Full field for G1 Little Guppy Classic

Little Guppy Classic
Grade I
A mile and three eighths
Firm Turf
$500,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

The firm turf here in France plays host to some of the heavyweights of this class. Despite the name there are no 3yo’s here as they would probably be eaten alive by some of the prime horse flesh that shown up.  Despite the distance this race will be all about power, strength and determination. The runners are:

BLACK COIN

Trainer: kool4katz

(Sadler’s Wells x Key To The Mint x Round Table)

Odds: 9/2                    Earnings: 1,101,840               Runs/Wins: 18/11

A scratch bred 5yo horse from Coolk Stables.  Has won over $1m including G1-World Cup Turf Nine last year and has recently moved up to these distances with great effect.   He looks very consistent and will be tracking the leading group ready to mount a late attack.

QUESTING BEAST(ENG)

Trainer: catspaw

(Rainbow Quest x Sadler’s Wells x Storm Bird)

Odds: 13/1                  Earnings: 418,332                  Runs/Wins: 19/4

A 4yo colt from Elenalag Stables and bred from a G class mare.  Despite doing almost all of his early racing on dirt the switch to turf has been a great success, failing to finish out of the top 2 in his last 7 races.  He still has yet to make the big break through and start actually winning stakes races and to expect it here is a big ask.

JUMPIN’ JAVA

Trainer: waradmiral

(Java Gold x Seeking The Gold x Spectacular Bid)

Odds: 12/1                  Earnings: 2,504,785               Runs/Wins: 37/10

A scratch bred 7yo horse from Kiddman Stables.  An experienced horse who has won G3-Long Legged Handicap, G3-Winchester Park Cup, G2-Flying Carpet Handicap, G1-John Scott Appreciation Stakes, G1-King Geoff and Queen Beth’s Emerald Stakes.  Despite that impressive list he has looked a little like a fading star of late so will need to recapture some form to get a look in this time.

GOLD DOORS

Trainer: crowbar

(Touch Gold x Once Wild x Stage Door Johnny)

Odds: 13/1                  Earnings: 1,036,991               Runs/Wins: 32/8

A 5yo horse from Ace Stables – Ireland Division and based on an E class horse.  A horse who has done well in a busy career without quite reaching the top heights.  Looked good in his last race but may struggle to make the places this time.

MAX CALIFORNIA(KY)

Trainer: buffy5

(Rock Hard Ten x Secretariat x Danzig)

Odds: 8/1                    Earnings: 2,130,430               Runs/Wins: 18/7

A scratch bred 4yo colt from Winterfell Racing.  A very nice colt who has in only 18 races won G1-Coalminer Cup and G1-John Scott Appreciation Stakes, to amass over $2m in winnings.  In very good form at the moment and the one to beat.

STRONG BELWAS

Trainer: asoiaf

(Empire Maker x Caerleon x Woodman)

Odds: 10/1                  Earnings: 2,543,535               Runs/Wins: 25/8

A scratch bred 5yo horse from Given Stables: Fire and Blood.  Winner of G1-California Turf Classic,  G3-Saint Ledge Stakes, G1-Fat Man’s Revenge and  

G1-Movieland Turf Cup but has yet to find his winning ways this year after two second places.  At his best he could take this from the front but he needs to recover some of his past form in order to achieve that.

GALACTIC BOMBER

Trainer: focusforce

(Orientate x Theatrical(IRE) x Storm Bird)

Odds: 14/1                  Earnings: 702,999                  Runs/Wins: 21/7

A 4yo colt from Nextbonus Racing  and bred from a D class mare.  Had a very busy schedule culminating in a win in G1-Man of War Stakes last year but he has however seemed to struggle since that win and may do more of the same here. 

GREEN VALLEY

Trainer: lenny26

(Woodman x Mountain Cat x Northern Dancer)

Odds: 13/1                  Earnings: 384,114                  Runs/Wins: 27/7

A 5yo horse from The Evil Empire and based on an B class horse (Together Mount).  A horse who has to deliver in the big races in the past despite some obvious ability.  Connection hope that he will put that right here but it won’t be easy.

KAFZIEL TETE(GB)

Trainer: cyprus

(Diesis(GB) x In The Wings(GB) x Luthier(FR))

Odds: 16/1                  Earnings: 483,564                  Runs/Wins: 16/6

A scratch bred 5yo horse from Ridgecrest Champion Stables bred by kronp.  This one was claimed for $50,000 and then went on to win the G2-At Night Cap after some incredibly improved performances.    I’m not altogether convinced he will manage to continue that here but  he’s certainly earned his right to be here.

ROADHOUSE BLUES

Trainer: twinoaks

(Java Gold x Unbridled x Turn-To)

Odds: 8/1                    Earnings: 883,666                  Runs/Wins: 35/8

A scratch bred 5yo horse from More Evil Than The Evil Empire!.  Despite looking pretty consistent, and winning the G3-New Oak Stakes last year,  his last run was pretty unconvincing and a repeat of that would be a worry to his owner.  Seems to save his best for this distance so watch out for his late run. 

CELEBRITY SWAIN(IRE)

Trainer: boldrule99

(Swain (IRE) x Peintre Celebre (IRE) x Affirmed)

Odds: 12/1                  Earnings: 227,506                  Runs/Wins: 29/4

A 5yo horse from Goody Stables and bred from a G class mare.  Despite winning the G3-Mean Joe Green Classic already this year this one is prone to some violent fluctuations in form so is perhaps not one to stake too much on.  Finished behind a number of these other runners last time and will struggle to reverse that situation.

EXCLUSIVE HABITAT(ENG)

Trainer: iant8

(Sakhee x Habitat x Exclusive Native)

Odds: 5/1                    Earnings: 1,692,055               Runs/Wins: 15/9

A scratch bred 4yo colt from Iant Stables.  An exciting colt who really shone as a 3yo winning the G3-Fernazzle Classic Cup, G2-Upper California Derby, G1-Big Red Stakes and G1 Eclipse Stakes and comes here with after 2 stakes wins this year already.  A very fast starter who will seek to carry the race from wire to wire and hard to pull back when he is on song.  A worthy favourite.

GIANTSBANE

Trainer: sangster

(Mineshaft x Giant’s Causeway (IRE) x Mr. Prospector)

Odds: 15/1                  Earnings: 537,120                  Runs/Wins: 23/7

A 5yo horse from Galileo Stables and bred from a G class mare by tonno.  Despite winning the G2-The Big Race as a 3yo he hasn’t really built upon it subsequently.  A whole heap of disappointing runs has blighted his record and it’s hard to see him competing well against some of the other fast starters here.  

FRICTION(KY)

Trainer: peeps2

(War Chant x Irish River(FR) x The Minstrel)

Odds: 21/1                  Earnings: 688,661                  Runs/Wins: 19/5

A 4yo colt from Cobra Kai Racing Stables and bred from a G class mare.  The outsider of the race hasn’t really got the figures of many of his illustrious rivals and may struggle to get his nose in front in the early part of the race.  Still young so he could get better as he progresses. 

Summary

Two big names for the future could well have this race for the taking,  favourite Exclusive Habitat(ENG) and Max California(KY).  There is little doubt that the favourite will be making all the early running but this could be Max’s day,