The Craven Stakes lives up to its past

Craven Stakes
Grade III
One mile
Firm Turf
$175,000
All horses, 3 years old

Newmarket plays host to some of the best turf 3yo’s in the game and luckily we have been blessed with good weather with the promise of sunshine later in the day.  The runners are:

NETHERLANDS(IRE)

Trainer: bayouranso

(Galileo (IRE) x Danzig x Fusaichi Pegasus)

Odds:  8/1                   Earnings: 203,740                  Runs/Wins: 8/5

A colt from Lsumark Stables and bred from an F class mare.  This fellow has gone from strength to strength over his short career but was probably disappointed with only getting third in his first graded run last time out.  He’s been brought on very carefully by his trainer and should be well up there in this race with a good chance of getting back on the winning trail.

SCOVAZON(ENG)

Trainer: tull

(Rainbow Quest x Sadler’s Wells x Two Punch)

Odds:  6/1                   Earnings: 200,418                  Runs/Wins: 17/4

A colt from Gorby Stables and bred from a G class mare. This guy has been really busy, notching up an incredible 17 runs already.  Despite being one of the joint favourites he hasn’t won a stakes race for nearly a year and though he has placed well in most of his races looks a poor bet here.  

ALBERTA TORNADO(KY)

Trainer: holeinone

(Storm Cat x A.P. Indy x Sadler’s Wells)

Odds:  10/1                 Earnings: 98,860                    Runs/Wins: 10/3

A colt from Balata Stables and based on a G class horse.  Started life on the dirt but proved himself to be an effective turfer when he switched, winning two stakes runs so far.  He struggled in a G1 last time and, despite looking a nice prospect,  he may find this race just as tough.  

CREASE INFRACTION(ENG)

Trainer: rhfarms

(Dubai Destination x Swain (IRE) x Seattle Slew)

Odds:  6/1                   Earnings: 163,685                  Runs/Wins: 12/4

A colt from Bigrick Stables and bred from an E class mare.  The other joint favourite switched to turf for his last 2 races with great effect, though they were only allowance runs.  Still yet to score a stakes win but that looks to be just a matter of time – and who knows, if he can recreate his last two races here he could justify his odds.

DIRECTOR WALSH(KY)

Trainer: phonetrick

(Lemon Drop Kid x Storm Cat x A.P. Indy)

Odds:  13/1                 Earnings: 121,757                  Runs/Wins: 12/4

A colt from Jef’s Thoroughbred Club and bred from a G class mare by capeside.  A terrific claim for $20,000 after a less than convincing start as a 2yo.  The switch obviously suited him as all of his wins soon followed, including a stakes run last time.   I’m not convinced that he is quite good enough to take the win here, but I am convinced there are many more wins in his locker at a lower level.

SLAINTE CHUGAT(IRE)

Trainer: greentreef

(Noverre (IRE) x Kris S. x Seeking The Gold)

Odds:  14/1                 Earnings: 180,470                  Runs/Wins: 8/4

A colt from Twinhollow Stables and bred from a G class mare by calle3. A lightly raced colt who won his first three races, including G3-Bad Deal Stakes with style.  He has had a few disappointments along the way, but this is his first run this year on a settled track and despite this being his longest distance so far he should go well.  A real outside chance of upsetting the odds makers.

MAKE RIGHT TRAFFIC(NZ)

Trainer: krisillj

(Zabeel(NZ) x Flying Paster x Native Dancer)

Odds:  15/1                 Earnings: 147,595                  Runs/Wins: 10/4

A scratch bred colt from Krisililj Stables.  This colt really came alive last time out, winning a stakes with something in hand.  He’s only really put in one poor run on turf to date so expect the unexpected … maybe.

NINE FORTY(KY)

Trainer: inthamoney

(El Prado(IRE) x Forty Niner x Buckpasser)

Odds:  7/1                   Earnings: 59,070                    Runs/Wins: 8/3

A scratch bred colt from Worldwide.  Another fairly lightly raced colt, but this one has had looked prone to the odd poor run for no real reason.  Won an excellent allowance in his prep race, but that was on good turf and this firm going may not suit him. 

ROYAL VILLAGE(KY)

Trainer: catamount1

(Royal Academy x Irish River(FR) x Nureyev)

Odds:  11/1                 Earnings: 120,320                  Runs/Wins: 8/4

A colt from Lilbitfarm Stables and bred from a G class mare.  Everything looked to be going great for this colt until his last race when he could only manage a 5^th place in a 6 horse race.   A return to form may well put the cat amongst the pigeons as he has a lot of ability and is quite capable of leading this one out.   

STORMIN’ BLUES(KY)

Trainer: desperado2

(Bernardini x Storm Cat x Forty Niner)

Odds:  8/1                   Earnings: 83,686                    Runs/Wins: 9/3

A colt from Desperado Stables and bred from a G class mare.  His only runs as a 3yo have both been in graded races where he has performed well without quite scoring the successes he looked capable of.  This again will be a tough race for him but he will expect to at least hit the money places – but of course will be aiming for much, much more.

CRAB BE APPLE(IRE)

Trainer: hilofarms

(High Chaparral (IRE) x A.P. Indy x Sassafras(FR))

Odds:  25/1                 Earnings: 164,485                  Runs/Wins: 10/5

A colt from Sansanfarm Stables and bred from an A class mare (Rakida’s Road).  His dam managed to notch up 9 graded wins, including a G1 victory, and his owners will be eager to equal or better this record with this colt.  He’s done his best up to now without managing to gain a stakes win and I can’t see him starting on the road to fame in here just yet.

HITSUGAYA(KY)

Trainer: daedalus

(War Front x Seattle Slew x Medieval Man)

Odds:  9/1                   Earnings: 138,050                  Runs/Wins: 6/3

A colt from Ace Stables – Ireland Division and bred from an E class mare.  It’s probably too early in his career to see what he will turn into over time, but he has certainly started 2008 impressively with two excellent stakes wins.  Rather spoiled his record with a below par performance in a G1 last time though so he has a bit of a confidence problem to overcome.  Maybe he’ll look a better prospect after this race. 

Farotto(KY)

Trainer: fetti50

(Forestry x Gone West x Northern Dancer)

Odds:  8/1                   Earnings: 325,400                  Runs/Wins: 10/6

A colt from Fetti50 and based on a G class horse.  A colt who certainly likes to win and comes here in good form after winning the G3-Chantily Lace Cup.  Looked pretty good on dirt in his first few runs but has improved no end since switching to turf where he has never finished out of the top 3.  Probably the biggest danger in the field.

RELAUNCH THE GOLD(TUR)

Trainer: babygirlz

(Strike The Gold x Leo Castelli x Relaunch)

Odds:  52/1                 Earnings: 128,903                  Runs/Wins: 14/4

A colt from Belair Stud and bred from a D class mare.  Another busy colt who has perhaps felt the effects of an over-busy campaign in his last few runs.  I’m sure that with careful placement he will prove to be a big hit in allowance company but on current form his odds really say it all. 

Summary

A fascinating race for the connoisseur with at least half a dozen in with a real chance and a number of others capable of upsetting the odds if they run up to their best.  I’ll plump for the form horse Farotto(KY) who could extend his winning run to 3.