Rot Well or Rot Not

The Rotten Well Stakes here today – what a name!  Rot well or Rot not is what I say.  Either do it or don’t.  Am I making sense?  Probably not but still its your perception that counts and at the moment my perception is the only one here while I’m writing this.  Confused? Ok let’s leave that rambling thought then. Still it is the Stakes race here at Queensland and we have a small field with some good class horses and some which are aiming to make it at this level. Six and 1/2 furlongs is the distance they have to run and it is for 3yo and up for a total prize purse of $55,000.  Plenty of cash for pizza and coke if you win it. 

1 A JUNGLE KING(KY)

Owner: junglelove
Record: 21-6-3-5
Earnings: $199,100
Jockey: V Hull
Odds: 3/1  

Bred from Cryptoclearance x Kingmambo x Seeking The Gold this is one of many favourites here today who is coming off a big win in the Pecking With Roo Memorial Stakes over 6 furlongs with a speed of 105.  Is in good form with his last three races all post 100 speeds and 2 wins and a third placing.  Distance should be fine as he likes anything up to 7 furlongs really. Prefers to be up front early although his run in the Unbridled Swansong Stake over 6.5 furlongs was different in that he came from the rear of the field and powered home for a third place finish.  Generally though likes to be up front early and could go well here.
 
2 SAIL BY STAR

Owner: hardnfast
Record: 34-14-5-7
Earnings: $401,945
Jockey: M Cameron
Odds: 2/1

A good win percentage with this one with 14 wins from 34 outings.  Is from A.P. Indy which in itself suggests class but also has Mr. Prospector and Danzig so I don’t need to say anymore there!  Was in great form back in the beginning of the year and has only had a handful of runs since then.  Coming back into form now I would suggest and ran a second place finish in his last race at Allowance level.  Favourite distance and could get this but will need to improve a bit on his last few runs.
   
3 TOO MUCH ZIP(FL)

Owner: graywolf31
Record: 27-5-6-4
Earnings: $107,875
Jockey: D Missen
Odds: 8/1

This is the longshot of the race at 8/1 odds on the tote! haha.  Worth backing right there as he has every chance here with a small field.  Hasn’t had any fantastic speeds of late and is going to be finding this harder than the Allowance racing that he was in last time out.  Also looks to me like he would like longer distances than this race as he has been closing in each of his races but run out of room.  Needs to get a good speed to have any chance.  Possible.
    
4 TETE BLACK SCIENCE(GB)

Owner: pisanof 
Record: 36-8-4-5
Earnings: $174,546
Jockey: I Bankston
Odds: 4/1 

Another which is out of form his last race of note was a speed of 110 in an Allowance 4 starts back in June of this year.  That was his last win and looked to be getting ready for bigger things.  Next two races were Stakes where he was leading early but couldn’t go on with it in the final stretch. And that will be his undoing here I think – distance too great and not enough stamina to keep up the fast starts that he is famous for.  Can the others catch him is the question.
  
5 VIXEN VALLEY(KY)

Owner: focusforce
Record: 18-8-6-1
Earnings: $639,990
Jockey: C Wyatt
Odds: 7/2 

One of only 2 girls in this race is Vixen Valley from Orientate x Capote x Mr. Prospector.  Is in sensational form and her last 4 races in particular resulted in 2 wins at G2 and G3 level and then that was followed up by 2 second place finishes at G3 level and then last time out in the G1 Queen of the Hill.  Dropping back in class here significantly should be an easy win for her here even against the boys.  Have to wait and see but this one is my favourite.
  
6 JIGGLETUNE

Owner: stmarysboy
Record: 43-11-11-3
Earnings: $218,902
Jockey: P Jenkins
Odds: 5/1  

The second mare in this Stakes today, she has been running well at Allowance level getting good results if you look at her record.  11 wins and 11 second place finishes out of 43 starts to date.  Bred from Carson City x Brinkmanship x Kentucky Gold she is going to find this harder, much harder against the boys at Stakes level.  Still with the small field she could figure in the final three.  Will have to run better than her last few runs though.

So who to win?  I think 5 VIXEN VALLEY(KY) will take this out based on her dropping back to Stakes level after some outstanding runs at G3, G2 and G1 last time out.  She is against the boys but I think she can do it here.  Should be a good race.