.P. INDY x SADLER’S WELLS                       12-3-4-2

This 4 year old Bay is the 12th foal from the G1 Winning Mare SADDLE UP PARTNER and is her only Graded winner.  In January after a 5 month layoff, rallied for 2nd in the G2 Buck Dharma Handicap putting up a 113 SP# with A Jolly holding the reins.  Last win was last May in the G2 Dante’s Inferno.  The ML longshot as the horse with the least wins has drawn the rail.  Finished 2nd in the G1 Irish Derby in his only other race to cover 12f.

2 – I AM AN ANIMAL                            (19-1)                      FETTI50 Stables

ANIMAL KINGDOM x STEPHEN GOT EVEN x HALO                    11-5-1-0

Will be the second trip since being gelded for the 4 year old Brown that was the third offspring and only Graded winner from the Stakes winning Mare I AM AN ANGEL.  Returned post op here in NZ at the G3 Gary Trent Stakes with a 6th place finish.  His last win came in the G1 Expensive Jalopy kicking an SP# of 111 and was his 3rd straight winall G1’s over the 12f distance.  The least experienced horse (11 starts) in the field will be coming from off the pace.

3 – DREAM OF STARS                         (7-1)                       IANWHIPKEY Stables

GALILEO x DYNAFORMER x SADLER’S WELLS                           20-9-0-2

Opened the 2019 season with a disappointing 10th place in the G1 Mr Met Cap just 4 weeks ago.  He is the 4th of 7 foals from the Stakes winning Mare JULIA’S DREAM and the only Graded winner.  The 5 year old Bays last win came in September at the G1 GP Von Baden POSTING AN sp# OF 118.  Had a 5 race win streak at the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018.  Will settle somewhere mid pack or further before making his run.

4 – XQ’S MOI                                         (9-1)                         BEISBOL Stables

POUR MOI x SEA THE STARS x A.P. INDY                                  23-10-3-2

Six year old Bay Gelding tuned up with a 2nd in the Paris Cap Turf Route just 2 weeks back after winning a Hot race in January.  He is the first offspring from the allowance winning Mare SEA THE RACES.  Last win came in July at the G2 Dutchman where he busted a 118 SP#.  Will be looking to come from off the pace.  Will the third race in a month and a half be too much for him, we will find out.

5 – TETE CIRYAHER                        (10-1)                        SABBATH Stables

HEART’S CRY x DUKE OF MARMALADE x SADLER’S WELLS      16-7-0-3

The 5 year old Bay returns to the track for the first time since October when he ran 6th in the G1 Ark De ComicDog. He was the 2nd of 4 offspring from the allowance winning Mare TETE BODIL and is her only Graded winner.  J Ledwith will be in the saddle replacing R Gibson who had made the last 9 trips.  Last win was back in June in the G1 Saint Cloud Grand Prix.  Has a career best SP# of 115.  Another one that will be coming from the back of he pack.

6 – COIN SLOT                                  (9-1)                           HOUSERIOT Stables

REDOUTE’S CHOICE x SEEKING THE GOLD x SADLER’S WELLS      24-9-6-2

He is a Scratchbred 6 year old Bay that shipped over here early to run in the G3 Gary Trent Stakes finishing 8th on the NZ Turf course.   His last win was in September in the G2 Spankie Sho All Comers in gate to wire fashion.  A horse that likes to run at or near the lead.  Competed in the EQUINICS 2016.  A Rolling has 5 previous mounts including posting a 119 SP# in the G1 Windy City Turf Classic running 2nd.

7 – ARTISTIC MISSION                 (7-1)                            COOLK Stables

NOBLE MISSION x DANEHILL DANCER x BROAD BRUSH         24-11-3-4

Opened the year with a win in a 67.5k Open Allowance and closed last year running in high dollar allowance races.  The 5 year old Bay is the 3rd of 5 foals from the Allowance winning Mare ARTISTIC DANCER and is the only Graded winner.  He has posted 11 wins the most in the field.  Returns to graded company for first time since June.  Has a career best SP# of 114.  Will most likely settle just behind the early pace.

8 – PROJECT SPACE                       (6-1)                            TEES Stables

SEA THE STARS x AWESOME AGAIN x SEATTLE SLEW            21-6-4-1

The 5 year old Bay is the 4th of 7 offspring from the G1 Winning Mare TERMINAL VELOCITY and is her only graded winner.  Returns to the Turf here after last 2 trips were on the main track, one a win in the ASR Championship Day posting a 117 SP# over 10 panels.  Last time on the weeds was 9th in the G1 Ark De ComicDog in October.  Installed by the handicapper as the ML Co-favorite.  Hard charging closer that will settle at the back of the pack before making his run.

9 – GONE FOR THE STARS          (14-1)                          KINGAB Stables

GALILEO x ARCH x GONE WEST                                             15-7-2-2

4 year old Bay Gelding comes in here on a 4 race winning streak including the Sir Omar Turf Stayer last month.  The first of 3 produced by the Stakes winning Mare WEDDING BELLE and is her only Stakes winner.  He is the only starter not to have won a Graded race but that is because this will be his first attempt.  He likes to be out in the front pack and has a lifetime high SP# of 110.  Will he be able to shock this graded field?

10 – BARNSTORMED                      (6-1)                           LENNY271 Stables

DALAKHANI x SADLER’S WELLS x DYNAFORMER               21-7-10-2

5 year old Light Grey  Scratchbred Gelding is the other ML Co-favorite by the handicapper has finished ITM  in 90% of his races.  Cruised home with the win in January in a NW2s allowance posting a 115 SP# over 12.5f.  L Radzinski will be aboard but he has failed to produce a win in his 3 previous rides.  Last August captured the victory in the G2 Deauville.  Likes to settle in just behind the early speed.

11 – FINKE SEAYOU                          (8-1)                          TULLOCH Stables

FRANKEL x SEA THE STARS x PINE BLUFF                            22-7-6-2

The Bay 5 year old is the 4th of 6 progeny from the Stakes winning Mare SEEYOUINPARADISE and he is the 2nd Graded winner from them.  Will be making seasons debut in this one.  Was third in the G1 Ark De ComicDog and prior to that won the G1 Sword Swallower Stakes kicking out a 117 SP#.  Has chosen different riding tactics in the past and being very well rested can choose whichever strategy they feel best as M Scott gets 4th straight mount.

12 – LIGHT UP THE DARK           (12-1)                          DIXIEDOTCO Stables

SEA THE STARS x DANEHILL x ROBERTO                          15-8-1-4

This Bay is a 5 year old Scratchbred.  Making his first start of the 2019 campaign.  Back in October won the G1 Grand Carlos posting a 115 SP# with W Cahill in the saddle who gets 3rd straight trip in the irons.  Early last year spent some time racing the marathon 16f events posting 2 wins in 5 starts over the 2 milers.  Looks to be around mid pack before making his charge, has a nose for the money positions.

13 – RADIANT CUT                         (11-1)                           GIVEN Stables

DISTORTED HUMOR x KITTEN’S JOY x MONSUN             23-9-6-1

This 5 year old Bay horse is the only progeny out of the Graded Stakes winning Mare KNIGHT RADIANT.  Prepped for this one by besting a field of 6 in a NW1t Allowance race.  Last summer had a 4 race win streak capped with the G2 Polish Damsire and posting a 112 SP# in the Sal Is Gone Turf Stayer.  Last 7 races have been over 12f.  Spent much of 3 year old season on the main track.  Will look to head to the front of the pack.

14 – KING LEO                                  (20-1)                         MIGHTYFOREGO Stables

GALILEO x KINGMAMBO x MONTJEU                                 12-4-2-1

The Bay Scratchbred 5 year old came over to New Zealand early taking on the G2 Fitness Cup where he finished in second over the 16f distance.  Will be dropping back to the Mile and a half distance after 7 starts at longer distances.  Closed out 2018 by winning the G1 Winter Cup (13f) posting a 114 SP# with K Ledwith holding the whip and gets the ride here.  Even at the longer distances has never shyed away from the early pace.

GOOD LUCK to all…………………..JB3