Equinics 2020 – Twin Towers.

First, I would like to take a few seconds to remember those who lost their lives on September 11^th 2001. I’m an Australian and I can’t imagine what my feelings would have been if the tragedy had have occurred in my country, I remember I was watching an old Elvis movie when the scene appeared on my Television Screen with the horror and carnage that occurred that day. I would also like to take the time to thank all of the emergency service and other workers who saved lives. And finally, to the family’s and friends of everybody who know someone who lost their life on that tragic day.

The World Trade Centre (Twin Towers) opened in 1973, it contained the 2 large towers and 5 smaller buildings, at the time of completion the 2 towers were the largest 2 buildings in the world, standing at 1,368 feet (417 m) and 1,362 feet (415.1 m) respectively. It was the scene a fire in 1975 where 6 floors were on fire (no sprinkler system had been installed). In 1993 it was the scene of a bombing, where they tried to blow out the bottom of the building, fortunately the building didn’t collapse at the time but 6 people lost their lives.

In 1998 it was the scene of a $2 million robbery by mafia Member Ralph Guarino and a 3-man crew. And in 1974 Phillippe Petit performed a high wire walk between the north and south towers, he was 1314 feet in the air on a 440-pound cable carrying a pole that was 30 feet long weighing 55 pounds, Imagine the wind (No Thanks).

Well that brings us to what we are all here in Japan for the running of the Equinics, the Olympics games of our great game where each residency has selected it’s top horses to compete in the quest to be the greatest residency in the Sim, and also for individual glory, of being able to bring home the gold. The twin towers race will be over 8 furlongs for the 4yo fillies and mares on the turf. It brings together a class field of 14 runners 6 of whom are already Grade 1 winners. Let’s take a look at each runner and see what each horses’ prospects are.

Universal Racing Club

Clarehaven

GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x GALILEO (IRE) x KINGMAMBO

First up is Universal Racing Club representative Clarehaven for the grenoble1 stable, This 4yo daughter of Giant’s Causeway is a grade 1 winner as a 3yo, when she won the Irish 1000 Guineas. After that her form had taken a dip before a short spell over winter, since then she has managed to get almost back to peak condition, and only 2 starts ago just got pipped at the wire. Despite running 4^th in that race she was only beaten by Otto insane by just a neck in a 4 way finish, next up she faced Otto Insane again and was just a little outpaced, going down by 3 lengths. I’m not sure if she had a change of tactics last time but she seems to like being close to the lead. If she is at her best, she will give the race a shake.

Blazing Saddles

Earth is flat

SYMBOLI KRIS S x MONTJEU x CAERLEON

Representing the great firm know as Blazing Saddles is Earth is flat for the redhill stables. She is an End of Year award winner who has been to the winner’s enclosure 6 times in 13 starts including twice at grade 1 level, she was able to win the Saint Larry at 10 furlongs and the QE2 Challenge at 9 furlongs last year. So far this year she has had 4 starts in graded company over 9 and 10 furlongs with a 2^nd and 3^rd for her efforts. Last start she was stepped up to 10 Furlongs by redhill and it looked a fraction too far and she finished down the track. This week she is taking a step back to 8 furlongs which is the shortest distance she has raced since her maiden race. Back in trip off a poor run will make it hard for her to win, but at her best you would give her an outside chance.

Empire State Racing

General Snitzel

SNITZEL x INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x KRIS S.

Representing Empire State Racing and the cadetprime stables is a 4yo bay filly by Snitzel out of grade 1 winning mare Invincible Cadet, General Snitzel. The General is very lightly raced having won 5 of 13 starts with her biggest win coming in March 2019 in the Japanese 1000 Guineas over 8 Furlongs, since then she has found it a little tough trying to bridge the gap between her 3yo year and running against the mares, but she has made some steady progress improving each of her last 3 starts and reaching a 110 speed figure in The Grade 1 Foul Mouth Stakes a month back. In that race she settled a little further back in the field and produced her best closing burst, I’m not sure if it was a change of tactic or just the way the race panned out, but a little more improvement could see her with a medal.  

Elite Racing Club

This Bee a Victor

VICTOR’S CRY x SHAMARDAL x SEATTLE SLEW

This bee a Victor certainly is as he has won 8 of her 14 starts including 4 at stakes level. Last time out harrlanlow the trainer stepped her up to graded level for the 1^st time running 2^nd in the Call For Cash in California just going down by 1.5 Lengths a month ago, before that 2 stakes wins with speed figures at the 110 mark shows that with continued improvement she can be in the finish. She is likely to lead which makes things interesting because she is one of the very few that will be on speed, meaning we may get a slower race, which could be a big help. Maybe an outside chance.   

East-West Connection

Basalt Column

GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x DISTORTED HUMOR x GALILEO (IRE)

The East-West connection have decided to send cwk’s Basalt Column a regally bred beauty out of Giant’s Causeway. She comes into today’s race as a 5-time stakes winner, 3 of which come at 8 furlongs, this 5yo mare last start put in her best performance of her career winning the gold forest turf mare mile in Italy with a speed figure of 113. The issue is this is her 1^st grade 1 test, she has raced at graded level 6 times in the past for just 1 2^nd placing in The Coolmore in March 2019. So, the class factor is a concern, but coming of a career best run can she cause a surprise?

GR Simsters

Otto Insane

FRANKEL (GB) x GONE WEST x SPINNING WORLD

The kaner3 stables have produced this stunning 5yo mare Otto Insane for The GR Simsters, she is currently ranked 4^th in the division and is coming into today off the back of 2 grade 1 wins in the Weedy Establishment stakes and the Foul Mouth Stakes where she posted a career best 115 speed figure. This is an amazing effort when you consider she has only had 2 runs this year, before that she didn’t race for 7 months. I expect her to take up a position just behind the leader and come home with a wet sail, she will be very hard to beat.

All Stars Racing

Inshamal

INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x SHAMARDAL x A.P. INDY

4yo filly Ishamal is today representing All Stars racing, she has been a very consistent mare over the last 12 months running 7 times for 3 wins (1 Grade 3, 2 stakes) a 2^nd and 2 3rds. Her last 2 starts she was set up by her trainer bezstables to run in the weekly establishment stakes where she ran a great 3^rd place behind Otto Insane, she was then sent out again in the Foul Mouth stakes, again against Otto Insane where she faded to finish in 10th place. So, the crew over at All-stars racing will be hoping she can get back to her best, if she does, she could be in line for a medal.  

Midas

Happy Adventure

GALILEO (IRE) x DYNAFORMER x SECRETARIAT

Coming out of the chicks stable for the Midas residency is very lightly raced Happy Adventure, a 4yo filly by Superstar sire Galileo. Happy adventure has been brought through the grades by her trainer winning 4 of her 10 starts including a stakes win in February over 8.5 furlongs running a 112 speed figure. Unfortunately, her for seems to dropped slightly away, and as a result her trainer tried to stretch her out to 11 furlongs, but she didn’t quite run out the trip. So today she drops back again to 8 furlongs, can she recapture the old spark?  

Hispano Parlente

Bailarina Vecina

OASIS DREAM (GB) x DEEP IMPACT x NUREYEV

Bailarina Vecina is a 7yo mare that has been able to secure victory at the highest level on 2 occasions winning the (Grade 1) Foul Mouth stakes and the (Grade 1) Prix Marcel Boss both over 8 furlongs. But those wins came in June and August of last year, since then her form had been ok running constant 110 speed figures but not at the same level of class. Her Trainer tremguis last start tried something different stretching her out to 14 Furlongs but she ran down the track. She has been a great horse in her time but, I can’t see her in the winner’s enclosure today.

Hoosier Racing

Ebony Barbara

FASTNET ROCK (AUS) x RED RANSOM x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

Trainer Abbybarn has put (His/Her) hand up to represent Hoosier racing with the very talented 4yo bay filly Ebony Barbara. Ebony herself is in career best form coming off a win in the grade 3 The Statue, run 5 weeks ago in Germany. In that race over 8 furlongs she posted a speed figure of 112 which could be competitive today in the hunt for a medal. She has won 7 of her 16 races and I now believe Abbybarn has sorted out the best distance for Ebony Barbara and will be hopeful she can make the step up to racing the best grade 1 performers. Expect her to be sitting just behind the leaders. An outside Chance.

Minnesota Testbarn Residency

No Laying Up

FRANKEL (GB) x KINGMAMBO x EL PRADO

Representing Minnesota Testbarn Residency is 2-time grade 1 winning mare and ranked 2 in the division, No Laying up for the informed stables. She has been an ultra-consistent mare winning 7 of her 21 starts, including her last start grade 1 victory in the Breeders Bowl Game over 8 furlongs in Kentucky 2 months ago, running a speed figure of 111. Before that she ran a stunning closing sectional to just miss out on the Black Betty handicap (Grade 2) over 9 furlongs. I expect that she will settle toward the back of the field and will be the horse flying late, very much a Gold Medal chance.

Only Stayers

Banana Barbara

SHAMARDAL x FASTNET ROCK (AUS) x GALILEO (IRE)

Banana Barbara is a lightly raced 4yo out of the Meatmarket stables, she has just struck a purple patch of form in her last 2 starts and could be the big improver. 2 Starts back she took out the Peckling with Burg Tur Mare Special winning over 8 Furlongs by 2 lengths in a nice speed figure of 110, but it was her last start where she faced her biggest test of her carer and boy did she deliver in spades winning the grade 2 The Eastwood just grabbing the leader at the wire to win with a career best 114. I expect her to be just beyond midfield in settling and is a knockout hope.

Northwest Racing Circuit

Giant Humor

DISTORTED HUMOR x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x A.P. INDY

Giant Humor is a daughter of grade 1 winning mare Indy’s grant, she until recently spent most of her time running on the dirt tracks of America, going back she came out of maiden class and put in some very respectable speed figures getting all the way to 110. Stable owner Wbrv then stepped up to stakes class for the 1^st time, sadly she ran down the track, and the horse hasn’t got back to the same level since. 2 starts back Wbrv changed tack and switched to turf racing with a respectable 2^nd and 4^th, but this looks a stretch too far.

Latinos Del Mundo

Mi Lantina Querida

MIDSHIPMAN x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x FORTY NINER

Mi Lantina Querida is a beautiful looking roan filly coming out of the latinhaack stables, she has been top 3 on 12 out of 14 occasions. She has been brought through the lower grades nicely last start winning a 8.5 furlong NW5L allowance in California by 1.5 Lengths Before that she just missed in the same class by a neck over 8 furlongs, so I’m not so sure the drop back to 8 Furlongs will suit. While I think she may struggle in the grade at this stage she certainly has a nice future ahead.

Predictions I can’t go past Otto Insane for the Gr Simsters, she will again prove hard to beat. No Laying Up is also inform and may make a late run and Banana Barbara is my knockout pick. Good Luck too all and congratulations on being selected for your residency.