Equinics 2020 The Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel (French: Le tunnel sous la Manche), also referred to as the Chunnel, is a 50.45-kilometre (31.35 mi) railway tunnel that connects Folkestone (Kent, England, UK) with Coquelles (Hauts-de-France, France) beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. It is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and the European mainland. At its lowest point, it is 75 m (250 ft) deep below the sea bed and 115 m (380 ft) below sea level.[3][4][5] At 37.9 kilometres (23.5 mi), the tunnel has the longest underwater section of any tunnel in the world.
So, in celebration of this great piece of construction we have today’s race in Japan The Channel Tunnel Equincis Sprint race to be run on Turf for fillies and mares over 5.5 furlongs. It brings together the best female sprinters the residencies of the simulated sports world could muster. And 1 of these horses will not only take grade 1 glory for the first time but will take that all-important Gold Medal for the residency.
Taking an early glance at the field, this could be the hardest race to pick for the entire Equinics series, there are just so many chances, so let’s have a good look at the field and see who can take the gold.
No 1
PORT ROC LV
ROC DE CAMBES (NZ) x LE HAVRE (IRE) x AFFIRMED 10/1
Well only stayers have found themselves a nice sprinter in Port Roc Lv, She has been successful 4 time at stake level including her last 2 at 6 furlongs. She was able to run some good speed figures of of 107 and 105, she may be very competitive. I asked her trainer chillingfarms3 for comment. ‘She is absolutely flying at the moment we hope jockey Cameron puts her at the front very early and she can hold off the closers’, ‘I’m quietly confident of a medal’. My only concern is the drop to 5.5 furlongs, she has an outside chance.
No 2
SAVING THE GALAXY
AFLEET ALEX x CAPOTE x HALO 6/1
The GR Simsters have managed to find this outstanding filly saving the galaxy, she has been a 2 time stakes winner and a 2 time graded stakes runner up, including last start in the Grade 1 CVBears Hometown Turf Stakes over 6.5 furlongs where she ran a staggering 114 speed figure over the 6.5 furlong trip. I asked Liamswan22 if (he/she) has any concerns going into today’s race? ‘ I think she is at her peak right now, which is great considering the pressure of representing the simsters, my only concern is the drop in trip’. She is talented enough to win but like with a lot of other runners is the trip too short?
No 3
KAPTAIN KASH
DISTORTED HUMOR x STORM CAT x SEATTLE SLEW 5/1
Kaptain Kash is probably the most versatile runner in the field, she likes both dirt and Turf and has proven herself at stakes level winning 3 stakes races at various distances between 5.5 Furlongs and 7.5 Furlongs. Her last start performance in the Vixen Prospector Dirt Mare Sprint produced a career best performance, I asked her trainer rodpiper of (He/She) is concerned about switching surfaces the drop in distance and the step up to Grade 1 level for the 1st time? ‘We aren’t too worried about the surface or distance switch as she has done it before, and is 1 of the few proven horses at this trip, I just hope jockey jolly can settle her just behind the leader and push the gap in the straight’.
No 4
MEMORY QUEEN
ACCLAMATION x EXCEED AND EXCEL x KINGMAMBO 10/1
Next up is Memory Queen for Elite Racing Club, A winner of 4 stakes races and winner of the grade 3 Park Palace stakes in September 2018, she has been a mainly a presence in races at 7.5-8 furlongs. I suspect in trying to see if she would handle a sprint trip for Equinics her trainer Summerset3 decided to drop her back in trip to 6.5 Furlongs at open Allowance level, and it worked, winning with a 107 speed figure, I asked Summerset3 for thoughts on Memory Queens chances? ‘I’m kind of confused, she has been winning at shorter trips over the past few months, I’m not sure exactly what will happen, but we have put on the blinkers for today and hope for a good result.
No 5
TANINO TWICE
TWICE OVER (GB) x TANINO GIMLET x NUREYEV 13/1
Tanino Twice for me is a very interesting runner, she has managed to make Equinics after being a $2500 claimer only 4 starts ago, and for her new trainer she has produced some great times in winning twice and running 2nd in starter allowance races. Those figures are good enough for her to feature prominently if she can handle the class rise. I asked her trainer claycordian how on earth did you make such an amazing purchase? ‘Funnily enough I was on holiday down in South Africa and just decided to go to the track, I was having a look in the yard and Tanino looked and stared at me without moving for 2 minutes before she was led away. I just had to buy her and now we find ourselves at the Equinics’.
No 6
BOMONT
SPEIGHTSTOWN x DANEHILL DANCER x THEATRICAL 10/1
The Midas residency have decided to send out Grade 3 Boon Turf Stakes winner in Bomont, she is an ultra-consistent filly who started life as a dirt horse, but a switch to the dirt has switched her on and now she is starting to get some great results on the grass. 2 starts back she got a stakes win and a 110 speed figure winning in Mexico and last starts grade 3 puts her in good shape for today. I asked her trainer Nuemaya, how her race will pan out? ‘It is hard to be confident in such a great field but I do have the Midus touch’, with that Nuemaya smiled and walked away. For what it’s worth I think she is 1 of many who can win.
No 7
EASTERN THEATER
UNION RAGS x EMPIRE MAKER x DANZIG 8/1
Eastern Theater comes into today’s race with a big question mark over her as she has never raced at less than 6 furlongs and that was a long time ago, there is no doubt she is a classy type however, as she has managed to take home 3 stakes wins, but all were at 7+ furlongs. 3 starts back she ran a close 2nd in the Turf Queen grade 2 at 7.5 in Victoria and followed up with a 4th over 8 furlongs, then a surprise switch back to the dirt? I asked groupiedoll for a comment? ‘she is a very quirky horse that never likes to do the same thing, so we managed to get Givins to ride, hopefully he can settle her down with the leaders and sprint hard around the turn’.
No 8
OPERATION SPARK
WAR FRONT x DYNAFORMER x SECRETARIAT 7/2
Next up we have 5yo mare Operation spark for All-Stars racing, she is a good strong middle-distance horse that is normally very competitive having won 6 of her 15 starts, including 1 at stakes level and a 2nd in graded company. Again, though like so many other runners the concern is she has never been over such a short trip. In fact, she has never had a race in the sprint division, not even as a youngster, and yet odds makers have made her favourite. I asked andermanis for if (he/she) thinks she will sprint? ‘We think she should be able too go well, but it we honestly have no idea. We just hope she can take up a good position from the gate and make a run. She has done all the work in the lead up and we couldn’t be happier with her.
No 9
STRONG FEELINGS
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x STREET CRY 15/1
Empire State Racing have sent a flying little filly by Fastnet Rock called Strong Feelings, She is a 2 time stakes winner between 5 and 7 furlongs including last start where she came out an won over 5 furlongs on a wet day in Minnesota. She ran a nice 105 Speed figure which I expect will give her a good chance of winning today. I asked museummile how (his/her) charge is going and what is expected? ‘To be honest we were hoping for a little rain today, but the clouds just haven’t come but in saying that she may be one of the few natural sprinters in the race, so we think she has been dramatically underestimated by the odds maker’.
No 10
MARY STUART
WAR DANCER x GALILEO (IRE) x NUREYEV 12/1
4yo filly Mary Stuart is the representative of the great Universal Racing Club, this filly by War Dancer has managed to win 8 of her 15 starts, over distances ranging from 6-8.5 furlongs including the Grade 2 Turf Queen over 7.5 furlongs, just 2 starts back. Last start though she just didn’t come up being beaten by 6 lengths over 7 furlongs again at Grade 2 Level. I asked he trainer Waremblem1 what it will take for Mary Stuart to get the win today? ‘Well we have made a few changes by putting Jockey Zeus on board, she didn’t like the way D Evans tried to hold her up a little more last time, we have also added a lugging bit so hopefully she doesn’t hang on the turn. Again, though I’m concerned about the shortness of the trip.
No 11
LA VACA LECHERA
LOOKIN AT LUCKY x MR. GREELEY x NUREYEV 17/1
La Vaca Lechera sounds like a sexy name, but I believe is named after a children’s cow, anyway she is an up and coming filly looking to break into the next level. She has managed to win 5 of her 15 starts all over sprint trips, and produced a career best 104 running 2nd in the Equilibrium Turf Mare Dash, over 6.5 Furlongs, this will be the 1st time since last December that she has dropped back to 5.5 furlongs, and she is in much better form now. So, I do give her an outside chance. When I asked erendirax what (he/she) thought about her chances, he/she just looked at me stupid and said something in Spanish, where is the interpreter when you need one?
No 12
Wind Dancing
NEW APPROACH (IRE) x NUREYEV x DANEHILL 23/1
Representing North West Racing Circuit is Wind Dancing a 4yo filly that has already amassed 23 career starts for 9 wins, 7 of those wins have come at stakes level, so she has been a wonderful horse for jubalrutledge2. But over the last 4 starts she has just dropped slightly off the pace not being able to reach triple figures in any of her past 4 starts. I ask jubalrutledge2 if a turn around was on the cards? ‘well, we are here to do our best, it is a tremendous thrill to be in the land of the rising sun for Equinics and if we get one thing out of the experience it will be a good plate of sushi!’
No 13
LEYENDA
POLLARD’S SECRET x KNOWN FACT x MR. LEADER 35/1
Layenda is 4yo filly having just her 7th start for trainer tarton13, she was claimed for $125,000 which is a great price for a filly that had already won 11 of her 15 races. Layenda has seemed to figure her out sticking to turf sprints, she had won her first 3 races for the stable at allowance level before being stepped up to stakes class, where she has been improving slowly. But this is a huge step again a grade 1. I asked Layenda, what his/her expectations are for today’s race? ‘I’m praying for a lifetime best, she has been getting better and better, she may not be up to the class of some of the others but she is improving and is a sprinter’. I don’t think she is quite up to this level.
No 14
K’S ADDICTIVE ROCK
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) x GULCH x NORTHERN DANCER 27/1
Finally Representing Hispano Parlente is K’s Addictive Rock a lightly raced sprinter out of champion Aussie Sire Fastnet Rock, and Grade 1 winning mare K’s Addiktion. She has been brought along slowly through the grades by her trainer xledwith, winning her last 2 races over 5.5 furlongs in restricted allowance grade interestingly enough at this track. So, she does seem to have some upside but will need to improve significantly to compete in a grade 1. I asked xledwith will her early acclimatisation be an advantage? He nodded and said ‘Si Senor’. I then asked him will he have a bet at the 27/1 and he replied ‘Si Senor’. Finally, I asked him about his training techniques and he said ‘Si Senor’ I guess I should have got an interpreter.
Well, what can I say this is not an easy pick in any way, I believe that when horses that run below 6 furlongs, the speed figures drop significantly, so a horse that runs say 105 at 6 furlongs may only get to 100 over 5.5 furlongs. This is what makes it so hard to line up all of these fillies, especially when you add the class factor and that so many in the field are better at either longer sprints or routes.
If I’m forced to give tips, I will go with No 3 Kaptin Kash to beat No 2 Saving the Galaxy with no 6 Bomont and number 1 Port Roc LV rounding out my top 4.
Goodluck to all runners and remember it is as much about participation as it is about winning.
Thanks magoo great writeup! I have Strong Feelings and I think she may be one of the few to really excel at this distance so I’m hoping for a medal 🙂
Ooops that was spinround in btb disguise!
Thanks for the coverage Magoo! I love the quote from Roxyken (it’s a he, married to a she). Looks like you and I will be battling in this one Spin. Didn’t know we were facing off unit I read this article. Best of luck to both of us! (Can we have the first ever deadheat?)
I wrote he/she even if I knew, (didn’t want to be un-PC) same for everyone. I tried to put a different spin on this one and be a bit more creative, so I tried out pretending to be a reporter. makes it much easier to write comments about horses you don’t think can win, in a nice way.
Great work and love the commentary! Its like you knew what i was thinking!! Best of luck to everybody.