The ALMOST WHIRL Memorial Stakes
The ALMOST WHIRL Memorial Stakes
All horses, 3 years old, Six and one half furlongs on the Fast Dirt Course, Purse : $70,000
PP
1 ENCOSTINA(AUS) Lifetime 12 – 3 – 2 – 3
(ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR x STORM CAT)
Trainer superfecta tries a NGS again after winning his last race in an Allowance three weeks ago. This colt by Encosta De Lago, out of a Crafty Prospector mare Concertina, has raced twice before in NGS company and finished 4th and 3rd respectively at 6F. Both times going to the front or right to the lead. Encostina has finished ITM 4 out of 5 times on dirt sprints. He is going an extra 1/2 furlong today, this might be a tough spot for him, we will see if he is up to it.
2 CYLINDER BLOCK(MD) Lifetime 11 – 5 – 4 – 2
(NOT FOR LOVE x SIPHON(BRZ) x BALDSKI)
Cylinder Block has run in stakes his last 7 races and has finished no worse than 3rd every time and that was on an off track. He is ranked 18th dirt sprint.His mare Tubular had 3 stakes wins herself and finished ITM 6 times, and earned $215,994 on dirt sprints.
But trainer poowillck chose to shorten him to 6 1/2 after running 7F his last 3 races, this handicapper thinks this colt wants more distance, but with his closing style it’s hard to think he will not be right there at the finish line.
3 BLACK MUSIC(NZ) Lifetime 10 – 2 – 3 – 0
(BLACK MINNALOUSHE x PALACE MUSIC x BLETCHINGLY(AUS)
Black Music is a scratch bred who has also raced in Stakes company in his last 7 races after breaking his maiden in his 3rd effort. Winning 1 and ITM for 3. He has faced Cylinder Block in The Stupidly Plan Challenge two back in Dubai finishing a disappointing fifth,3 1/2 lengths behind Cylinder Block who finished 2nd. His SP# has improved his last 4 races which has us to believe Bevronii thinks he can be there at the end. Black Music is 8-1 ML and is ranked 108 in this Division.
4 BEE’S KNEES(KY) Lifetime 6 – 1 – 3 – 2
(KINGMAMBO x STORM BIRD x BOLD RULER)
This Kingmambo scratch bred is entering his second consecutive Stakes company after finishing 2nd here at Ireland 3497.5910. His career started in a Stake race losing to Black Music. Cabin then entered him in a MSW where he won, but hasn’t won since. Bee’s Knee’s is 6-6 ITM and needs to run his best to date to win here.
5 CODE OF FEAR(KY Lifetime 7 – 3 – 2 – 1
(GHOSTZAPPER x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x KINGMAMBO)
This very nicely bred colt, by Ghostzapper, out of the Fusaishi Pegasus 6yo mare Morse Code, is making his 3rd career Stakes bow. His previous try was his LTO where he came in second to a horse ranked 72nd.Code of Fear is 2-2 in Allowance races and Trainer deyoto2 says “this could be a good spot for him.”
6 TSF ACADEMY(JPN) Lifetime 11 – 4 – 4 – 0
(OPERA HOUSE(GB) x LION CAVERN x FORTY NINER)
Another Colt that runs regularly in Stakes company with a record of 6 – 3 – 2 – 0 in those races is your ML Favorite. TSF ACADEMY has won 2 Stakes at this distance and 1 at 7F.He is ranked 33rd among his rivals and seems like your likely choice.
7 MANNING(AUS) Lifetime 4 – 2 – 0 – 0
(REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) x STORM CAT x MR. PROSPECTOR)
Manning (Peyton,Eli or Archie) I am not sure but, this lightly raced colt ran in the TABASCO WAVERING 2 weeks ago and as the beat reporter for Ireland picked him as a watch horse for that race,he finished 7th in an 8 horse field. He didn’t fair as well as trainer veeman5 figured. ” I thought he could get the distance (8F) but seemed to tire as the race went on and that is why we feel The Almost Whirl Memorial is much better suited for him.” He will be 17-1 when the gates open and has a tough field to face.
8 WILD PANDA(PA) Lifetime 10 – 3 – 1 – 3
(PRETTY WILD x CARO(IRE) x BUSTED(GB)
Post 8 has Wild Panda who’s odds are 10-1 and will start for Nane stable who is owned by Nane Pastures. He is a colt who likes to come from behind.Nane placed him in an allowance NW3t last outing at 7F and came from behind to win by 1/4 length.I think this is a colt who can steal this race w/o anyone paying attention.He wins or hits the board and I will be buying (sim) drinks for all.
9 CORCUBION(KY) Lifetime 10 – 3 – 1 – 2
(TALE OF THE CAT x SEATTLE SLEW x MR. PROSPECTOR)
This Galicia stable colt owned by Fernando Empire has run in 4 consecutive stake races since Nov. ’07 when he was a 2yo.winning in Nov. over in Malaysia at 7F.He ran below expectations in Spain in Dec. finishing 4th in a 5 horse field at 6 1/2F.Then rebounded to finish a game 3rd going 6F in THE GOLF BALL Handicap here in Ireland. And last month he won THE OVER WITH THE WOOD Challenge at 7F with a nice SP# of 96 in Sweden.Galacia would like to win a stakes race here in Ireland to add to his other stakes wins.
10 THE KRAKEN MENACE(KY) Lifetime 12 – 3 – 4 – 0
(ANDROMEDA’S HERO x WAR CHANT x MONSUN(GER)
The second entry from the Nane Stables is ranked 56 in this division.He has 2 stakes victories , both 7F at Athens.His speed figures are very nice and could improve with Nane putting him back at 6 1/2F where it looks he is better suited.He is your co second choice at 5-1 and will be looking for his first stakes victory in Ireland.