ERC turf babies tussle at Turffontein in the Sadlers Wells

South Africa (SAF) Saturday, May 11, 2019 — 3:20 PM EST | Race ID : 2119764
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SADLERS WELLS

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Stakes – Sponsored – Purse : $100,000  –  2 Year Olds  –  Owner Restricted
6  Furlongs | ~1200 Meters | Three Quarters of a Mile                  Firm Turf
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The Elite Racing Club travels to Turffontein Racecourse in Johannesburg,  South Africa for May’s stakes event,   the Sadlers Wells.  We get our first look at some of the club’s two year old turf runners here;  a field of seven,  including a pair of fillies compete at six furlongs (or ~1200 meters for the locals) over what will be a firm turf course.  They’re all vying for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse on tap,  and to grab most of the stakes bonus points the club uses to crown a champion at year’s end.
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Dunnvilledowns has a seemingly strong hand with the lone stakes winner of this group,  unbeaten filly KURUZU KIRENA;  the handicapper was not impressed,  listing  her as one of the longest shots on the board at 9/1.  Reigning club champ harrylan  is represented by KINGMAN’S CHARM,  the second choice at 5/2 odds.  Club co-founders jbcri09 and amir1607 saddle JUMBO SNOW and FINISH HER OFF, 8/1 and 9/1 respectively.  Dontbetonme sends out AMORAL,   the third choice at 4/1;  newfydowns has GIVING SPIRIT going to the post at 7/1 odds.  Jb3commish throws a first time starting lady into the deep end in her debut – but the handicapper holds her as the solid morning line favorite at 9/5 odds !  By  the way,  congrats to jb3 on taking the sim’s Oaks-Derby contest,  being the only player to correctly guess both winners – way to go Joel !  Another jb3 note – check out his JB3 FESTIVAL coming in July – here’s the link: http://derbyfever.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17157.
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Not too much to glean from the minimal past performances of our young competitors,  so let’s take a closer look and see if something else can fill out the rest of this article.
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JUMBO  SNOW                                                 FR     2M     jbcri28             B Izalls             8/1
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Heading up the post parade is this boisterous bay colt,  who exits an impressive stalking victory in an open maiden at this distance,  smashing a 79 SP# at 28/1 odds.  Prince Gibraltar papoose,  out of the sim mare Classic Edie (by Square Eddie),  was a gaining 2nd in his debut in a local bred maiden,  also at 6 panels,  sticking a 66 SP# as part of a contentious pace.  Runner from club co-founder jbcri09 again gets no love from the handicapper;  should be close to the early leaders,  may outrun his odds in this heat.
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KINGMAN’S  CHARM                               ENG     2M     harrylanlow53         G Vincent         5/2
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Kingman kutup,  out of the Eclipse award winning,  million dollar earning sim mare Darci’s Charm (by Darci Brahma),  took his debut on a yielding turf surface at 5.5 furlongs,  zipping a 70 SP# in a pace pressing performance.  Big bay colt’s dam had a very nice two year old season,  going 5-3-1-0 on firm turf;  owner/trainer harrylan is looking for his charge to follow in mom’s footsteps.  Should be close early,  handicapper rates him as the 5/2 second choice.
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IMBIL  KINGFISHER  G                          KY     2F     jb3rush         Ji Smith         9/5
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Blushing bay filly makes her debut for the jb3rush barn of the jb3commish group.    Maclean’s Music miss,  out of the sim mare Gutha Kingfisher (by War Front) has impressed the back stretch wise guys in morning trials;  her dam was a late running type of competitor.  The handicapper must have heard the rumors,  touting her as the 9/5 favorite on the morning line.
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AMORAL                                                                 AUS     2M     dontbetonme10     A Quirk          4/1
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All Too Hard athlete,  out of the sim mare Clamor And Clamor (by Snitzel) scored first time out in a local bred maiden at this route,  popping a 70 SP# in a stalking trip.  Bucking bay colt was an even 3rd in latest,  a NW2L allowance at 5.5 panels,  pushing a 69 SP# while always close to the front.  Dam was winless in six tries,  so he’s already got his mom beat.  Runner from the always dangerous dontbetonme racing group is held as the 3rd choice of the handicapper at 4/1 odds.
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FINISH  HER  OFF                                         IRE     2M     amir             T Teising         9/1
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Club co-founder amir1607 saddles this bruising bay colt off a debut win in a maiden hot race at this trip over this strip,  flinging a 58 SP# with a late charge down the lane.  This Gurkha tomcat,  out of the G3 winning sim mare Demon Mayhem (by A. P. Indy),  seems to have inherited his dam’s late running style.  Looks like he’ll get a solid pace to run into,  may surprise as the co-longest shot in the field at 9/1 on the morning line.
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GIVING  SPIRIT                                               NZ     2M     mummerdowns     F Foster         7/1
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Bouncing bay colt has yet to break through in three starts.  He was twice the runner up in local bred contests,  debuting in an allowance at 4.5 furlongs with a 60 SP#,  and then at 5 panels in a maiden,  getting a 63 SP# while not far off the pace setters.  Contributer cub out of the sim mare One Strong Spirit (by Invincible Spirit) was 3rd last time over in an open maiden at 5.5 furlongs,  grabbing a 67 SP# with some late foot.  Newfydowns trainee should be in the second flight down the back stretch,  could grab  a piece of the purse on top try.
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KURUZU  KIREINA                                       JPN     2F     villagedowns         H Reber         9/1
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Watching them all exit the paddock is this beautiful bay filly, who is two for two in her young career.  She debuted in an open maiden at this distance,  dropping a 66 SP# in a stalking effort.  Maurice mademoiselle,  out of the stakes winning sim mare Scenic Cruise (by Afleet Alex),  won her first stakes try,  taking the Frozen Fairways listed stakes at this route on a yielding turf,  drilling a 70 SP# with a nice late move from the middle of the pack.  Dunnvilledowns protege had little impact on the handicapper’s decision,  held as the co-longest shot on the board at 9/1 odds.
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Good luck everybody,  and mat they all come home fast,  safe and sound.