Manofjunk Stakes
Manofjunk Stakes
Grade II
A mile and one sixteenth
Yielding Turf
$300,000
All horses, 2 years old
Wet turf and babies… Is there a mix for a more wide open race than that? Ok how about adding in more distance than most of the competitors have ever run just to make it even wilder. As fall dawns at Ascot you’d be wise to bring an extra sweater and umbrella for this one.
THE FIELD
PP 1 OR TAMBO(KY) TR ajerkens JKY R Williams ML 23/1
JOHANNESBURG x ARAZI x FREE HOUSE has never tried the wet stuff but does have some blood that says he might like it. Faded at the distance in a listed stakes try last out and will need to step forward off that effort to make an impact here. If he is going to run his best he will need to be on or near the lead and hope to hold off the late chargers.
PP 2 DESERT WINDS(IRE) TR jeffsbarn JKY G Brown ML 10/1
The son of DESERT KING (IRE) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x DUBAI MILLENNIUM (GB) liked wet dirt and may well like soggy turf as well. Since switching to turf he has put in two fine efforts including a close up 83 in his last. Is bumping up in class but the conditions make him a player. A stalker who has a nice late kick and don’t be shocked if this one is in the mix at the very end.
PP 3 JUDAS IS WYLDE(KY) TR sdmf2 JKY B DeGrella ML 7/1
Out of STORM CAT x SEEKING THE GOLD x NORTHERN DANCER and has showed some talent in the off going. His career best race was on watery grass turning in a 74 in a restricted stakes. Not sure he is quick enough to win here today but will be right up front and trying to keep the sod off his riders goggles. In a wide open affair like this one you can find plenty of reasons to like this one.
PP 4 NUITS MAGIQUES(ENG) TR bestobene3JKY J Wesselman ML 7/1
A strapping colt out of GREEN DESERT x GALILEO (IRE) x VICE REGENT who put in a monster run last out in a NW1X. The 93 spf had to be a shock to even his connections as it was nearly 20 points better than his previous lifetime best. This colt is one of the more experienced in the race and he may be able to take advantage of his seasoning. Versatile with speed, but perhaps not as classy as some he faces. Seems to get better as he goes longer but was not at his best in the wet. More questions than answers with this one
PP 5 DUTCH DOUBLE(ENG) TR squash JKY P Norton ML 8/1
This colt was sired by DUTCH ART x ALJABR x FAPPIANO and won his only start over soft turf. That sprint was not as fast as his next effort a stakes win at 6f so the wet won’t hurt his chances but it does not seem to help either. Closer’s often struggle in the heavy slop and the style may hurt him in this one. Ran very well at the graded level last out despite finishing 5th and the added distance would seem to be to his liking.
PP 6 DUBAI SPIRIT(KY) TR vicki JKY C Donahue ML 4/1
The son E DUBAI x STORM CAT x SADLER’S WELLS is the morning line favorite despite being the owner of only one career race. It was a good one and it came in off going so there is a lot to like based on his spf of 83. A closer look shows this effort came in a rather cheap MSW against far softer foes than he will face in here. He ran close to the lead and held off all comers in his debut but don’t be surprised if he rates a bit more in this field full of early speed. 4-1 feels too short for me.
PP 7 ROBUST BREEZE(AUS) TR guyinchlt JKY J Sumpter ML 11/1
This son of CARNEGIE(IRE) x FORTY NINER x PLEASANT COLONY broke his maiden last out and that is a bit of a handicap in this field. He also has never tried the slop but his blood says it might be to his liking. Would like to sit just off the pace but don’t be surprised if he falls back further than he has in prior starts. Will he have the kick to make up for that looms a large question? Might need some more seasoning before he can handle this level.
PP 8 SUNSTREAM(ENG) TR runpastem9 JKY V Vodrazka ML 14/1
This son of ECHO OF LIGHT (GB) x TOUCH GOLD x STORM CAT might wish the weather had some of his name in the forecast, but alas the sun will not be shining. All his prior efforts have come on firm turf and lack of mud experience adds more questions to this ones chances. Has not won since may but still is bumping well up the ladder. That is not a common recipe for success. Will try and launch a kick from mid pack but I can’t see it getting him home.
PP 9 ARTILLERY(IRE) TR gradetwo JKY P Perren ML 15/1
This son of DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) x SEEKING THE GOLD x NIJINSKY II may very well like the yielding stuff but has never tried before this race. Another who has struggled to win at the allowance level who bumps up to this one. His speed figs don’t fit with this group but his trainer is named for this level of racing so maybe he has a trick or two up his sleeve. This late closing colt will need at least some new moves to get home in this race.
PP 10 HIGH SCHOOL(KY) TR invisible JKY P Harzheim ML 7/1
The undefeated son of NORTH LIGHT (IRE) x HIGH YIELD x AFFIRMED has a stakes win and slop win on his dance card. His body of work as far as speed figures pretty much match up with any horse in the race. He also has the good fortune of having one of the most talented jocks in the simdom in the irons. The only knock you can put on this mid packing/stalker is that he is going a full furlong further than he has ever tried before. Looks a solid wager at 7-1.
PP 11 BIG WHISKEY(IRE) TR spqr4th JKY M Day ML 5/1
If his breeding didn’t make your mouth water SADLER’S WELLS x WOODMAN x AFFIRMED than perhaps his name or his Smackdown performance may do the trick. He has never been across a yielding course and his latest effort at 8f raised eyebrows amongst most who saw it. The off going rarely favors the ones coming from the rear but perhaps the preponderance of early speed will compensate for it. 5-1 is a short price for a horse that may not like the distance or the conditions.
PP 12 AUSSIE T.V(NZ) TR graywolf17 JKY Ja White JKY 36/1
The tote board says this guy is a rank outsider and his breeding COATS CHOICE (AUS) x BLUSHING JOHN x T. V. LARK does little to shake that tag. His only win came in his last race a 4k maiden claim sprint so no real surprise he is 36-1. He has never had a tour over a wet track either so your long shot may actually deserve his status. Anything can happen in a baby race but this would be a shocker.
13 RANSOM HIGH(IRE) TR havehold JKY V Vincent 15/1
The son of MOUNTAIN HIGH x RED RANSOM x STORM CAT showed an excellent turn of foot when stretched out over a mile turf course winning a pricey allowance in a steppy spf of 80. Never had a go at soggy course so how he takes to it will have a lot to do with how he runs. The distance would seem to be to his liking while the level of his adversaries would seem to be daunting. A live long shot in a wide open race.
THE PICKS
Is Nuits Magique really a horse capable of blistering a 90 plus spf at this level? The horse ran a time that is much the best in here and it is hard to toss that to the wayside but I am going to say he has to validate that run before I am converted. I also am not convince that Dubai Spirit is ready for this level either despite the fine debut. Judas Is Wylde has a lot to like and I see him in the top 3 and upon further review I will put Dutch Double in that group as well. I always love a horse that like to win and that’s why I will settle on High School on top of my win and exacta tickets. The horse is undefeated liked the wet and is a solid value a holy trinity of sorts in the horse playing world.