Graded Stakes Review – 28th January 2023
There were four Grade I races in simworld last weekend and we start the review in California, where a field of 13 three and four year old fillies started the GI SHE’S GORGEOUS over a distance of 8.5 furlongs on the turf track. The biggest share of the half million dollar purse on offer went to givenelite’s four year old favourite BELLA ARIANA. The filly by Galileo made every yard of the running and scored by over two lengths, bringing home her ninth career victory and fourth in a row. She recorded a 115 speed figure and paid $9.60 for the win. Keeping on well to hold second place was icbomber1’s RAGEBINDER. Having her toughest race to date, the filly kept her record of never being outside the first three in her 13 race career. Third place went to the fast finishing Curlin filly ALWAYS SWINGING. The four year old running her fastest race so far and continues to improve for trainer depark since the switch to grass. Thethumb18’s consistent filly ROGAN’S FLAG took fourth place, with FLUGSUN FOUR doing his best work at the finish to snatch fifth at long odds.
Over in Florida we had two top grade races, the first being the GI GLENN KEGASUS TRADITION KILLER over nine furlongs on the dirt. A field of 11 four year olds and over competed for the $1.5m purse. The win went to five year old DENNY WAY who settled near the rear and came thundering home late under the F. Oxon drive. The victory is compensation for trainer philippines after a subpar run in the GI Frostbite Mile last time out. The win paid $16.60 and the son of Quality Street gained a 118 rating. After making all of the running until caught half a furlong out, aryahound2’s CASUAL BLUE held on to second. The five year old had opened up a decent lead at halfway only to get outgunned late, however this was still an improvement on his previous disappointing run in the GI Breeders’ Bowl Classic. Keeping on well for third was mtkinde’s ANXIOUS OUTBURST. The Arrogate five year old was not quite able to emulate his win in a GII event three weeks previous. CAUSED BY GIANTS finished in fourth while chasing a hat trick of wins after victory in the GI Japan Dirt Cup last time. Longshot KIAMA THAJA was only three lengths off the winner in fifth.
Still in Florida we also had THE KEGASUS UPPER DECK TURF EXTRAVAGANZA. Fourteen horses started the 9.5 furlongs race for a purse of a million dollars. Notching up his first graded victory and eleventh career win was pbcash’s five year old STREETS OF GRANITE. The gelding made all of the running from gate seven and held on to score by two lengths, with a career best speed rating of 122. The son of Hard Spun paid $12.10 for the win. Second place went to jimntom1’s Sea the Stars colt, JIM N TOM DREAM. The four year old kept tabs on the leader for much of the race but jockey H. Harzheim didn’t have enough speed in the finish to trouble the winner. FINANCIAL TIMES was five lengths off the winner in third. Grenoble2’s Dubawi gelding couldn’t quite get the lead in this one and found little down the stretch when asked to challenge. Fourth went to another son of Dubawi, DUBAWI IS LOOSE. Elkstables0’s fast finisher just grabbed the position in front of SEA KING KAMILLA.
South Africa hosted the final Grade I event of the weekend, the MR. MET CAP over ten furlongs. A full field went to post on the grass track where the official going was firm. Redhill3’s gelding LE PANDA came out on top and took the biggest share of the $1.5m purse. The five year old came with a strong run down the stretch under jockey T. Ace to scoot home by two lengths. The win was deserved after a second in the GI Eclipse Stakes last time out. The win paid $17.10 and he recorded a speed of 120. After racing in touch with the leaders for much of the race, cadet2’s FARHH FROM LIKELY kept on for second. The five year old gelding found just the one too good while attempting a ninth win in a row. IT’S TIME TO CRUSH stayed on better than most from the outside gate to claim third. Given17’s improving dual stakes winner placing at long odds, beaten only three lengths. Houseroyal’s son of Oasis Dream, BLUE DREAMING, just grabbed fourth in front of the weakening MOON PHOENIX.
The GII SWALE STAKES over 6.5 furlongs in Florida was won by the front running WEST MENLO. Teece2’s three year old gelding claimed his fifth career win by almost two lengths with brooklyndurant’s FLOWER READY just holding on for second in a four way photo finish.
In Queensland, givenhot2’s LIKE YESTERDAY came out on top in the GII COOL LIGHTNING STAKES over six furlongs. The five year old sprinter was having his ninth visit to the winners circle as he held off the fast finishing NOT SO DUSTY by a length at the line.
The GII OLD MAN for the boys in Turkey was won in decisive fashion by the five year old JABUK CALOTTE. Greynomad’s son of Sea the Stars came rattling home late and fast from a hopeless position to collar the favourite and long time leader ARRRRRR over a stamina sapping 14 furlongs.
The GII OLD LADY for the girls in South Korea was won even more easily by stormborn4’s INTO THE FEAR. The five year old making most of the running to claim a hat trick of wins while scoring by over five lengths. KEEPING YOU CLOSE claimed second place a long way in front of the rest of the field.