The King is Watching the Princes

Welcome back all you people including the trainers who have entered their runners below to the great Queensland track where we have the King Thor Memorial stakes over a mile and one eighth for horses 3 years old and up.  The track is firm turf and a prize purse of $55,000. 

For those who care, the race today is named after King Thor whose career started in 1999 and ran 31 races for 11 wins with all those wins coming on the turf. Top speed was 88 which was achieved twice resulting in wins both times in Starter Allowance races and achieved a career earnings of $122,960.

For those who don’t care shame on you.  You should be respectful of who the races are named after cause one day it could be your horse.  What an honour that would be hey? Except of course if no-one read about your horse because they didn’t care. So do me a favour and go back and read the previous paragraph.

Right, are well all back now having read ALL of the above? Yes? Fantastic!  Let’s move on to the runners then shall we and today we have a decent field of 12 runners which is great for the Queensland track here and welcome to all who haven’t raced here before.  Let’s see who has a chance of winning… 

1 BLUE ALI(CA)

Owner: jakematt3
Record: 24-4-7-1
Earnings: $116,819
Jockey: T Cox
Odds: 9/1  

4yo colt out of Unusual Heat x Carson City x Woodman.  Been running fairly consistently finishing fifth or better in its last 7 or 8 races or so. All of those races have been at Stakes level save 2 which were both allowance races. Last win though was way back in February so its been a while since this one was first across the line.  He likes to lead and the distance is good for him too.  In fact all of his races he has running in the lead or just behind – its just a matter of holding on in the final straight. Might even be worthwhile dropping him back just a little in the distance which might get some more wins on the board for him.  Still every chance here – just needs a good run.
 
2 CANTAZUCENO(KY)

Owner: fernando
Record: 16-6-5-2
Earnings: $176,366
Jockey: M Bruce
Odds: 11/1

From Dynaformer x Deputy Minister x Buckpasser, this 3yo is in good form after posting some good recent speeds in excess of 100.  That good form has been very evident in his Allowance races posting 3 great wins in a row between May and August.  Raced in a G2 in late September on an off track and couldnt really put it together.  Much better class though than Allowance racing! Last time out posted a speed of 103 in another allowance over 8 furlongs and was finishing strongly crossing in third place. Could go well here.
   
3 WYRM FYRE(ENG)

Owner: khalasar
Record: 14-5-5-1
Earnings: $151,642
Jockey: S DeBerg
Odds: 10/1    

Strange name but I like it.  A worm that is on fire? Is that what that says? Out of Pivotal(GB) x Caerleon x Storm Bird. 3yo and this one is on fire judging by his last two races and moving much faster than a worm. Last time out was in Allowance company over 8 furlongs and posted a speed of 106 and a good win.  Previous race was same level of racing over the same distance where he came second with a speed of 108. Best speeds of his career right now so could really honestly challenge here if he runs something like those again.  Watch for this one in the straight.

4 SHAMZIG(IRE)

Owner: rintintin
Record: 15-5-5-2
Earnings: $162,459
Jockey: T Phillips
Odds: 6/1

Called Shamzig from his breeding in Shamardal x Danzig Connection x Sovereign Dancer.  Another one in superb form which is why he gets his chance at this level now.  After a brilliantly consistent run at Allowance racing where he hasnt finished worth than third since February and that was fifth across the line then. Debuting now at stakes level his last two runs over 9 furlongs were very good speeds of 107 and 109 where he finished 2nd and first across the line.  Can he make it at this level? With speeds like that he can – good chance here.

   
5 APT TO WIN(KY)

Owner: buzz43
Record: 27-5-6-1
Earnings: $123,982
Jockey: M Radke
Odds: 4/1  

This 4yo was posting some very good speeds back in June and July of 113 and 114 – thats G1 stuff but he ran those speeds in an allowance coming second and a Stakes getting a win there over 8.5 furlongs.  The trainer then put him into a G1 over 8 furlongs but he failed running only a speed of 98 and coming 13th.  Since then has run at Stakes level with his best result a second place over 6.5 furlongs and a speed of 102.  Back to a longer distance here and I’m a bit unsure as to what he is going to do.  Maybe a each way bet.
 
6 CRUSH OF NOIR(IRE)

Owner: puke
Record: 9-3-2-2
Earnings: $64,310
Jockey: J Ustin
Odds: 20/1 

From Invincible Spirit(IRE) x Medecis(IRE) x Theatrical(IRE) last time out was a win over 8 furlongs in an Allowance race where he led wire to wire and a speed of 104.  Coming up to Stakes level here so one of the long shots of the race. Certainly needs to step up but has been getting better with each run so the trainer has given him a chance.  Good odds if he does come in at 20/1 – is up against some class though.
  
7 SKY HAPPY(AUS)

Owner: lodog20
Record: 27-5-3-4
Earnings: $114,452
Jockey: J Jones
Odds: 21/1  

Aussie bred and registered from King of Happiness x Sky Classic x Carr De Naskra.  Has been running recently on dirt so it is a surprise to see him on the turf here.  However he was on the turf back in July and August and posted some decent speeds then and even ran in a G1 race but with no real challenge there though finishing 7th across the line.  Will find this hard I think and at long odds as a result.  Is from the local Qld trainer  from the Graywolf Stable group so he knows the track and that will be to his advantage.
 
8 MAKE RIGHT TRAFFIC(NZ)

Owner: krisililj
Record: 18-5-3-2
Earnings: $185,495
Jockey: D Missen
Odds: 13/1 

Trying to recapture some form, had a recent win in the Hizor Amos Stakes over 9 furlongs and speed of 105.  Hasnt done much since then though and looks on the way down form wise.  Out of Zabeel(NZ) x Flying Paster x Native Dancer and as a 3yo still has a long career yet.  Needs to get the form back here.
  
9 WARWICK(IRE)

Owner: cuprunners
Record: 25-8-3-3
Earnings: $295,715
Jockey: M Cameron
Odds: 5/1 

This one isnt out of form.  Totally in form coming off a win in the Danzig Relaunch Special Stakes over 9 furlongs where he run a speed of 106. 5yo out of High Chaparral(IRE) x Dehere x Marscay(AUS) he has 8 wins from 25 outings and is looking like he could challenge here I think.  Has run some big races too including G2 and G3 back in April and May crossing fifth across the line in both. Run like last time out and he should be up there at the end.
  
10 THEATRICAL TRAILER(IRE) 

Owner: coolk2
Record: 12-5-4-0
Earnings: $139,708
Jockey: C Simien
Odds: 10/1

4yo and very lighly raced with only 12 outings but has got 5 wins in those 12 outings.  From Theatrical(IRE) x Blushing Groom(FR) x Deputy Minister so some big names there.  And is putting it together of late with 3 wins and 2 second place finishes from his last 5 outings.  All at Allowance level but some good speeds too including 106 and a 107.  Coming up to Stakes level here and could be one of the challengers and at good odds at that.  Id keep this in mind this one.
   
11 PIZZABEEL(NZ)

Owner: hawkz3
Record: 19-3-4-6
Earnings: $105,275
Jockey: P Kays
Odds: 14/1  

Another local QLD trainer from the great stable of Hawkz Racing Inc so a very well known and respected trainer here.  Has the entry of Pizzabeel here who is from Zabeel(NZ) x Silver Hawk x Pyramus, a 5yo with only the 19 outings to date.  Was probably running better back from May to August which included a couple of second place finishes at Allownace level, a third place finish in the Shadeed’s Ruler Memorial Stakes and a 4th place finish in the G3 Fusahoochie Turf Classic although was a ways off the winner in this one.  Couldnt perform last time out but will have a chance to get the form back here.  Good name too!
 
12 MOON DAMAGE(IRE) 

Owner: finalfix
Record: 40-10-4-9
Earnings: $294,473
Jockey: C Wyatt
Odds: 9/2   

Well named 5yo from Moon Ballad(IRE) x In The Wings(GB) x Alydar this one has done plenty of racing with 10 wins from 40 outings.  The favourite here and probably rightly so as he looks the most consistent with speeds above 100 in recent times.  Ran at Stakes level last two races with a 4th and 3rd place finish and speeds of 103 in both.  Previous to that had 3 consecutive wins in Allowance company.  Hard to go by and the favourite in my book too.

And so who is going to win?  Im going with the following:

12 MOON DAMAGE(IRE)
10 THEATRICAL TRAILER(IRE)
4 SHAMZIG(IRE)