G2, The Breakdown

This Saturday in Hong Kong we will have on the card the G2, The Breakdown.  This race will be restricted to all 3 year old and older fillies and mares.  They will be going a grueling 16 furlongs across the dirt track which will be listed as Fast at post time.  The race has drawn an eight horse field.  The morning lines odds have been posted and the post positions have been drawn.  Let us now take a look at the fillies and mares that will make the start in the G2, The Breakdown.

1

MAKER OF ALL

SAF

5F

casualcsh

S Ray

23

9

70%

$700,684

80.00

9/2

Making her way to the inside post will be this 5 year old Bay Mare (CAPTAIN OF ALL (SAF) x EMPIRE MAKER x SADLER’S WELLS) who is a former G2 winner and three starts back would pick up the win in the G3, The Eagle Handicap.  In her most recent start, she would head out in British Columbia to go 14 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Military Horse Dirt Mare Endurance.  She ended the race well back in fourth.  A little added effort this time out and she could challenge when she heads over to her gate representing the East-West Connection residency.

2

BIG BIGGER BIGGEST

IRE

6F

lordpye4

J Castillo

23

8

57%

$1,016,540

32.00

9/2

This is a 6 year old Bay Mare (GALILEO (IRE) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x SMART STRIKE) that has had some troubles in her most recent starts in finding the boards.  The owner hopes this will soon change on Saturday here in Hong Kong.  Last time we saw her was in China where she would go 16 furlongs in the G3, The Water Cube Stayer.  She would cross the wire well back in fourth in this start.  She needs to make some extra effort here if she is to find the boards when she heads out at post time representing the East-West Connection residency.

3

WOETTE’S CHARMER

IRE

5F

urko1

R Unoz

21

4

62%

$160,230

0.69

9/1

Next, we have this 5 year old Bay Mare (HIGHLAND REEL x DEEP IMPACT x DEPUTY MINISTER) that has been running on the turf and that will make her first start of her career on the dirt this weekend.  In her most recent start on the turf, she would be found in Italy going 14 furlongs in a $46500 NW1n Allowance race.  She would find a second place finish in this start.  It will need to be seen how she transitions over to the dirt track this weekend and if she can find a spark she could challenge when she heads out of the paddock representing the Down Under Racing residency.

4

CHASING DOGMA

KY

4F

coolmoreroyal5

J Whaley

17

5

53%

$89,477

0.00

55/1

Here we have a 4 year old Bay Filly (CATHOLIC BOY x JUSTIFY x SPEIGHTSTOWN) that has been running in a mix of claiming, starter allowance and allowance races.  Last time out she would make a start in Newmarket where she would go 11 furlongs on the poly course.  The surface seemed not to favor her as she crossed the wire out of the picture in eighth.  It is back to the dirt this weekend for her, and she needs to show up much improved if she is going to make a go for it when she heads over to her gate draw representing the Down Under Racing residency.

5

HEARTISTE

JPN

5F

kf6

C Meads

21

8

67%

$352,591

4.13

7/5

Next, we will see this 5 year old Brown Mare (HEART’S CRY (JPN) x DARSHAAN x ELA-MANA-MOU) that has been running pretty exclusively on the turf surface.  She has a local championship to her credit and in her most recent start in China she would put together a very nice race.  She would go 14 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Beautiful Buda Turf Mare Stayer where she would close from over ten lengths back at the third call to blister down the final stretch to get the win by three and a half strides with a 112 speed rating.  If she can make a good transition over to the dirt and put together another good race as she did in her most recent start, she could be dangerous when she heads out at posting representing the Universal Racing Club residency.

6

SEEKING FIERCE

JPN

3F

auctionclass0

F Scroggins

5

1

80%

$60,230

0.20

29/1

Here we have a 3 year old Bay Filly (FIEREMENT (JPN) x EPIPHANEIA (JPN) x SADLER’S WELLS) that was picked up as a $150000 Claimer back in September of 2023.  She has been running in Allowances races fairly well and the owner is giving her a shot at a Graded start this weekend.  This filly has also been running on the turf and will make her first start on the dirt here in Hong Kong.  Last time out in Japan she would go 10.5 furlongs on the turf and get up for a second place finish.  She has a lot to prove this weekend as she heads out against some more seasoned competition and makes the trip across the dirt.  She will head out in the post parade representing the Florida Racing Club residency.

7

NUKA STUNNER

KY

6F

thethumb5

H Harzheim

27

15

78%

$1,384,817

130.00

7/2

This is a 6 year old Bay Mare (POINT OF ENTRY x KINGMAMBO x NORTHERN DANCER) that has been running quite well for the owner.  She has only been off the boards once since the start of the 2023 season and has racked up many first and second place finishes.  Two starts back she would find the win in the Rakidas Road Dirt Mare Memorial.  In her most recent start in Washington, she would go 16 furlongs in a $39700 Allowance race of which she would again handle the field and pick up the win by almost four strides.  She is a former G1 winner and the owner wishes to see her get another one here this weekend when he sends his horse out to represent the GR Simsters residency.

8

USELESS BIMBO

GB

5F

4nighthawk

R Rice

26

12

88%

$545,203

26.25

8/1

Breaking from the final gate in this race will be this 5 year old Chestnut Mare (ULYSSES x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x STREET CRY) that has made a few turf starts in her career but seems to prefer the dirt surface.  Two starts back on the dirt she would get the win in the G3, The Water Cube Stayer.  In her most recent start in China, she would take to the turf going 16 furlongs.  She would not be as successful in this start as she crossed the wire well back in fifth.  It is back to the dirt this weekend and she is looking to rebound when she heads out representing the All-Stars Racing residency.

Good luck to all owners and horses!

Skippy’s Watch List

5-Heartiste: She likes the turf. Can she get there on the dirt without a stumble?

7-Nuka Stunner: Nice record to keep intact. Can she get her third win in a row?

8-Useless Bimbo: After a failed turf start it is back to the dirt.  Does she rebound?