Six brush with the Son Paint Stakes
The SON PAINT Challenge Stakes
A mile and one quarter
Firm Turf
$60,000
All horses, 4 years old and up
Only 6 runners this week but according to the bookies it will be a very close race. Despite there only being one older horse in the field he has been given the dubious mantle of ‘favourite’ which can often be the kiss of death. The runners are:
STEEL GIANT(KY)
Trainer: racer
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Odds: 3/1 Earnings: 93,952 Runs/Wins: 12/3
A 4yo colt from Tees Stables and bred from a B class mare (Queen Steely). A colt that has struggled to win since putting together a string of 3 in the middle of 2007. He looks a lot better going shorter but may be hoping for a weaker field over a distance he has succeeded at in the past, and he’ll be hoping to put in a winning performance over the second half of the race.
ANGRY ALEX(KY)
Trainer:
(Afleet Alex x Giant’s Causeway (IRE) x A.P. Indy)
Odds: 8/1 Earnings: 274,210 Runs/Wins: 19/3
A 4yo colt from Perchinski Stables and bred from a G class mare. He’sonly won 3 races but one of them was the G2-J.P. Losman Derby over a year ago. Sadly for his owner that was his last win – indeed his last top 3 placing – and he will need to improve to make much of a mark here. Only his second race as a 4yo so there’s a chance he will train on.
CRAFT STRIPE(ENG)
Trainer: aarau
(Starcraft (NZ) x Mogambo x Candy Stripes)
Odds: 3/1 Earnings: 92,666 Runs/Wins: 13/4
A 4yo scratch bred colt from Cold Is A Myth. An interesting prospect over a distance he has never run before, but the signs do look promising as he won last time over 9 furlongs and this race could be the making of him. Another one to watch out for later in the race.
STUNNING BLOW(IRE)
Trainer: latte
(Theatrical(IRE) x Blushing Groom(FR) x Nijinsky II)
Odds: 2/1 Earnings: 434,775 Runs/Wins: 24/7
A 5yo scratch bred horse from Toplight Stables. The oldest horse in the race and the favourite to take the win. However he’s pretty well exposed over this distance and has to bounce back from a disappointing G2 performance last time so don’t part with your money just yet. 5 of his wins have come in stakes races though so he certainly has the experience but I have a feeling he may come a little unstuck here,
LORD OF THE LAND(SAF)
Trainer: misery
(Dynasty (SAF) x Machiavellian x Caerleon)
Odds: 5/1 Earnings: 73,795 Runs/Wins: 15/4
A 4yo scratch bred colt from The SAF Connection and bred by davem52. Claimed for $30,000 in a maiden claimer last year this colt gets his first taste in a Stakes race here. Though he has been pretty successful for his new owner, never failing to place in 8 races so far, he may find this distance uncomfortable on past form and could buck that trend this time.
TESTING ADVENTURE(AUS)
Trainer: buckplace
(Testa Rossa (AUS) x Conquistador Cielo x The Minstrel)
Odds: 5/1 Earnings: 159,873 Runs/Wins: 20/4
A 4yo scratch bred colt from Crawford Incorporated. Another colt who could relish this extra distance as he seemed to go pretty well over 11 furlongs last year. He’ll be handy throughout the race but with no real obvious pace maker could find it hard in the finishing straight.
Summary
It will be interesting to see who is prepared to make the early running in what could be a messy first half-distance. I’ll plump for one of the improving 4yo performers to take the wire – Craft Stripe(ENG) looks to me to be the one to watch.
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