Lucky Thirteen Line Up For Coalmine Mile Cup
This coming week of racing in Victoria, our highlight stakes race of the weekend will be the Coalmine Mile Cup (G2) over a mile on the turf. The race is open to all horses of three years of age and boasts a total purse of $250,000. Last years winner of the Coalmine Mile Cup (G2) was shiekabner owned and trained Duke Of York. Since its inception in 2000, the Coalmine Mile Cup (G2) has attracted some of the best turf milers throughout the area. The current stakes record is held in a tie between last years’ winner, Duke Of York and the 2002 Coalmine Mile Cup (G2) winner, paceman2’s Daneye at 1:34 for the mile. Despite some showers today, the skies should clear to at least partially cloudy conditions throughout the rest of the week, giving the turf track plenty of time to dry out before post time on Saturday for the Coalmine Mile Cup (G2). Expect the track to be listed as firm at post time. This years Coalmine Mile Cup (G2) has drawn nearly a full field, a lucky thirteen horses to be exact. Let’s take a look at this year’s field.
1. Gratest – (Congrats x Gone West x Lyphard) – theatrical – B. Stephen – 10/1
This Florida-bred brown colt will be run under the green and pink silks of Theatrical Stables on Saturday. Throughout the colt’s seventeen-race career, he has only started over the turf three times in this career. Only one of these races, the listed Duck Wow Memorial over eight and a half furlongs have ended in a win on the turf for the colt, out of the multiple Grade 1 winning mare One Attack. The colt has had some disappointments in his last two starts, both of which were on turf. He finished eighth on the yielding turf in the Mospe Cup (G1) and ninth on the yielding turf in the Snake Eyes (G2). The former dirt specialist made his turf debut in the Duck Wow Memorial in February of this year, then switched back to the dirt for the Fountain Of Ute, Florida Derby and Bluegrass Derby. After his impressive victory in the Duck Wow, he is back to try the turf again over a firm surface. Look for this colt to be brought out of the field towards the back of the pack when they leave the gate, gradually making a move up in the turn before the stretch.
2. Pro Groom Ted – (Monashee Mountain (IRE) x Mr. Prospector x Blushing Groom (FR)) – stakes – S. Benoit – 8/1
In the second slot to the inside we will have the chestnut Kentucky bred colt from Stakes Stables. The colt, with twenty-one lifetime starts, is out of the stakes placed and two-time stakes-producing mare Pro Groom. The chestnut three-year-old made his most recent start in the ten furlong Saint Ledge Stakes (G3) in Epsom. This, the colts second graded start in his career, ended in disappointment as the colt came home fourteen and a half lengths off the pace to finish tenth after coming off back to back wins in allowance caliber races. His only other graded start, the All Comers Stakes (G1) resulted in a ninth place finish over eight furlongs. Look for the chestnut colt to be rated anywhere from mid pack to just off the pace on Saturday, depending greatly upon what the other connections should do with their horses out of the gate.
3. Delaney’s Prayer – (Dixieland Band x Gone West x Seattle Slew) – paztwo – N. Fagan – 10/1
As we work our way towards the outside posts we will have this chestnut colt in the orange, white and teal silks of PaszJazz Music City Stables in gate three. The Kentucky-bred colt is out of the multiple Grade 1 winning mare, Seattle’s West. The chestnut colt made his most recent start in the middle of last month during the ten furlong Winston Wolfe listed stakes. The colt finished eight and one-fourth lengths off the pace, though he still managed to finish in the money with fourth. This Saturdays start in the Coalmine Mile Cup (G2) will be the colts debut race in graded company, and as always, it should be interesting to see how the horse adjusts to a jump up in class. Look for this chestnut colt to probably be taken right to the front of the pack out of the gate as he will try to hold onto the lead going wire to wire over the mile course.
4. Six Gun City ER – (Forestry x Carson City x Dixieland Band) – erracing – N. Hartel – 7/2
In the fourth slot we will have this impressively bred three-year-old chestnut in the black, white and brick red silks of Cothill Stables. The Kentucky-bred colt made his last start over six furlongs oversea in North California during the Good Vs. Evil Handicap. The colt finished third in the race. His last start over a mile came last July during the listed Smackdown Restricted in New Yorsk where the colt finished one and one-fourth lengths back in second, though setting a very impressive speed figure of one hundred ten for his effort. The colt hasn’t scored a win since October of last year when he won on a good turf track in the Pharsaint Wish Bonanza over six furlongs, but despite not wining a race since then, the colt has finished in the money in every race since December of last year. He’s consistent, and he could have is way here in the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2) this weekend. Look for the chestnut colt to be out of the gate either setting back in mid pack or up stalking the pace in third or fourth depending upon the speed of the pacesetters out of the gate.
5. Too Much Zip – (Too Much Bling x City Zip x Gone West) – graywolf31 – L. Debow – 9/1
Following to the next gate we will have this striking roan Florida-bred colt out of Wolf’s Den. The colt, with twenty-three career starts, is out of the graded-placed mare Gone City Zippin. The colt has made ten of his career starts over the turf, of which he has only won one of these starts. This single win came under previous trainer turfking32 when the colt won by two and one-fourth lengths in a $,4000 claiming race. Current trainer graywolf31 picked the colt up here and has managed to attain a few listed stakes places with the roan colt. A win or a place in a graded stakes still eludes the colt, however. He made his last graded start int he Good Vs. Evil Handicap where he finished ninth. Look for the roan colt to go out of the gate either towards the rear of the field or to settle a little further up in mid-pack before attempting to challenge leaders down the stretch.
6. Include My King (JPN) – (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) x A.P. Indy x Sadler’s Wells) – desimster2 – J. Kohlmorgen – 11/1
Nearing the center post in the track we will have this brown Japanese-bred three-year-old being sent out under the green and gold silks of Shamrock Stables. The colt made his most recent start early last month over seven furlongs in the listed African For Pro Special a short distance away in New South Wales. The colt just managed to hold on to the money when he came home four lengths off the pace in fifth with a speed figure of one hundred three. The colts previous start was the colts only graded start to date, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Restricted (G1) where he finished fifteen lengths off the pace in tenth in the nine and a half furlong race. He will make his second attempt at a graded race this Saturday in the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2). Look for this colt to be sent out of the gate into the middle of the pack and hopefully go forward to challenge the front runners early in the stretch.
7. Danisha (ENG) – (Dansili (GB) x Theatrical (IRE) x Kris S.) – paceman2 – R. Bailey – 14/1
In another center track post we have this chestnut English-bred colt, the second entry in the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2) for Theatrical Stables along with stablemate Gratest. This three-year-old chestnut colt is out of the multiple Grade 1 winning mare Krishna (IRE) and has made all but one of his lifetime starts over the turf. The chestnut made his last start over a yielding turf track in the mile long Mospe Cup where he finished tenth, an uncharacteristic finish for the fantastic colt in what would be his first start over an off track. His most recent win came back in February of this years during the listed Sunken Treasure Challenge over a mile where he won by one and three-fourth lengths at the Illinois track. The colt will be trying again for his first graded win of his career. The closest the colt has managed to come was a second place finish in the Panhandle Park Derby (G3) in early January of this year. Look for the colt to be out of the gate and stalking the early pace of the race out of the gate, probably being rated just back in fourth or fifth position out of the gate.
8. King Of Indy (SAF) – (King Of Kings (IRE) x A.P. Indy x Mill Reef) – roberto – Bi. Clark – 16/1
Working our way towards the grandstand side of the track we will have a third entry for Theatrical Stables in the chestnut South African-bred colt, King Of Indy (SAF). The chestnut colt has made seventeen career starts, of which fifteen have held over the turf. He made his last start over seven furlongs in an allowance caliber race in Epsom where he finished sixth, nine and a half lengths off the pace, though tying a lifetime best speed figure of ninety-nine. However, this colt has secured a graded win with a one and three-fourth length victory in the Theregoesmyhero Stakes (G3) in New South Wales this past March. The colt will be stepping it up this weekend and will be attempting a Group 2 race in the Coalminer Mile Cup. Look for this colt to either be held slightly off the pace or further back in mid pack, maybe allowing his two other stablemates to set up a better race for the longshot colt to try to make a run at victory in the stretch.
9. Flag The Band – (Dixieland Band x Seeking The Gold x Hoist The Flag) – slewtpie – R. Kowalkowski – 9/1
In the ninth post position we will have this towering three-year-old colt under the black, white and blue silks of Slewsback Stables. The three-year-old son of Dixieland Band has made nineteen career starts, of which fourteen have been made over the turf. Like a few of the other horses in the line up for this years Coalminer Mile Cup (G2), this colt made his most recent start on the yielding turf track of the Mospe Cup (G1) in New South Wales. Flag The Band finished seven lengths back in seventh in this race, the only off-track race of his career in which he did not finish on the board. His most recent win was by two and one fourth lengths in an allowance caliber race over the dirt in Newmarket a few months ago. The colt has never managed to win a graded stakes race yet in his career, but did win the listed Lois’s Prospects Stakes in February of this year. Perhaps the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2) will be the colts chance to break through and finally get that graded victory.
10. Woette’s Slipper – (Forest Wildcat x Kingmambo x Buckpasser) – woette1 – D. Evans – 9/1
Up next will be the pink, purple and gold silks of the Royalstables Of Ostend over the chestnut colt, Woette’s Slipper. The three-year-old chestnut has made all of his fourteen lifetime starts over the turf. The most recent of these starts came in China during the nine and a half furlong St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Restricted (G1) where the colt finished seven and a half lengths off the pace of the winner in seventh with a speed figure of one hundred. The colts current claim to fame is his second place finish in last years’ Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf, when he missed clinching the win by just a length and a half. The colt has since run in such prestigeous races as the Sydney Derby (G1) and The 2000 Guineas (G!) with no luck and finishing out of the money,. With some luck, perhaps the brown colt will have some better fortunes in the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2) this Saturday. Look for the colt to be sent out of the gate either on or towards the lead. If the colt does not take the lead out of the gate on Saturday, probability tells us the colt will likely be back in second or third very close to the pace early on.
11. Bonus Boy – (Storm Cat x Mineshaft x Theatrical (IRE) – canismajor – A. Snappa – 17/1
In the eleventh gate towards the grandstand side we will have this brown Kentucky-bred colt under the maroon and gray silks of Next Bonus Racing. The tall brown colt made his last start in Denmark during an allowance caliber race over a mile where he disappoitningly finished seventh, eight and three-fourths lengths off the pace while he recorded a speed figure of ninety-two. His previous races were more impressive including three on-the-board finishes in allowance caliber races and second place finish in the listed Siklag Stakes over a mile. The colt has never run in graded stakes company, making the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2) this Saturday his graded debut. Though the 17/1 longshot of the thirteen horse field, there can always be an upset. Look for this brown colt to be out of mid pack and try to make an early run on the leaders before the field makes their way into the stretch should the colt have a good run on Saturday.
12. Sardini – (Bernardini x Sadler’s Wells x Danzig) – punter41 – S. Nightingale – 6/1
Nearing the end of the field we have this Kentucky-bred brown colt that will be under the black and white silks of Phantom Pharms. The three-year-old colt has been lightly raced with a total of fifteen career starts, through only four of these starts have come over the turf. The most recent of his races was in China during the Springhill Horse Rescue Restricted (G1) over eight furlongs. The colt faltered in this and disappointingly finished eleventh with a speed figure of niney-eight after a admirable effort to win the Tette Mile Classic (G2) just a few months earlier with a speed figure of one hundred ten, a lifetime best for the brown colt. The colt also achieved on-the-board finishes in the Bean Sprout Turf Cup (G2) and the Roy Rogers Handicap (G3). With the exception of the Springhill Horse Rescue Restricted (G1) the brown colt has never finished out of the money in a turf race. Look for this colt to be held just off the pace out of the gate, probably around fifth position and make an early move on the field before they head into the stretch.
13. Raging Menace – (Trail City x Deputy Wild Cat x Nureyev) – teerades – S. Perkins – 12/1
In the far outside and grandstand side post position we will have the final horse for the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2). This will be the Teerades Stables trained Raging Menace who is out of the race-winning mare Wild ‘N’ Free. The three-year-old chestnut colt has made all but one of his career starts over the turf. Again, like so many of the other Coalminer Mile Cup (G2) starters, this colt made his most recent start on the yielding turf of the Mospe Cup (G1). The colt finished eleventh in this race, his first start over an off-track, which may have thrown the colt off of his top game. His prior start, a listed stakes in Malaysia, resulted in a third place finish with a speed figure of one hundred four. The colt has one graded win notched to his blet in the Knick Knack Juvenile (G1) and will be looking for his first graded win in over a year this Saturday in the Coalminer Mile Cup (G2). Look for this colt to be out of the gate just trailing the middle part of the field but forward of the deep closers as he will look to take control of the pace late in the stretch.
Tellnotale’s Picks
Win: Sardini
Place Six Gun City ER
Show: Danisha (ENG)