Full field in The ENOUGH KNOCK Memorial Stakes

A 14 horse field have shown up for this weeks race, one mile on the turf course for horses 4 years old and up. No lack of prior winners in the field but with no out-and-out pacemakers we could be in for some fun and games.  The betting is:  

9/2 Mia Then Back
5/1 Shouldn’t Matter(IRE)
8/1 Rattleshirt
9/1 So Tempting
10/1 Heat More(IRE)
10/1 Steady Employment
11/1 Ziggy
11/1 Can’t Sit Still
11/1 Northern Mesa
12/1 Ermington Occy(NZ)
16/1 Sakhee Bomb
16/1 Kyogle Tiger
19/1 Daymambo(SAF)
21/1 Revered Elder(IRE)

Analysis

9/2 Mia Then Back – #8
Trainer: madhibby5
(Forty Niner x Danzig x Secretariat)
This weeks favourite is a lightly raced 5yo sent out by Madhibby Racing. Just 13 runs despite being bred as a 2yo, he has managed 9 wins for lifetime earnings of $910,000 and will be looking to raise that to over the million mark in his first Longchamp appearance.   2 stakes wins and the G1 Penn Mile testify to the quality of a horse who seems to be able to perform on any surface.  He won his first race of 2008 with a comfortable late running display and looks a very tough prospect indeed. 

5/1 Shouldn’t Matter(IRE) – #6
Trainer: seekgold
(North Light (IRE) x Kingmambo x Affirmed)
A 4yo from Flagdown Stables and bred from a G class mare. He won a G3 as a 2yo but has only managed 2 other stakes wins since despite a number of consistent runs. His first race of 2008 was an allowance which he won with plenty in hand so he will be in form but will need to be at his best here.  Has run here a few times and seems to like the track.

8/1 Rattleshirt – #10
Trainer: stormborn2
(More Than Ready x Storm Cat x Gone West)
A 5yo from Given Stables: Fire and Blood and bred from a G class mare. Despite being a  G2 winner with 3 other stakes wins amongst his 10 victories he hasn’t looked quite as consistent as the two favourites.  Easily won over 6 furlongs in his first outing this year with a nice 107 sp# and will be hoping to show that kind of performance over a mile,  although this is a much stiffer proposition.  Will give his best but that may fall short on this occxasion.

9/1 So Tempting – #4
Trainer: sharood
(Rahy x Gone West x Storm Bird)
Another 5yo, this time from Seacadet Stables, who has won 6 from 16 starts.  As a late 3yo breeding he didn’t get his first run until a 4yo and as a result probably missed out on some easier stakes races as he has yet to win one. His first 2008 run was a disappointing run over 6 furlongs so he returns to this more familiar distance hopefully none the worse for that experience.  If he has recovered he has a good chance of a place in his first Longchamp appearance.

10/1 Heat More(IRE) – #11
Trainer: iant4
(Azamour (IRE) x Rahy x Theatrical(IRE))
A 4yo filly from Iant Stables who managed a 2nd place here just a few weeks ago.  On that day she ran very well and was unlucky to lose by just half a length, and whilst it would be nice to see this filly do well here she will have her hands full dealing with some very experienced boys this time.

10/1 Steady Employment – #12
Trainer: foxon4
(Symboli Kris S x Caro(IRE) x Vaguely Noble)
Another 5yo, this time saddled by Foxon Stables, who has won 7 races from his 18 starts after being bred as a 3yo. His 2 stakes wins include a win here over 9 furlongs, but his 2 runs already in 2008 have been a little disappointing.  At his best he has place chances, but a heavy racing schedule this early in the year could be his undoing.

11/1 Ziggy – #4
Trainer: peeps7
(Gulch x Danzig x Lyphard)
A very experienced 6yo from Cobra Kai Racing Stables who has 10 wins from 43 runs.  Hasn’t really looked on song since winning a G3 back in October 2007, and will struggle to match the record of his class B dam who managed 16 graded wins from her 70 runs.  A nice horse who will struggle to make much impact here unless he can recover some of his old fire.

11/1 Can’t Sit Still – #7
Trainer: acote4
(Proud Citizen x Alphabet Soup x Gate Dancer)
A hard raced 5yo from Pilgrim Stables who has yet to win a stakes race.  A horse who has had to really grind out those 5 wins he has he put in a very good performance last time, but even so could still only manage 2nd spot.  Perhaps a bit unfortunate to run into such a tough field this time he will really have his work cut out to reach the money.

11/1 Northern Mesa – #9
Trainer: riverland
(Sky Mesa x Capote x Mr. Prospector)
An experienced 5yo from Marabou Stables who was bred by jockeymax2 as a 2yo from a G class mare. He was subsequently claimed for $15,000 just prior to his 3yo season but since then he has become a journeyman allowance runner without really standing out, winning just 2 races in the process.  He’s put in some consistent performances in his last 3 runs but needs to do a lot more for any kind of result here.

12/1 Ermington Occy(NZ) – #2
Trainer: crowblack
(Octagonal(NZ) x Danehill Dancer (IRE) x Danzatore)
A 5yo from Ireland’s Morrighan Stable Empire and bred as a 3yo from an E class mare by pigeon13. He found himself running in  claiming company quite early on and after changing hands a couple of times has been carefully nudged into winning ways by his current trainer.  One decent stakes win to his name so far and a winning start to 2008 means his owners will be watching this run with interest, though more with hope than anticipation.

16/1 Sakhee Bomb – #5
Trainer: pullaway
(Sakhee x Caerleon x San Feliou(FR))
A 7yo from Gatetowire Stables who bred him as a 3yo based on a 10 graded race winning A class horse.  Despite 8 wins he has never really hit those dizzy heights, winning just one stakes race, although he has won a couple of allowances in his last 2 runs. Despite that it is hard to see him posing too much of a challenge here. 

16/1 Kyogle Tiger – #14
Trainer: kyogle
(Mt. Livermore x Storm Cat x Cryptoclearance)
A 7yo from Tulloch Stables.  Based on a C class horse and bred as a 3yo he has manged 9 wins from his 45 runs, though stakes wins have eluded him up till now.   In the current climate he must be reckoned to be in the twilight of his career and his 2 races so far in 2008 seem to bear that out.  

19/1 Daymambo(SAF) – #1
Trainer: safbred
(Daylami(IRE) x Kingmambo x Sadler’s Wells)
A 4yo bred by The SAF Connection as a 3yo who has 3 wins in just 8 runs.  Despite disappointing last time he is open to some improvement and could surprise some of his more senior rivals by battling for one of the places.  If at his best he is probably a good each way bet.

21/1 Revered Elder(IRE) – #1
Trainer: sender4
(El Prado(IRE) x Foolish Pleasure x Blushing Groom(FR))
Despite the name this is a 4yo who was bred as a 2yo by Deadinthelane Stables and has 5 wins from 14 runs.  Ran his best last time for a 2nd place ina stakes and will do well to get anywhere near the money this time – although he is an improving colt so who knows?

Summary

A full field with lots of potential but no real pace in the early part so a bit of a lottery.  It’s very difficult to see the winner coming from outside the top two in the betting and Mia Then Back seems to hold all the aces. Daymambo(SAF) looks to be the 4yo with the most to gain and if he improves sufficiently could nip 2nd from Shouldn’t Matter(IRE).    

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LAST WEEK
  
The MURF CLOSET Memorial Stakes produced an upset last week with Tiz Fresh(KY) getting up in the stretch to beat front running favourite Alpine Wings(IRE) by a length, and gaining her first stakes win in the process.  The winning SP# of 102 was perhaps a little disappointing but connections of the winner will be looking to find her a few more wins before again chancing her in graded company.   Bunny Ranch Crypt(KY) stayed on well at the end to hold for third spot.
  
1st  TIZFRESH(KY)
2nd  ALPINE WINGS(IRE)
3rd  BUNNY RANCH CRYPT(KY)