Equinics 2022 – Mountain Gorilla

Equinics 2022 Mountain Gorilla (Sponsored by East-West Connection) for Fillies and Mares aged 4 and over

Saturday, February 26, 2022 — 4:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2798490 | CHINA – Turf (expected going: Firm)

Welcome to China, where the recent cold snap seems to have given way to more pleasant conditions and temperatures around 13C/55F – we’re hoping the sun makes an appearance later in the day. Our sixth race on today’s Equinics card is the Mountain Gorilla. Without further ado, let’s get to the runners and riders:

Gate	Form	Horse	Owner	Residency	Jockey	Odds
1	4111-1	Pink Lace	gowansny2	THE MECCA	M Kiprusoff	24/1

Leading them into the parade ring is the 4 year old Pink Lace representing The Mecca residency. This scratchbred bay filly is by Uncle Mo out of a Danzig mare. She’s been carefully nurtured by trainer gowansny2, rising through the conditions and improving each time. Her latest effort saw her shipped over to Asia for her first race in Stakes company, having spent most of her career in and around Kentucky. This looks to have been a shrewd move by the trainer as there won’t be any after effects from travelling half way across the world. The morning line handicapper looks to have been more than generous with their 24/1 quote for this great example on how to prep a horse for a major race.

2

2/42413-

Pertinacious LV

bizalls15

ONLY STAYERS

W Kewmwa

6/1

Trainer bizalls15 is having a very easy time with the ‘old lady’ of the field. At the age of 6, Pertinacious LV has seen it all before and she is beautifully calm and relaxed. This Snitzel bay mare out of Sadler’s Wells mare Mumbai is used to the big occasion, having run Black Type for the last 15 races of her 19 race career. She has a creditable record all the way through the ranks upto Group 2 but has yet to put her head in front at the very top of the elite classes. If jockey W Kewmwa drops her in just behind the early pace, she’ll have a real chance to complete the set for Only Stayers residency.

3

11126-2

Trienta De Marzo

champhaack

LATINOS DEL MUNDO

B Orazio

21/1

Champhaack, on the other hand, seems to have a handful of bay filly with Trienta De Marzo. She’s relatively lightly raced and the atmosphere here seems to have her on her toes in the parade ring. She has some great bloodlines to help her along – sired by Invincible Spirit out of Galileo mare Amparito – and she put together some impressive numbers towards the end of last season. B Orazio, who holds the reins today, will have been told to try and take her off the pace and stalk, in the hope that this fiesty young girl has enough for the final stretch. It’s a big step up in class – but it’s the Equinics and Latinos Del Mudo residency will be shouting as loud as anyone else to get this one home.

4

31111-1

Wind Snowden

ds91

UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB

A Jolly

4/1

If you take a little Sea The Stars and add some Nureyev, all topped off with a dash of Blushing Groom, you’ll likely end up with something special. Add the backing of one of the top residences, URC with their knowlegeable trainers and you’ve got the morning line favourite in Wild Snowden. Trainer ds91 has been patient and planned out a highly successful career to date for this 5 year old bay mare and it’s more than 6 months and 5 races since any horse finished ahead of her. She is yet to be tested at the very highest level but it’ll be a brave punter who leaves her out of the calculations. There’s plenty of early speed in this race and that might give jockey A Jolly some concern, but expect him to let her have her head and take them gate to wire.

5

42114-5

Portcoon Jetty

neonindy

EAST-WEST CONNECTION

E Newcomb

21/1

Another 4 year old bay filly and another contender for the lead at the first pole, Portcoon Jetty represents EWC residency. Out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, Basalt Column and sired by Kingman, she may need jockey E Newcomb to adopt a change in tactics and try to hold her up in the early stages to give her the best chance of a top 3 finish. She has the stamina to come off the pace and she has some impressive numbers shoring up her claims but it’s going to be a big ask to compete in this elite company. She’s another one whose trainer had the foresight to move her to the Asian continent well in advance. One to watch.

6

224113-

Name Police

acebnrc

HOOSIER RACING

D Lakencher

13/1

Representing Hoosier Residency is the striking 5 year old bay mare, Name Police. By Invincible Spirit out of a Deep Impact mare, Sherpa Impact Ray, and trained by acebnrc, she has shown her true colours since dropping back to the mile. She put up a strong effort in Group 3 company last time out but the rain-softened ground didn’t help her cause and she will welcome the perfect conditions today. Jockey, D Lakencher, will be tasked with giving her some early cover and will be asked to produce her run as they come off the final turn. If everything comes together, she has a great chance of making the frame and if the early speedballs tire each other out, this one could be there to pick up the pieces.

7

272121-

Firelips

theogbarn

GR SIMSTERS

R Scoobi

17/1

Yet another bay filly, Firelips is owned by theogbarn and representing GR Simsters residency. Her last couple of starts have been in Black Type company, both Group 3. Two back, she ran as a 3 year old taking on older horses and only just failed to catch the winner by half a length. She may have been given a little too much to do that day and her last race of last season saw her stalking the early lead but ridden a little closer. As she came around the final turn, she breezed to the front and registered a comfortable-looking length and a half victory. The step up to the very top of the grade won’t phase her. Scratchbred Dubawi x Montjeu x Danehill Dancer, expect to see her at the next Equinics too – but at the longer distances as she matures.

8

421211-

Running Ragged

112away

ALL-STARS RACING

T Loesch

53/1

The only chestnut filly in the field is easy to spot; not just for her coat but because of the way she moves. She has the air of confidence often seen in the progeny of Lope De Vega and the regal gait of her grandsire, Danehill Dancer. With Rahy supplying the speed on the back end of the pedigree, Running Ragged will be looking to lead from the gate and run them ragged! Like her owner 112away, this one isn’t afraid to get stuck in. Her early career brough solid results as she climbed the ranks as a sprinter but this was just the preamble to her true calling. Spotting the potential, she was thrown in at the deep end of a Group 2 race last time out and she dominated a strong looking field from gate to wire. Expect similar tactics from jockey T Loesch and expect the morning line handicapper to hand in his resignation if this All-Stars Racing residency longshot gets to the front early!

9

32532-8

Waterhead Cat

guru17

EURO

F Inzamam

13/1

With the backing of the Euro Residency, owner guru17 brings 5 year old bay mare, Waterhead Cat to China. This Intrinsic mare out of a Choisir mare, Forest St Sir, can be relied upon to give her all. Her early career pointed the way to success as an out and out sprinter, winning her first 3 races including an overnight Stakes win and the trainer must have be optimistic of a great career for her but she lost her way a little as she moved up in distance. Don’t get me wrong, she was always thereabouts but couldn’t quite get her head in front. She tried further but to no avail and the trainer finally settled on dropping her back to allowance class at a mile. This was just the kickstart she needed to get back to winning ways and get her back on track. She hasn’t carried her form through to the upper echelons but she also has not been disgraced in her only foray into Group company where she found a couple of these too good (Forty Gold and Will Not Fit). She may have her work cut out today but she’ll roll up her proverbial sleeves and bring her A game.

10

017910-

Blythe’s A Star

texasace02

DELPENN NATIONAL

F Gossett

27/1

Delpenn National resident texasace02 brings 4 year old bay filly Blythe’s A Star to the race. Taking a significant drop in trip back to a mile may be just what is needed to get her career back on track following a disappointing result last time out in Group 1 company. She was strongly fancied that day but just didn’t show up. However, this strategical move back to a mile opens new doors. Sire Siyouni brings plenty of speed to the table and dam Stars Are Bright provides some of the best lines of any pedigree (Sea The Stars x Kingmambo). Jockey F Gossett will have to be patient but will also need to motivate her at the pointy end of the race to get the best out of her. She can belie her 27/1 morning line quote if everything falls into place.

11

512125-

Will Not Fit

extras5

ELITE RACING CLUB

J Ledwith

8/1

Owner extras5, a resident of Elite Racing Club, sends Will Not Fit. This 5 year old bay mare started her career on the dirt and was never out of the top two. In a stroke of genius, extras5 decided to try the switch to grass and what a great move that turned out to be. Speightstown x Danzig x Seattle Slew scratchbred, she has plenty going for her in both speed and stamina over the mid distances and she looks to be happy on both surfaces. Two races back, she had a Battle Royale trying to come out of the clouds to grab the Group 1 ‘The Last Woman’ but just came up short of Forty Gold. She was also staying on strongly last time out but may have been ridden a little too close from the get go in that race. Expect jockey J Ledwith to have learned something from that result and expect another great match up here.

12

10421-2

Way Of Kings

sweetfilly

MIDAS

D Givins

8/1

Kinghameha x Danehill Dancer x Sadler’s Well – did sweetfilly change their name to reflect this sweet filly or was it just a coincidence? Either way, she certainly lived up to the owner’s name as she swept all before her in her first five races winning everything from 7 to 12 furlongs. The drop back to 9 for the 2020 Equinics probably didn’t do her any favours but representing your residency is an honour in itself at these games. Representing the Midas residency this time round, jockey D Givins will be handed free rein to use everything in their arsenal to bring her home in front. She runs equally as well on the lead as she does in a stalking role. This 5 year old bay mare still has lots to offer and has some of the most consistently high numbers in the race. She has the class – will she get the luck?

13

13813-3

Succubus Winds

piratemaster

NORTHWEST RACING CIRCUIT

L Radzinski

5/1

Succubus Winds is a 5 year old grey mare running for piratemaster from the Northwest Racing Circuit residency. She is ultra consistent and in any other race, 5/1 would seem generous. The handicapper must have thought long and hard before making her second favourite for the race and it would not have been surprising to see joint favourites today. Ranked #2 in the division, this Dark Angel x Nureyev x Dynaformer scratchbred shows the consistency needed for the most successful runners. She will be held up towards the back by jockey L Radzinski but don’t be too surprised to see her move up early should the pace drop off and she’ll be firing on all cylinders up the home straight.

14

5/15112-

Forty Gold

masterab

EMPIRE STATE RACING

P Harzheim

7/1

Carrying possibly the best form into the race today is Forty Gold, another 5 year old grey mare and another who started her career on the dirt before finding her true calling on the lawn. Empire State Racing resident masterab will be confident of a good result here and with good reason. She’s had some of the best in this field trailing in her wake in recent races and providing jockey P Harzheim can find a little cover in the midpack, she’ll be a real handful when things get serious. The third Group winning progeny of prolific dam Forty Karats, her sire, Medagia d’Oro provides a great balance to the lines. By the time the morning line handicapper got to this one, I think they may have been plucking numbers from the air – 7/1 might look huge at the end of the day.

15

21175-2

Silent Theatrics

sonnycanuck

CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED RESIDENCY

H Desitter

50/1

Relatively new on the scene is the Canadian Thoroughbrd Residency. But don’t write Silent Theatrics off – this is the Equinics. Canada may not have the most fashionable sires standing but sonnycanuck sent Plum Peachy (Theatrical x Kingmambo) to sire Silent Name. Plum Peachy has produced Group winners in the past and the breeding looks to be a shrewd move. The lightly raced 4 year old bay filly will need to produce her very best if she is to figure here but jockey H Desitter could be the one to bring that out, sitting just off the pace and getting plenty of cover before she lays everything on the line. If she springs the upset, expect shares in Canadian Sires to peak!

16

111446-

Mandalorian Steel

plano2

BRITISH AND EUROPEAN RACING CLUB

M Wallace

29/1

Our final entrant is a gorgeous 4 year old bay filly owned by plano2 and representing the British and European Racing Club residency. Scratchbred Galileo x Cape Cross x Dynaformer, this young lady oozes class. She has been carefully nurtured and looks to be thriving as she matures. In her early days, she liked to take a strong hold and that might not work here as there are plenty in here who will be thinking the same. Jockey M Wallace has the experience and race knowhow to give Mandalorian Steel the best shot at glory. I’d expect her to be given a stalking spot just behind the frontrunners and use her evident stamina to good effect late on. Look for this one at the next Equinics over a longer trip.

This is one of the great turf races on the calendar for fillies and mares and we’ve been graced with the crème de la crème representing the residencies, both new and established. It’s a tough one to call but I won’t shy away from the task: I expect a strong pace and Wind Snowden could take them gate to wire as my top pick. Runner up spot for me goes to the outsider Running Ragged but only if she gets the better of the jolly in the early stages. Occupying the show will be Forty Gold in my book. Regardless of the results, please remember what we are racing for and consider supporting the relevant charities involved in protection of the endangered species if you are able. Good luck to all residencies involved and please don’t be disappointed should your horses not run as well as you’d hoped. It’s the Equinics and there will be surprises!