Full Field For The TEARS OF A CLOWN Stakes
The TEARS OF A CLOWN Stakes
A mile and three eighths
Firm Turf
$65,000
All horses, 4 years old and up
The older males have turned up here in numbers this week with a full field of 14. A fairly warm favourite makes a change in these big races and it will be interesting to see whether he can live up to that tag. The field is:
Big Bad N Now(KY)
Trainer: fusion
(Cryptoclearance x Miswaki x Unbridled’s Song)
Odds: 10/1 Earnings: 302,685 Runs/Wins: 24/8
A scratchbred 4yo colt from Ojai Valley Stables. Gained a valuable 3rd place in a stakes race as a 2yo before yaking a more conventional racing path in allowances. Scored 6 successive wins, including 2 stakes races, as a 3yo, but struggled in his first race of 2008 over 13 furlongs. He will appreciate the drop in distance and could be one to watch in the latter stages, though his lack of recent turf racing is a concern.
Quirt Evans
Trainer: quirt22
(Cryptoclearance x El Prado(IRE) x Woodman)
Odds: 3/1 Earnings: 336,184 Runs/Wins: 19/8
A scratchbred 5yo horse from Quirt’s Bad Boys. The favourite here, but he hasn’t raced on turf for over a year. He’s gone from strength to strength on dirt, winning 4 stakes races in the process but it’s hard to see why he has been placed here as this is definitely not his best surface.
Trainer: sabbath4
(Diesis(GB) x
Odds: 14/1 Earnings: 124,804 Runs/Wins: 22/3
A 4yo colt from Sabbath Stables and bred from a class F mare. A consistent allowance runner who did well in his last race, finishing 3rd. Will need to be at his best to match that in this one though.
Micozzene
Trainer: josecuervo
(Miesque’s Son x Cozzene x In The Wings(GB))
Odds: 14/1 Earnings: 158,742 Runs/Wins: 44/12
A 6yo horse from Red Dirt Runners and bred by earthling based on a D class horse. A horse that has changed hands in claimers a number of times throughout his career. His best result was a 4th place in a stakes last year and, despite the odd good run, hasn’t really got the form to threaten much in this race.
Red Nasu(IRE)
Trainer: sabbath3
(High Chapparal (IRE) x Red Ransom x Rainbow Quest)
Odds: 12/1 Earnings: 113,775 Runs/Wins: 13/3
A lightly raced scratchbred 4yo from Sabbath Stables. The second entry from this trainer looks a better bet than the first. He ran a good race last time, finishing second in a stakes over 12 furlongs and more improvement here is more than possible. Doesn’t often hit the front but capable of a fast finish.
Nasu In The Sand(GB)
Trainer: kartago
(Footstepsinthesand (GB) x Sunday Silence x Easy Goer)
Odds: 21/1 Earnings: 299,775 Runs/Wins: 18/4
A 4yo from Sabbath Stables bred from an F class mare. The third entry from this trainer won The G2-The Seventh King Eddie Stakes over 12 furlongs as a 3yo – however that was on good turf and other than a single allowance win, he hasn’t come close to matching that since. Ran well enough in his opening race of the year but needs to do a lot better to reach the money places here.
Strikingly G
Trainer: jgjg
(Cat Thief x Kingmambo x
Odds: 11/1 Earnings: 146,608 Runs/Wins: 33/7
A 5yo horse from Pgpg Stables bred from an H class mare. Started his career on dirt but it is on turf he has put in his best performances, although he has still to gain a stakes victory. Not done much in his two races so far this year but is still open to improvement.
PJ Gold Bullion(FL)
Trainer: pjbreeds
(Exchange Rate x King’s Theatre(IRE) x Charlie Barley)
Odds: 27/1 Earnings: 74,429 Runs/Wins: 14/2
A 4yo colt from Flyingfinn Stables bred from a class H mare. He took a while to lose his maiden tag but has looked reasonable in allowances since, winning over 14 furlongs in his last race. First run of 2008 so should find some improvement, but that may not be enough this time.
Moonflower(IRE)
Trainer: spacerace
(Moonballad (IRE) x T.M. Opera O x Ela-Mana-Mou(IRE))
Odds: 24/1 Earnings: 117,672 Runs/Wins: 32/5
A 5yo mare from Raceland Acres bred from a G class mare. A reasonable BP earner in allowances but she will be hard pressed to make much of a showing here. Failed to win a race in 2007 but made up for that last time.
Tete Of Oz(IRE)
Trainer: jacobsson
(Moon Ballad (IRE) x Cozzene x Mountain Cat)
Odds: 6/1 Earnings: 300,286 Runs/Wins: 33/8
A 5yo horse from Sabbath Stables and based on an F class horse. A 4th entry from Sabbath Stables and probably the one with the best chance. Won 2 stakes races last year and another in his last race so he is definitely in form. If he can grab the lead early on he will be a tough one to catch.
Love Boat Captain(IRE)
Trainer: shamran3
(
Odds: 9/1 Earnings: 314,475 Runs/Wins: 30/6
A scratchbred 5yo horse from Shamran Stables. Won his first stakes race as a 3yo over this distance and has since then added 3 more trophies to the cabinet. Managed a 3rd in a G1 back in October and will be hoping to match that SP# here, though he has a slow start to 2008.
High Speed Quest(IRE)
Trainer: pegasus
(High Chapparal (IRE) x Rainbow Quest x Irish River(FR))
Odds: 19/1 Earnings: 135,623 Runs/Wins: 18/5
A 5yo horse from Citation Stables based on a C class Grade I winning horse. He’s had just 18 races since being bred as a 3yo and he gets his first experience of stakes racing here. Narrowly lost his last race, breaking a winning sequence of 3, but has looked on form and could find the little more improvement he will need to be successful. The horse that beat him last time ran a stinker next time out so lets hope that isn’t a bad omen.
Western Sculpture
Trainer: dorrin
(Statue Of
Odds: 6/1 Earnings: 683,972 Runs/Wins: 44/13
A 6yo horse from Ridgecrest Champion Stables and bred by samitch0 based on a G class horse. He’s been claimed a number of times in the past but has really come through for his current trainer, winning The G1-Who Cares Anymore as well as 4 other stakes races. After 44 runs he may well be on the downward turn but if he can put in any kind of performance he could win this comfortably.
Buck Dich(IRE)
Trainer: magpies01
(Singspiel(IRE) x Nureyev x Roberto)
Odds: 10/1 Earnings: 138,369 Runs/Wins: 27/11
A 5yo horse from Phantom Pharms and bred by khalasar2 from an H class mare. Another one who has been claimed a couple of times in the past, most of his wins have come from starter allowances, but encouraged by a great performance last time, and having 4 wins on the trot, he seems to have earned his shot here. A repeat of his last run could embarrass some of the favourites here, but that is probably a big ask.
Summary
A strange field with all the proven horses looking to be on the downward spiral and a number of 4yo’s who need to do a lot of improving. My stab in the dark this week is for Western Sculpture who just might still have too much class for the younger guns.