The ‘Consolation’ Stakes
With a plethora of G1 races over 12 furlongs this weekend, this race could easily be described as the ‘nearly’ horse’s consolation prize. The majority of runners have performed admirably in graded races in the past without setting the world alight so are hoping for some long overdue graded success here.
Expected Yield
The winner of over $500k in his 40 race career but is unlikely to still be improving and on all evidence to date has too much of a hill to climb on Saturday. He has a mediocre graded race record and is winnerless in over 12 months. There are softer options for him.
Evil Fantasies
4yo son of the sprinter/miler Green Desert who has a couple of wins in ungraded stakes over 11 furlongs on his resume. In his last 2 efforts at 13 furlongs and 14 furlongs he has been beaten an average of 18 lengths in the 2 races, although both were G1 events. Even so, you would like to see a horse finish a bit closer than that if he has a realistic chance of success in a G2. Likely to find the distance too far in this class.
Foz De Lumbier
The 2nd favourite at 4/1, he has first class claims for the win. The fly in the ointment is his dire record in Graded races, no closer than 13 lengths adrift in 3 graded tries. However, the distance is right up his street and from beating up on ungraded fields over the trip he deserves this try in a Grade 2.
Christchurch
Hmm…what’s an allowance horse doing in a Grade 2? He may have a 4/5 record but all he’s done is beat up on short fields. The trainer needs a reality check!
Juddmonte
A nice claim by the ascot stable that is still on the upgrade. He is putting a nice record together over the 13 furlongs plus distance but faces an acid test on Saturday. His only stakes race last time out ended in a disappointing 3rd place finish but the cut back to 13 furlongs should help him. Could surprise the more fancied runners
Grand Victoire
This nicely-bred 3yo is out of one of the best mares ever to race in the sim and to date he is her best produce. The winner of a G3 over 2 miles earlier in the year, he will definitely stay this trip. His effort last time against older was a disappointment but that could always be put down to the prevailing ground that day. What is definite is that he will need to step it up on Saturday on what he has achieved to date to get the job done. Still has it to prove.
Raging River Cat
This 5yo mare is a bit of an oddity in so far as there can be few horses with the Storm Cat/Silver Ghost cross that can stay 2 miles! The distance therefore won’t pose a problem however she may struggle on the class front. She hasn’t been able to win ungraded stakes against her own sex, so to win a G2 against the boys is probably asking a little too much. Would be an upset were she to prevail.
Love Boat Captain
This is a tough spot for the 5yo entire. His last run in an allowance race over 11 furlongs was far and away his best effort so the signs of a bounce look ominous. Add in the facts that he hasn’t won a race for 9 months and has performed better over shorter distances and he looks an underlay at 5/1. Looks to have too much on his plate.
I Don’t Stutter
Lightly-raced 4yo son of Kingmambo who is definitely on an upward curve! Both his pedigree and style of racing indicate that he will benefit from the increase in distance and although his last run was a bloodless victory over 3 other rivals, his penultimate effort when 3rd in a G2 over 10 furlongs shows he has the class to compete with these. Should deliver anything but a stuttering performance.
Darkdoun
Finally we have the race favourite who has already won $850k over his 36 race career. His best runs have been over 12 furlongs but should have no problem seeing out the trip although could still prove vulnerable over the extra furlong on Saturday. Rather disconcertingly his only Graded success came over 2 years ago and he has the unenviable record on a lone win in the past 12 months. Place claims.
Best of luck to all runners!