Apollo versus Achilles: Sim powerhouses Rapid Grey, Kirby’s Best Yet in Ireland Festival rematch
Ireland– Holy moly! The lure of free Guinness and other tasty Irish fare must be too good of an opportunity to pass up even for rich multi-millionaires. Must be so, because the good folks at Ireland’s Forty Shades of Green residency pulled off a major coup de grace this week. Saturday is the rez’s annual Spring Festival. Every year, they host several races for their supporters as well as the premier Grade 1 $500,000 Keg Of Guinness. It’s a mighty challenge seven-years-running over a turfy mile-and-a-quarter. It’s also rich in history.
Keg of Guinness Winners
2002 Prospector Spend 2:00 2/5, over a proverbial “Who’s Who of the Sim,” including Green Bow, Project Thor, Stormy Prospector, Majestic Water, more!
2003 Sunken Treasure 1:59 4/5, set stakes record over Project Thor
2004 Russ 2:01 2/5, honest field of graded performers
2005 Militant 2:02 1/5, short field over Preferred Power
2006 Rise To KLP 2:01 4/5, over Gerfly’s Deed, Militant
2007 Rapid Grey 2:00 4/5, photo finish over Jumpin’ Java, Rosenthal, New Storm, etc
You’ll notice that Rapid Grey (5/1) drank from the golden Guinness Cup last year and he’s back again Saturday to defend his prize. But stop the BTB presses, Sim gamers! Rival Kirby’s Best Yet (7/1) followed Rapid Grey into this race. The duo met for the first time last March in the Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic(G1). And the result of that matchup was one for the Sim ages.
The Powerhouse Duo
Best known as a 10f superstar, Rapid Grey attempted to stretch out to the Golden Turf’s classic 12f. The 6yo son of Tactical Cat had been successful before over that distance for trainer champions4. However, Rapid Grey was on a real mission heading into the Golden Turf. The old titan was awesome through the majority of 2007, winning a heap of Grade 1 races. Unfortunately, he tailed off some by autumn and, in the end, lost the Sim Eclipse turf older horse championship to Lex Luthor.
After winning his ’08 debut easypeasy at the listed level, Rapid Grey looked primed and ready for a victory that would just vindicate him. I think he’s one of the best Sim horses to never win a championship. But the problem is that he’s raced in many horses’ shadows like Horseshoe Bay, Sunnybank Memorial, Rain God, and recently, Lex Luthor. If Apollo is the god of the moon, then, like the moon, always does Rapid Grey wax and wane. He gets white-hot, then stumbles in a premier contest, with other stars’ shadows passing over him.
In this year’s Golden Turf, Rapid Grey had one of those white-hot races. He flew from the back of the pack and recorded a huge 111 SP#. But, as poor luck would have it, this Apollo suffered from yet another shadow.
And that shadow’s name was none other than Kirby’s Best Yet(IRE). If there ever was a player who truly could be forgiven for jumping up and down, screaming at the monitor when watching a Sim race, then that player has to be Kirby55 watching his horse’s Golden Turf triumph. Are you kidding me? Don’t be too upset at me Kirby, but I thought your colt last year was one of the biggest campaign collapses that I had ever seen in 9 years of gameplay. LOL! After going perfect through nine starts last July (including all the honor of a 2007 Derby de English trophy!), Kirby’s Best Yet totally flopped. It was stunning — this colt was the heir apparent to a long line of great Derby de English winners.
However, Kirby’s Best Yet turned out to be mortal after all, fizzling away the latter half of ’07. Perhaps the son of Dynaformer had some off track excuses and such. Maybe he also suffered from a bit too conservative race placement (for you newbie readers out there, I can criticize like that since kirby55 is an oldie player like me, LOL! *wink, wink*)
But a good horse (and a superior horse especially) will rebound. Kirby’s Best Yet threw this gorgeous 113 SP# stalker-style victory in the Golden Turf. The colt held Rapid Grey safe by near three lengths at the wire too. It was his first graded victory since taking the Derby de English last June. In this case, all it took was one race to turn this colt’s career around. He went on to win a Grade 2 over 12f last month and renews his new rivalry with Rapid Grey Saturday. Rapid Grey has his ups and downs, but he has the accomplishments worthy of a Sim god like mighty Apollo. Kirby’s Best Yet, on the other hand, has proven mortality. He’s my Achilles with an Achilles’ heel. One of the hottest horses in the Sim at the moment and he tries 10f at the graded level for the very first time. Can he beat Rapid Grey at Rapid Grey’s own distance speciality?
In The Wings
Well, I’ve done gone and yammered up a whirlwind! Big kudos to the Ireland crew for capturing those two heavy-duty Guinness starters. We’ve got 14 other entrants in the race though and I could’ve very well jinxed Rapid Grey and Kirby’s Best Yet with all my coverage. So, Ha! Let’s see if we can find a spoiler…………….
How ’bout a Grade 1 winner in his last start? Uh huh, we got one in Forambo Wildcat (10/1) who burned up the Louisiana course in the Explosive Bet(G1). Olwhisper trains the late-blooming Forest Wildcat 4yo. Bruce spent 2007 testing this colt in ALWs over turf and dirt off and on. The colt appeared to have equal propensity over both surfaces. That is, until Forambo Wildcat threw big 101 and 110 SP#s on the grass earlier this season. Look out! Forambo Wildcat ran fresh, rank, yet positively sensational in a big 111 SP# Explosive Bet stalker-style score. Gimme the green! And money, money, money — that was a very nice field in the 9f Bet. Six weeks rest. He’s inexperienced, and you never know if he’ll bounce after his last big race. But I like him. You should like him too. A big possible.
Runnerup in a Grade last time out? Mmhmm, Shriver Mine (16/1) from Jrogue stables. Only 16 career calls to the post for this 6yo Dynaformer old timer. But, boy, he’s been coming around nicely of late for Jrogue, winning assorted ALWs over 10f. The horse leapt all the way up to graded company and picked up a 4th-place cheque in the Misfired Bogie(G3) over nine and 2nd-place moeny in the Hallelujah Turf Cup(G2) over 9.5f. Shriver Mine is workman-like then. The stalker threw his best speed figure in his last race, and appears to appreciate the extra ground. This is a kind of sleeper to sneak up on a poor ‘capper. I would like to see him at least win a listed stakes race though, but who knows? Forambo Wildcat won off of ALWs, so Shriver Mine has a good chance. Possible.
How ’bout someone who defeated Kirby’s Best Yet recently? Euroalien’s Kafziel Tete(GB) (16/1) won the blanket finish over Kirby’s Best Yet in last December’s At Night Cap(G2). Big staying power in this 5yo son of Diesis, he’s hit the board in 2 of 4 12f+ stakes this season. Lightly raced at only 18 starts, we’ll see Kafziel Tete up on the lead. There’s not a ton of speed in this race, but Kafziel Tete will have to outbreak West Of The Red just to his inside. Solid horse, but has a history of folding even when all alone on the lead. Needs his lifetime best shortening up. Interestingly, he was a foremr $50k claimer and hasn’t raced over 10f since winning a NW1x for euroalien last June. Could the lesser distance be key to this guy? One to watch.
A entrant from Sunnybank Memorial’s trainer Lilbitfarm? Yup, Rich has one in here with West Of The Red (6/1). A good ol’ Lilbitfarm — they sure know how to build graded winners. They got West Of The Red riding a 6-race win streak. The 5yo Gone West son adores the mighty 10f and has been on a roll of late, gobbling up listed stakes. I’m struck by how tough this old boy can tough out a speed duel too. Don’t worry if his speed figures factor in here either — ‘Red threw a big 117 SP# three back. Mmmhmm. The “now” horse. But can he finally bring home a big graded prize. Class test, but ready for a good show.
Lenny empire for your trifecta? You betcha, with Seeking An Empire (10/1). Ryan’s known for his powerhouse sophomores, but he can pop up with a patiently guided older horse. This 4yo colt by Empire Maker took his merry old time breaking his maiden for Ryan last year. The colt finally cooked over 11f turf and won some races here and there at listed level or less. Seeking An Empire proved his staying power, but Ryan has shortened him up to 10f for the most part this season. The colt keeps knocking on the door and lost a heartbreaking photo LTO. A big 111 SP# prompted a try in this spot. Can take the lead or sit behind the frontrunners close up. Fresh on 5 weeks. Possible spoiler on numbers, but is he ready skipping all the way up to a Grade 1?
Did you want the Super empire instead? We got plenty of graded experience in the Supers’ Roadhouse Blues (9/1). This veteran 5yo son of Java Gold has won over $800k. He’s nothing to sneeze at, having sandwiched the New Oak(G3) prize in between DelPenn-restricted company scores. Quite a solid, professional horse. Unfortunately, Roadhouse Blues has thrown two straight yicky races in top-tier Grade 1 company. So, he gonna have turn it around while shortening up to 10f. That won’t be a problem for the closer though. The spot fits him. He’s just got to wake up hopefully. We’ll see what happens.
The Longshots
Some of these outsiders are pretty good……..
Newscoobi’s Hard Miss (10/1) is not exactly a longshot, but he is making his 37th trip to the post. Ya never know though, the 6yo son of Miswaki might finally have a huge day. He got close in January, rallying for the show spot in the Marcos Footwear(G3). The old boy rode reams of confidence afterwards, pocketing a 10.5f stakes race with a big 109 SP# a month later. Solid 100+ speed figures look good onm paper. But he faltered in his last start and I think this might be a bit reaching. Still, a factor for minor money.
Golden Calf (12/1) from boeufcake stable has paid back the $50k shake for his trainer many times. The Holy Bull 6yo horse loves the extra ground in classic routes and has just been solid since the claim with 4 victories from 7 starts. He even picked up 5th-place cheques on Sand Castle day as well as in a subsequent Grade 3. Interesting,. He’s an old-timer at 38 starts, but you gotta love his careful upswing in speed figures. Possible for minor money, but, gosh, he’d have to run herculean to beat the faves in this field. Minor dough at best.
Lostorf’s Craft Stripe(ENG) (15/1) is a dark horse. He’s won two in a row after working through his ALW conditions mostly over a flat mile. The 4yo son of Starcraft beat up on a short field over 10f LTO. It was just his 14th career start. I agree that you have to try the grades some time or another and this colt certainly apprecaited the extra distance of late. I would like to see the downtown closer try to duplicate that win though in another listed stakes. It was 106 SP# which is good, but he’ll need 110+ to hit the board in this Grade 1? Is he ready? I’d say doubtful, but nice horse with a bright future.
Bestobene’s closer Benjamin Bouncer (23/1) shortens up after hitting the board in several marathon listed stakes. The 4yo son of Vindication has a nice victory over 11f recently, but this is a real tough assignment. Outsider but hopefully can vie for some minor money.
Quietman49’s King Of Times(IRE) (18/1) should cruise near the frontrunners. The King of Kings 4yo hasn’t won much, but did throw a couple big 109 SP# recently in ALW company. Sleeper who we don’t kknow much about other than he’s gonna face top tier competition for the first time Saturday. Can go either way.
The 7yo Run Wahbit Run (16/1) from stormbound stable steps in here after having won a 10f listed stakes LTO. Good time for the old boy closer. He was a decent runner in his younger days. Certainly fresh, but this is quite a leap. Toss up a prayer and see which way the wind blows. His form might garner some minor money.
Nice 108 SP# ALW score LTO for kyclocker’s Jedi Ransom(ENG) (25/1). The lightly raced 4yo Red Ransom colt bloomed with the layoff and the extra distance. He’s probably the best longshot of this group, with some back class earlier in his sophomore season. Not much to go on though in this toss up for all the marbles. I’d prefer a listed stakes win to see if his last race was or wasn’t a fluke.
Finally, we have a 3yo colt taking on his elders in Flag The Band (50/1) from slewtpie stable. This is a mis-entry. The Dixieland Band runner is running 90 SP#s, while these older horses are all running 105 and more. He’s a very nice youngster, why rush him versus older horses while there are rich prizes to be won versus his own age group?
Snowchief’s Picks:
Rapid Grey could throw a clinker after the layoff, but I wouldn’t count on it. Kirby’s Best Yet is red-hot and should get the lead at some point late. Forambo Wildcat, Seeking An Empire, Shriver Mine, West Of The Red are all excellent longshots. Jedi Ransom could be very tasty too.
I’m gonna go with the best horse in the race though — mighty Apollo a.k.a. Rapid Grey in a late rally.
Win: Rapid Grey
Place: Forambo Wildcat or Seeking An Empire
Show: Kirby’s Best Yet
Longshot: Jedi Ransom
Good luck everyone! And have a great Spring Festival Forty Shades of Green!!!!