Neptune Park Tops Grade 1 McKinnon

A competitive field of 12 will meet the starter in Victoria for the $1.5 million Grade 1 McKinnon.

The choice in the market hails from Neonshadow Stables, Neptune Park (#1, 7-2). The 5-year-old by Nathaniel has won half his 16 starts on turf. The bay horse has won 2 of 5 at this distance and holds a field topping 123 speed badge. The front running sort might hold all the cards in this spot as he appears to be the controlling speed. The Great British bred blitzed them in a Paris Grade 2 in March. May wasn’t as kind as he finished second after going all-out early. The Grade 1 Eclipsed was his finest moment as he fought the entire trip and was still battling at the wire to get a close victory. The 121 speed from that score would hold up quite well against these and his effort last time out could be excused as the battle from the previous event took his edge off. Today he’s had an almost two-month train-up period to be ready and he’ll need to be rundown.

 No runner in the McKinnon line-up can boast a better resume than Kingranch’s Mob Devious (#5, 5-1). The gelded son of Teofilo is an eleven-time winner and a two-time Grade 1 winner. These victories came in the prestigous King Kong Cup and Sydney Cup, both races over the McKinnon distance of 10 panels. The Irish bred has over $4m in earnings and holds a decent speed badge of 120. So why is a runner of this quality not being primed for the Championship BB races. Most likely its due to his recent form being dull. His last three starts have been off-the-board finishes against quality company. His latest is the most concerning as he was fourth as the choice in Japan’s Challenge Cup.

Grade 2 winner, Ten Twenty One (#12, 7-1) has been very competitive against this type of company before. He was third in a Paris Grade 1 event before winning the Kinsho Cho in May. He ran a decent fourth in the Eclipsed and last time out was a fast closing second in the Grade 3 Cup of Europe. The bay colt is not afraid of the moment and Lenny Stables brings him here looking fit and ready off a 48 day break.

Daniel Stables, Vidar Star (#6, 7-1) by Starspangledbanner comes into the McKinnon off a smashing prep win on September 23. The bay colt toyed with his opponents at short odds. He had run four graded races previous to that and was a close second in the Grade 2 Ambrosia back in April. He was beaten on that day by Damned Giants who then won the Grade 1 Movieland. The colt brings a solid ten furlong record here and is one of the more likely winners.

Sonofaus Stables has Grade 3 winner, Kiama Tale (#11, 7-1). The chestnut colt won the Plaid Skirt in Ireland on September 3. The race featured many closers going well at the end but it was this son of Daiwa Major who prevailed. The race seemed to have some quality and this guy should be respected. His speed figure last time was 114 and he’s gone faster in the past. If he reaches back and finds even more he’ll be a tough customer to deal with in the late stages.

One of the best stories from the McKinnon is from Theatrical Stables, Flovellian (#4, 8-1). The gelded son of Flower Alley was a budding ten furlong dirt star who was capable of 111 speed and a versatile way of going. At four, he took a new speed badge when third in the Barbs Adventure. After a few more decent efforts on dirt he was switched to the grass and entered in the Grade 1 Man of War. Looking like a different animal, the chestnut flew home late to win. He’s followed with a few edge finishes in very important turf races including the Coalminer over this surface. 

Coldest World (#8, 9-1) from the Redhill Stables is a gelded son of Savabeel who enters the McKinnon on a two-race win streak. At three, the New Zealand bred won the Grade 3 Goodyear in fine fashion. He closed out that season earning a new speed badge of 114. As mentioned his current form is solid. He won a Stakes race last month with 113 speed. Twitch streams and forum chat about mares and what they pass on to foals is a current hot topic. Take a look at the dam of Coldest World, Cold World. She only drops class and talent. Grade 2 winner, Frozen Abyss (King Kamehameha), Grade 1 winner, Earth is Flat (Symboli Kris S), the graded placed Heavy Feelings (Deep Impact) and now Coldest World. What a family tree. 

Tulloch Stables brings an improving 3-year-old to the McKinnon in Kymarg Tygame (#10, 26-1). Punters will ignore the gelded son of Bushranger as the sire last had a Grade 1 winner in 2016. But, TY has good tactical speed and can still finish off a race in style. On September 17 in New South Wales, he was never far from the front and drew off late to win the Town Prince Stakes. Overall he brings a good record of 8 top two finishes in 12 career races. It’s a tough ask and he faces older horses in this Grade 1, so some mixed messages.

Beerkeg Barn has a good shot in here with Doctor Senator (#2, 7-1). The good doctor comes to play every time and his speed numbers have been consistent this season. He was a good third in the Graded Ambrosia five back which led to a Stakes win in Canada eh! The gelded son of Snitzel comes out of a good second in the Red Polish Stakes where he stalked and stayed on late equalling his top speed badge of 117. Speed players took notice of this high number and he’s down to 7’s in the market.

A very nice training job from Lindsypark Stables with their Artie Schiller colt, He’s ‘Artless (#3, 11-1). The colt has been patiently handled with only 7 starts at 2 and 3. It’s paying off now as he’s won 3 of 6 starts at four and has won his last two. A score in August with a new speed badge set him up perfectly to capture his first stakes win on September 9. Has the look of an improving dangerous runner and he offers up good value at 11-1 in the market.

Ruler of St George (#7, 18-1) by Order of St George is an Irish bred bay colt from the Rasmus Stables. He rolled home back in May as an easy winner in a N3L taking a new speed badge in the process. He’s made five starts since then and he’s not showing the nice cruising speed he did before and it seems to have dampened his enthusiasm.

Corza Stables has Australian bred Extreme Stars (#9, 55-1) ready to defend home soil again. Last time out he was asked to tackle Grade 1 older horses for the first time. The 3-year-old colt by Extreme Choice trailed home in tenth. Before that he set a new speed badge in defeat in a N3L. The chestnut is ambitiously spotted again today versus his elders and will need to improve to get a share.

Fastest Speed Badge	Fasted Speed LTO	Turf Wins	Earnings	Graded Stakes Earnings
Neptune Park	Doctor Senator	Mob Devious	Mob Devious	Mob Devious
Mob Devious	Kiama Tale	Neptune Park	Neptune Park	Neptune Park
Vidar Star	He’s ‘Artless	Ten Twenty One	Ten Twenty One	Flovellian
Flovellian	Neptune Park	Vidar Star	Flovellian	Ten Twenty One
Doctor Senator	Vidar Star	Coldest World	Vidar Star	Vidar Star