The ROO BEAVIS Bnanza Stakes, Ascot 7 furlongs firm turf 3 yo +
Once again a warm welcome from Ascot in the heart of Berkshire. This week we are here to cover Ascots sole stakes race of the week, The ROO BEAVIS Bonanza Stakes, to be run over seven and a half furlongs on the firm turf for all horses 3 yo +. A field of ten have been declared to take their shot at the $85000 prize fund.
1) P J CHAMPION DANCER osstable3 401461 12/1 T Forster
5 yo horse
Danehill Dancer x Lyphards Wish x Dancing Champ
40 runs 8 wins 4 seconds 4 thirds $293763
Tough game horse in allowance class always ready to pop up with a win every now and then. Only once in his career has he been able to string two wins together so it must be a little disconcerting that he got up in his last race, a seven furlongs $35200 nw2n allowance in South Africa which he won by 1 3/4 and recorded a speed figure of 99. That probably wont be enough in this company but if the market leaders were to disappoint then it must be remembered he is in good form with himself at present and is as brave as they come.
2) GLITTER N crowbar 531303 12/1 K Livestock
4 yo colt
Glitterman x Septieme Ciel x Naskra
23 runs 6 wins 3 seconds 5 thirds $140627
Another decent allowance class outsider who is seeking his first stakes win. He would look a whole lot more exciting if he could find a little improvement, and with only 23 runs on the board it isn`t out of the question. Broke the magic 100 mark for the first and only time back in May over six furlongs when winning a $46200 mw4x allowance at Victoria and showed he is capable of getting a furlong further next time out when running a 98 over seven at Ostend. Hasn`t quite hit those heights in his last two runs so would need a return to form and most likely a new pb to feature here.
3) NEED A LIFT lionhunter 216215 9/1 J Mcrea
4 yo colt
Mining x Green Desert x Damascus
26 runs 7 wins 9 seconds 3 thirds $223563
Trainer must have been doing a rain dance for this one as he looks an out and out mudlark. He has two standout pieces of form on his resume,both allowances, both South Africa and both on good turf. In the first of these back in June 06 he won over seven with a nice 105 his first ever run on rain soaked ground. 2 runs back in August this year he contested a seven and a half furlongs allowance at the same track and recorded another win with an impressive pb 109. The problem with this one is his form on dry ground is just a shade beneath this level, as a 101 lto in a seven furlong stakes in Sweden would seem to suggest. Needs to find a little improvement on the firm turf to lift his first stakes race here.
4) BARBS ICE CREAM wolverine 414510 7/1 R Williams
4 yo colt
Manndar x Seeking the Gold x Storm Cat
29 runs 10 wins 4 seconds 3 thirds $722560
Barbs has had a great career for her trainer, winning in stakes class no less than nine times.Looked real hot as a youngster and whilst he has a decent level of form he is not the star that he once looked. Ran a pb back in February this year, winning a stakes over seven furlongs at Athens with a speed figure of 104. He possibly needs around that figure today to get involved but four unplaced efforts in his last four runs does not bode well for his chances. Not without a chance but needs to re-find his best form.
5) WANT TO DANCE sjmeola6 100233 6/1 M Day
4 yo colt
Mr Greeley x Habitat x Turn to
24 runs 9 wins 4 seconds 2 thirds $421170
Versatile performer capable of acting at any distances from six furlongs to eight furlongs. This speedy front runner who is a six time stakes winner who is in fine form at present having been stakes placed in his last two runs, breaking 105 both times. Lto stretched his legs over eight in a stakes at Longchamp. Led to just over halfway before being swept up. Didn`t completely fold and stuck on for third, beaten six lengths and with a speed figure of 105. Before that again led early till just over halfway, ran on once headed finished second beaten one and a half lengths, six furlong stakes Greece with a speed figure of 106. Sure to lead early her trainer will be hoping he can build a lead and hang on.
6) MCNAUGHTYS BAT gblade 530535 7/1 B Siefert
5 yo horse
Barathea x Danehill x Caerlon
24 runs 5 wins 4 seconds 5 thirds $175337
This looks a bit tough for this one as he hasn`t found the key to winning for twelve runs and nine months. He has broke 100 in his last 3 runs,all stakes but only has a third in the middle of these races over eight furlongs at Spain to show for his efforts. He ran a pb 103 in that race. He was also grade one placed back in April over eight at Victoria,scoring a 101 but I would be most surprised if he proved good enough to win this,
7) GLEN URQUHARD imagine 11312 7/2 jf B Webb
4 yo colt
Canadian Frontier x Dynaformer x Nuryev
32 runs 7 wins 3 seconds 5 thirds $227827
Wow this $30000 claim must have stunned and delighted the owner of the Fortune500 dynastyas he has improved out of all recognition in the five races since his inspired claim. Since then he has won 7.5 furlongs s.a. with a huge 110, won two stakes (one over seven the other over seven and a half) finished third in another over seven and a half and last time out finished second in a seven and a half stakes in Kentucky with a massive pb 113. That makes him a good thing here to lift this stakes and his trainer has crossed the great track divide so must be feeling bullish about his chances.
8) WONDERBOY DA VINCI wonder4 020621 9/1 J Wessleman
5 yo horse
Theatrical x Montjeu x Kingmambo
30 runs 10 wins 3 seconds 1 third $449915
Inconsistant individual that is blessed with talent but rarely puts it all together. This grade 3 winner had a fine run three runs back in a six and a half furlongs grade 3 at Italy, where he finished second beaten a length and three quaters and recording a 107 was an example of the talent he has (and was also his best run in two years) but he hasn`t shown anywhere near that sort of figure in his last two runs (over eight and eight and a half) and he remains an enigma. He has the talent to do well in this but will he put it all in?
9) WESTERN GLADIATOR nextbonus 131121 11/1 P Funk
3 yo colt
Gone West x Awesome Again x Danzig
11 runs 5 wins 2 seconds 2 thirds.
I dont agree with the bookmakers on this one. 11/1 is huge for a 3yo who is bred in the purple and hasnt finished out of his first three in his last eight races. Add to that big recent improvement and he looks a great bet for a place at the very least. In his last three runs he has won two stakes over todays trip and finished second in the other (over six too sharp). Three runs back he put up his lifetime best in a seven furlong stakes at Queensland, winning a 3yo event with a nice 108. Followed that with a stakes second over six then lto encountered rain for the first time in his career in a seven furlong stakes at NSW. Still good enough to win with a 102, even though his speed may have been slightly blunted by the conditions. Discount here at your peril.
10) MOONLIGHT MILE li2 511114 7/2 jf P Harzheim
4 yo colt
E Dubai x Danzig x AP Indy
24 runs 7 wins 4 seconds 1 third $256042
Classy deep closer at best but has a question mark at this distance. Three runs back at District of Columba won a 6.5 furlongs stakes with a 112. Followed that up by winning a grade three in Sweden over six furlongs. Lto stepped up to seven in a stakes at Taiwan and despite closing to the line could only manage fourth with a 103. Was it the extra half furlong or was it just a blip. Today we shall have the answer but my feeling is he may be better at six. He has bagged the best jockey in the race so if it was just a blip should be ready to do himself justice.
POGO PREDICTS
Well if I could choose any horse to own for myself I would have to take the 3yo Western Gladiator. However I do think he may have ran into a nice late developer in Glen Urqrhard who I fancy for the win. Moonlight Mile is classy but may be vunerable at this distance. Wonderboy Da Vinci can do anything from win this to trail in last, the old monkey.
7 to beat 9 with 8 in third.