OTTOMAN TURKS leads bunch of front runners chasing $1.5M in Victoria

The eighth running of the Grade I Coalminers Cup, worth a prize purse of $1.5M has not quite attracted the quality field that it is accustomed to, with only 11 runners going around, some of which are stepping from Allowance level and still look decent chances to finish in the money. However, despite the lack of depth, it nevertheless shapes as an exciting race this year, with so many speedsters looking to take up the early running. Fine weather is forecast for the city of Melbourne, Victoria, and the turf track is expected to be firm for this 12 furlong event for 3yo+.

PP 1

4/1 SECRET’S GOLD ID# 92354 L Ward ( 183 – 22 – 24 – 19 – 12% )

seacadet 5 Year Old Horse (TOUCH GOLD x SECRETARIAT x DAMASCUS)

Has only been unplaced at 2 since switching to the turf, but is so versatile, he is at home on either surface. Has brought home almost $300k in prize money in his career, mostly from allowances – having only picked up the winner’s cheque in one over night stakes in his career, over this distance. Jumps from consistent finishes in allowance class up to favouritism in a Grade I and could be a little under the odds, but his times indicate he could be up to this. Last start was second in an open allowance, running an SP 104, and prior to that was miles too good winning by over 7 lengths. Is a mid-field stalker who should be finishing off hard.

PP 2

7/1 S R AWARENESS(IRE) ID# 131592 B Ridgle ( 102 – 9 – 13 – 12 – 9% )

lordpye2 4 Year Old Colt (TIROL(IRE) x HARD WORK x PHARLY(FR))

Lightly raced colt who has been getting around in top class races over a wide variety of distances – steps up to the mile and a half for the first time, having gone around over 4.5f only 5 starts ago in a Grade III. Shows ability, having won an over night stakes back in May over 9.5f with an SP of 105. His two runs over 10f have resulted in 17+ length defeats, which does not provide a lot of confidence that he will be able to get the distance. Has a lot of early gate speed and is likely to challenge for the lead here and will take some catching if he manages to run the trip right out.

PP 3

10/1 MANDURAMA ID# 101909 P Lipps ( 188 – 18 – 25 – 22 – 10% )

sedation 4 Year Old Colt (FANTASTIC LIGHT x THE MINSTREL x RIBOT)

Managed to finish just better than midfield in the Man Of War Grade I last start with a career best SP of 101. Has been more at home in Allowance class, with his best stakes effort to date a second place finish in the Secret Sapphire Stakes 3 runs ago. Has a record of 5-14-6 from 37 starts and over $250k in prizemoney, and probably gets his best chance at graded glory here today. Tends to mix his form, having thrown in a few clunkers lately (SPs of 83 and 78 included in his last 6 starts), but his last start must give him some sort of a show here, and is right at home over this distance.

PP 4

15/1 MAX CALIFORNIA(KY) ID# 112099 R Bailey ( 92 – 13 – 9 – 8 – 14% )

buffy5 3 Year Old Colt (ROCK HARD TEN x SECRETARIAT x DANZIG)

Only unplaced one run from 10 over turf since making the switch, this 3yo meets the older horses here for the second time, coming off a huge win in the open All Star Back Challenge by over 4 lengths last start. He only broke his maiden 8 starts ago, but has continued to improve ever since. Is yet to break triple figure SPs, but looks close to it and is the GR Simsters English Derby winner over this distance. Has won 4 of last 5 by an average margin of over 4 1/2 lengths, so comes here in top form. Prefers to settle up close to the speed, and this 35th ranked divisional runner looks a likely type at big odds.

PP 5

8/1 WONDERBOY DOCKERS ID# 20360 C Brim ( 72 – 4 – 5 – 10 – 6% )

trifecta 5 Year Old Horse (RAHY x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x SWORD DANCE(IRE))

Going around for the King Ranch stables, this veteran was recently purchased for over $250k in the auction, and lines up as one of the main chances in a Grade I only 4 starts later. Has picked up minor cheques in each of his races for his new stable. He has paraded in the winner’s circle in a few short fielded stakes races early in his career, but has not been able to break through in Graded company to date. Ran a best SP of 103 2 starts ago over 11f in a Grade 3, so the signs are that he could be ready to show his best as a 5yo, crossing from the American division to Melbourne, Australia for this race. Will be up against it with out of form jockey in the saddle, but could surprise in open race.

PP 6

4/1 OTTOMAN TURKS ID# 123799 D Evans ( 679 – 158 – 140 – 82 – 23% )

stoners 4 Year Old Colt (EMPIRE MAKER x SADLER’S WELLS x BUCKPASSER)

The equal favourite in the morning line is this 13th ranked long turf division runner, lining up with the track’s best jockey on board, and coming in with an impeccable record of 8 wins from 13 starts. Hasn’t been able to find the lead in either of his last two starts, and has been knocked off both times. Three starts back he was a Grade I winner in the Giant Killa over this distance, and prior to that he went all the way in the Grade I San Francisco Captain Handicap. Looks to be the class runner of the field and if he can manage to get the lead, he could find himself back in the winner’s circle. Won’t have it all his own way early with so many other early speedsters, but looks to have an edge on his rivals having notched an SP 109 over this trip a few starts ago.

PP 7

7/1 SHIRLEY YOU MAMBO ID# 7273 W Cook ( 57 – 4 – 3 – 7 – 7% )

ajm 5 Year Old Horse (KINGMAMBO x SHIRLEY HEIGHTS(GB) x DANZIG)

Makes the switch back to turf here after several unsucessful tries on dirt, his record on grass is 6 2-0-1. His best SP on turf has been over this distance back in May when he finished 4th in the Grade I The Tower Bridge. Rarely runs a bad race, having only missed the top 5 in 2 of his last 16 starts, so expect him to be thereabouts again here. Had a significant break in the paddock of over a year and a half but has relished being back on the track since making his return in March this year. Will be trying to sit just off the pace again, in a race with a fair bit of early speed, his jockey is not the best going around, but could be a surprise packet.

PP 8

10/1 FRICTION(KY) ID# 112135 J Kohlmorgen ( 622 – 103 – 77 – 94 – 17% )

peeps2 3 Year Old Colt (WAR CHANT x IRISH RIVER(FR) x THE MINSTREL)

Ranked number 7 in the long turf division for 3yos, this youngster comes up against the older horses for the first time here, having comfortably accounted for a stakes field last time out over 2 miles. Looks mature for his age and is expected to handle the step up in class. Signalled his ability with a rampaging all the way win in Smackdown III over this distance, and followed it up 2 starts ago with a massive second in the Grade I Owner’s Stakes, with an SP 100. His dam has already sired 2 Graded winners prior to him, so big things are expected in order to keep up the family tradition, and he’s another who will be hunting for the early lead.

PP 9

16/1 SERPENT’S EYES(ENG) ID# 126473 S Nightingale ( 155 – 16 – 20 – 12 – 10% )

aframe27 3 Year Old Colt (RAINBOW QUEST x SEEKING THE GOLD x NORTHERN DANCER)

Another 3yo who lines up for the first time in a race not sponsored by his trainer. Has won 4 of his only career 8 starts, but hadn’t looked anything special until he blew away an allowance field by 2 lengths last time out with an SP of 106, an improvement of 19 over his previous best. His meagre earnings of only $26k is a long way short of some of these, and before his last effort, he wouldn’t have been given any chance of being competitive against a Grade I field. However, provided his last start wasn’t a fluke, he could have turned the corner since stepping up to the longer route journeys (was a winner by 3 1/2 lengths two starts ago over 12f) and a repeat of recent efforts would put him right amongst this.

PP 10

10/1 WESTERN SCULPTURE ID# 20572 A Snappa ( 205 – 36 – 30 – 40 – 18% )

dorrin 5 Year Old Horse (STATUE OF LIBERTY x GONE WEST x UNFUWAIN)

Another veteran, lining up for his 40th start here, and coming off a laughably easy win in the Surreptitious Stakes by over 6 lengths. Before that he was first up after a minor set back and struggled in the Grade III Fusahoochie Turf Classic running 8th of 9 starters. Was a Grade I winner 7 starts ago over this distance in the Who Cares Anymore when he stalked the leader and then sprinted away before the stretch, opening up an insurmountable lead. Will probably look to do something similar here, although with so much early speed, he’ll have his work cut out finding a handy position from the wide gate. Can be a little inconsistent and many of his best runs have been against short fields, which makes it difficult to sum him up, however at his best he looks to be right in this.

PP 11

7/1 F SPEED(ENG) ID# 68711 J Garcia ( 84 – 7 – 9 – 6 – 8% )

jsimpson 3 Year Old Colt (SAKHEE x STORM BOOT x NORTHERN PROSPECT)

The winner of this year’s Derby de Danish over this distance, he came up against the older horses two starts ago and after settling handy, he weakened to finish just worse than midfield. He returned to his own age group last start and finished second in the Grade III Saint Ledge Stakes over 10f, running a career best SP 105. Is a stalker of the early pace, and has a big kick on him entering the stretch, but will be up against it here with so many front runners in the field. His two best runs have been over slightly shorter journeys, so could be a slight query at the trip against the older horses, but has a touch of class and cannot dismiss here.

OTTOMAN TURKS looks the one to beat here, particularly with the track’s leading jockey on board. If he manages to get the early lead he should be too good. The danger comes from going up against so many natural front runners and pace stalkers, where he may need to burn up too much energy gaining a decent margin. FRICTION(KY) looks the best of the 3yos on paper and could be a genuine chance, with MAX CALIFORNIA(KY) looking very good value at 15/1. Equal favourite SECRET’S GOLD has been running good SPs in lower class races, but could be advantaged by coming from off the pace.