It’s a Mad Mad Grade I Test in Ireland
The Grade I It’s A Mad Mad World draws a field of nine older fillies and mares to Ireland this Saturday. The mile and a half grass event will serve as a Breeders Bowl prep for some, a class test for the others, (and an exercise in futility for one).
1. Wrath of Tara (tsunami8) 99/1
Distanced in her last six starts, all in Grade I company. What pleasure her owner/trainer gets out of these tactics is anyone’s guess.
2. Wexford County (futurestar) 7/1
This regally bred mare hails from the one of the most accomplished barns in the sim. She’s won 12 of 24 lifetime, tearing up the allowance ranks along with one stakes win last year, but has yet to place in several tries among graded company. She’s a proven stayer with a lifetime top of 106 and comes into this one off yet another handy allowance win. Still, she looks a cut below the very best of these.
3. Sunny Future (southern) 10/1
From the southern barn out of the Comedy Central residency comes this four year-old daughter of Haasil who most recently wired a field of allowance runners at 11 furlongs across the pond in New Hampshire. A former claimer, she takes an enormous jump in class to the Grade I level today. Has enough speed to be a factor through the early going, but will likely have to do better than her lifetime top of 103 to be there at the end.
4. Wicked Wench (tesio) 5/1
This accomplished five year-old daughter of Montjeu is looking to go over the $2 million mark in this race. The big horse in the solid tesio barn, she won two Grade I stakes in her stellar three year-old campaign and multiple Grade II wins at four and five. She’s been lightly campaigned this year, likely pointing to the Breeder’s Bowl, but will need to rebound off two recent sub-par efforts. Gets the firm turf she likes and should move forward in the direction of her lifetime top (110).
5. Blinding (migman11) 5/1
A five year-old daughter of Pulpit, she’s primarily campaigned on the dirt for the last two years. A multiple stakes-winner on that surface, she returns to the lawn for this one, where she has a solid record in softer allowance company. Will need something at or above her lifetime top of 105 to be a factor in this one, which seems a tall order considering the surface switch and step up in class. An underlay.
6. Not Today (sheetwise) 10/1
Local trainer sends out his star for this one fresh off an easy allowance win in America. Claimed from lenny26 last year for $150K, she tried the dirt with moderate success before returning to the grass for her latest. While her lifetime top of 104 is competitive with these, she’s been averaging SRs in the mid-90s over her last several starts. Will need to fire the race of her life to compete in this company, but the return to grass indicates such an effort is at least possible.
7. Forever Pure (fairhaven6) 4/1
Fairhaven6’s regally bred daughter of Sadler’s Wells (from a Nijinsky II mare) comes off a local Grade II victory in her last, a slow but easy win over just five rivals at 10 furlongs. She boasts excellent speed but doesn’t need to be alone on the lead to do her best running. The mile and a half distance remains a valid question, however, as she’s never won past ten and a half furlongs in any company. Lifetime top of 112 is more than good enough, and she should be fresh and ready off four consecutive easy wins. Leading rider Kentucky adds to the appeal.
8. Tearaway (cooldude) 4/1
Hailing from one of the stables guided by the very consistent coolk, this former claimer comes into this test off three straight wins, all handily, two in stakes company. The boat was missed on this one when she was dropped into a $25K claimer out of an easy MSW win but went unclaimed. She’s since developed into a very nice filly, having won 10 of her last 14 starts. She’s topped 100 in her last four, including a lifetime top of 107. The distance will pose no challenge, but this Grade I event will be the toughest test of her career.
9. Tilt A Whirl (losthecode) 3/1
The morning line favorite from out of the topicount group of stables, this four year-old daughter of Spinning World is fresh from victory in the Grade I Brisbane Distaff in August. An example of patience rewarded, a rare thing in today’s game, it took this filly nine starts to finally break her maiden. She has developed steadily with age and now boasts five stakes victories (two graded) in total. A win here will push her over the million dollar mark in career earnings. Achieved her lifetime top (109) two starts back and should be fresh and ready for another powerful closing run. No excuses with the firmness of the ground either. Gets the second leading rider and should benefit from the pace scenario as well. All systems go.
All but one of this small field are quality runners, but the favorites appear to be a cut above. Tilt A Whirl is the logical choice on top, with Tearaway and Wicked Wench as the next strongest contenders.