Grade 2 draws a competitive field
We have a wonderful line up for this Grade 2 race and whether the participants are here to add a G2 victory to their CV or to gain valuable points for the up-coming Breeder’s Bowl Turf is a moot point as either way it has made for a fascinating contest. Let’s review the starters in race card order.
1. Fantastic Dancer theprofit 30/1
Slow-maturing son of Fantastic Light who like his sire is getting better with age. Had an unorthodox prep run last time out when 3rd in a 4.5 furlong sprint on dirt. If he can reproduce his performance in the California Turf Stars Stakes-G1, then he stands every chance.
2. Treasure Of Armana bezza1975 7/1
Connections must have thought this son of Swain had finally broken through when taking the Ferdichenko Cup-G2 in Japan earlier this year, where he defeated three subsequent Grade 1 scorers. Unfortunately he hasn’t been able to replicate that performance, and his best effort since has been a 2nd in the Dawn To Dusk Cup-G2. Make no mistake, this is a good horse on his day and he is well up to the standard required here.
3. Thrill Is Gone mano2 9/1
Ultra-consistent son of Red Ransom who has finished off the board on only 2 occasions, both G1 events. This will be his first appearance in a G2 race and he appears well up to the task judged on his run in the San Francisco Capitan Handicap-G1 where he stayed on well to deny Turning Japanese the runner-up spot behind Sunnybank Memorial. Connections have taken a cautious approach with him to date but a good showing here may convince them this is where he belongs.
4. Galloping Ghost tejanorun 5/1
A bold move by the trainer to run this mare here, but one I have deep reservations about. She has carried all before her over marathon routes on the dirt, defeating the boys at will and for my money deserves every accolade for her achievements. However, her only turf run to date was in her juvenile year where she ran down the field in a mile allowance race. Saturday’s trip will suit her fine, I’m just not convinced she will like the green stuff. I hope to be proven wrong.
5. Sir Ector De Marys speed2burn 31/1
A last-minute entry by connections and judged on his form, he would have been better off trying an easier class of race. This former claimer has been running really well in starter allowance races, where he has finished in the first two on all 7 attempts in that class for the current trainer, but now that he has lost his tag he needs to mix it in allowance class. A nw1x race would have been my preference to gauge his ability rather than throwing him to the wolves here.
6. Extortionist ratt49 4/1
Exceptionally versatile son of Red Ransom who has scored graded successes on both turf and dirt. He signposted his potential on turf last year when runner-up to Bristol Rovers in the Classic Turf Stakes-G1 over this distance and probably disappointed connections with his next run in the GSR Derby-G1 when only 5th of 14. For whatever reason they have given him plenty of time off this year and that patience was rewarded with a last-to-first swoop in the Horseshoe Falls Stakes-G2 where he just wrested the spoils from Beat Hollow by ½ length. Definitely one to watch.
7. Rainbow Moonshell cleverdoc 6/1
This fellow has been butting heads with the best of them in the latter part of the season and has run two standout races against Bristol Rovers this year, latterly in the Winchester Park Cup-G3 where he was narrowly beaten. On paper he should get the trip well but has been noticeably under-par over this distance in graded races in the past, his best being a 6th in a G2 at the back-end of last year. If you can forgive him that statistic then he holds first class claims on Saturday.
8. Maximutopian ratt49 15/1
Hmm….what have we here. It appears that the trainer feels it necessary to run a pacemaker for his main hope, Extortionist, as I can think of no other reason why this horse should be entered. He hates the turf and on his only attempt beyond a mile he was tailed-off! It remains to be seen just how effective this rabbit will prove to be.
9. Honour My Name manager 7/2
Both parents were at their best over middle distances but this fellow has inherited a fair amount of speed from somewhere (probably his dam-sire) as witnessed by some fine performances around a mile. He also appears well capable of harnessing that speed over longer distances – but there have to be question marks over his ability at this trip. His only run over 12 furlongs was as a sophomore when he didn’t last home in the Adelaide Derby-G1, finishing 30 lengths behind the winner, Sunnybank Memorial. Saturday’s rival Rainbow Moonshell was 9-lengths in front of him on that occasion and he will do well to reverse the form with that horse.
10. Captain Kangaroo exceller 11/1
A well-grown son of War Chant representing the classic generation here, as he was in his previous run in the Shimko Classic-G2, where he put up a tremendous front-running performance to finish 3rd of 9. Buoyed by that run, connections are attempting a similar feat here, although in all honesty, this field looks stronger. He will do well to duplicate his previous finishing effort.
11. Drunken Cat jbfarms 6/1
It’s difficult to know what to make of this one’s chances. He has now gained the strength to allow him to stay the distance but all his form has been on the main track with his sole turf try coming on rain-softened ground. He comes into the race off a comfortable stakes success in Florida and if he takes to the surface, he could surprise.
My picks:
- Extortionist
- Thrill Is Gone
- Treasure Of Armana
- Captain Kangaroo