Seven vie for the The HULK ICING Stakes
Seven 3yo fillies have travelled to Japan to compete for the $90,000 prize money on offer. The race, one mile on the fast dirt track, features a number of fillies with some less glamorous breeding lines, so we have an interesting race in prospect. The betting is:
9/5 Queen Of The Sky(AUS)
4/1 Reclusive Papaya(KY)
9/2 Alydarzapper(KY)
5/1 Panther Damper(KY)
6/1 Fast Fantastic(MD)
7/1 Tales Of Ransom
8/1 Proper Education(IRE)
Analysis
9/5 Queen Of The Sky(AUS) – #1
Trainer: skipnhappy
(Flying Spur(AUS) x Lear Fan x Round Table)
The hot favourite here, this filly from Nextbonus Racing has 4 wins from her 8 starts, including 2 stakes wins. She was narrowly beaten by a very good filly in her first 3yo outing and her connections will be hoping that she can improve on that run. The only worry is that this is her first time over a mile, but she will probably be able to handle it.
4/1 Reclusive Papaya(KY) – #5
Trainer: nomane
(Flatter x Balcony x Easy Goer)
Circusham Stables sends out a filly with a less than fashionable breeding – obviously she hasn’t been told that though as she has managed to win 4 of her 9 starts. No stakes wins as of yet, although she has finished runner-up in her last two attempts, but this slight increase in distance may suit her. very much looks to be an opportunist who will make the most if any of the other runners should have an off day.
9/2 Alydarzapper(KY) – #4
Trainer: xssessiv
(Ghostzapper x A.P.Indy x Alydar)
A lightly raced fill from B4rca Stables with 3 wins from 6 starts, including a stakes victory in her first 3yo outing. This filly looks to be a real improver and could be the biggest threat to the favourite.
5/1 Panther Damper(KY) – #2
Trainer: gunman
(Grand Slam x Affirmed x Pleasant Colony)
Despite having only win to her name so far this filly, from Jrogue Stables, has at least raced over this distance a few times. Bred from a Class B dam who won two G1 races over 16 furlongs, she has a hard act to follow. Looked ok in her turf races but seems much better suited to dirt and a 2nd place from her 3yo debut showed that she probably has a lot more improvement to come. Whether she will achieve that here is open to question, but if the more fancied runners should be weak over this trip she will be on hand to capitalise on it.
6/1 Fast Fantastic(MD) – #7
Trainer: riverbat
(Fantasticat x Seattle Slew x Assert(IRE))
Kyracing Stables have already managed to get 11 runs from this cheaply sired filly and her 3 wins include a stakes victory back in July. Since then she does seem to have struggled for pace so this move up to a mile will probably suit her, though having just a 2 week break may be her undoing.
7/1 Tales Of Ransom – #6
Trainer: meguire
(Tale of the Cat x Red Ransom x Vice Regent)
Sent out by Meguire Stables, this filly has only managed 2 wins from 8 runs so far, although her final races as a 2yo were all on grass. Ran ok in an allowance in her first 3yo race but doesn’t really look too good a fit here. The limited data available suggests that she will probably do better in longer route races.
8/1 Proper Education(IRE) – #3
Trainer: calle3
(George Washington (IRE) x Mineshaft x El Gran Senor)
Just 2 wins for this filly from Nickesyd racing club suggest that this filly may struggle here, despite having previously won an allowance race here in Japan. Bred from an average class G dam she is open to improvement but that is unlikely to be sufficient for her to add to that win tally in this race.
Summary
The vaourite, Queen of the Sky(AUS), looks to be a better class than all her rivals here. The only question mark is over the distance but she looks to have enough in hand to win even if she puts in a sub-par performance. Some of her opponents will almost certainly improve over this distance, but look to need even longer races to be at their best.