Only 6 in The MACH II Memorial Stakes

The MACH II Memorial Stakes

A mile and one half

Firm Turf

$75,000

Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up

Only 6 runners have entered this 12 furlong route race but there are some excellent performers on show all the same.  Only one of the entries is considered to be out of her depth by the odds makers so we should have a furious finish of some kind.  The runners are:

Unbridled Queen(KY)

Trainer: wdfifty

(Monarchos x Southern Halo x Unbridled’s Song)

Odds: 7/1                    Earnings: 95,649                    Runs/Wins: 19/3

A scratch bred 4yo filly from WD Stables.  With just 3 wins from her 19 runs this filly has struggled to make her mark in stakes races.  She has however been a loyal collector of BP’s in allowances and would probably be much happier back there.  A fast starter who will struggle to maintain her challenge in the later stages. 

The Deuce(KY)

Trainer: fairhaven3

(Gone West x Nureyev x Buckpasser)

Odds: 2/1                    Earnings: 377,285                  Runs/Wins: 14/4

A scratch bred 4yo filly from The Evil Empire.   She has been very consistent lately with lots of 100+ sp#’s in these long races which certainly justifies her favourite tag.  Only 4 wins but was second in both the G1 Adelaide and G1 English Oaks as a 3yo so she certainly has the class to do well over the next couple of years.  If she can start to convert some of those 2nd spots to wins she should climb up the rankings very quickly.  A handy racer who just needs to work on her finishing speed.

Point Wanted

Trainer: dreamer

(Ten Most Wanted x Point Given x Easy Goer)

Odds: 5/2                    Earnings: 215,606                  Runs/Wins: 23/6

A 5yo mare bred by Silverny99 Stables from a G class mare.   A first run on turf may not go as well as hoped for this one though she has certainly proved to have the stamina on dirt.  I can see her returning to dirt after this one and maybe concentrating on allowances for a while just to build up a few more wins.

Dragon Awakens(KY)

Trainer: upperhand2

(Mineshaft x Nureyev x Buckpasser)

Odds: 7/2                    Earnings: 310,030                  Runs/Wins: 16/6

a scratch bred 4yo filly from Given Stables: Fire and Blood.  Although she has performed well over this distance in the past, notably a 2nd place in The G2-The Rippleschip Stakes, she has looked more comfortable over 10 to 11 furlongs, a distance over which she has won 2 stakes races.  Her opening race this year was a disappointment but I’m sure she will bounce back from that a lot stronger but probably not over 12 furlongs.  

Pyetastic(AUS)

Trainer: jacko

(Lonhro (AUS) x Stuka x Speak)

Odds: 26/1                  Earnings: 78,998                    Runs/Wins: 23/4

A 4yo filly from Bizalls Stables and bred by paperwazoo from a G class mare.  After 20 races for her previous stable she was finally claimed for $25,000 back in October.  Although she has managed to finish 3rd twice in stakes runs since then this has been down to clever horse placement rather than an improvement and she will struggle to get a look in here.  There’s a slight possibility that her first run of the year could produce something special but it may not be enough. 

Wacky Fusacki

Trainer: hurryup

(Distorted Humor x Fusaichi Pegasus x Unfuwain)

Odds: 5/2                    Earnings: 402,040                  Runs/Wins: 18/10

A scratch bred 5yo mare from Hurryup Stables.  Amassing 10 wins from just 18 runs is certainly no mean feat and she has certainly looked a classy performer at times.  However she has also looked particularly temperamental and is apt to throw in the odd poor run for no apparent reason.  Her first run of the year, over 14 furlongs, looked pretty faultless as she lead for the whole race and on that kind of form she is a real danger to the favourite here.  Essentially we will know which version has shown up for this race fairly early on – if she takes the early lead she will probably stay there.

Summary

There are some nicely bred beasts in this race, but it’s a shame that the field is as small as it is. To me it looks like the eventual winner will become apparent very early as whoever wins the battle between The Deuce(KY) and Wacky Fusacki for the early lead should go on to take the victory.  My money would probably be on the former, though the latter is quite capable of making us all look fools and throwing in one of her ‘wacky’ performances.