Raging River Cat Tops Norwegian Feature

 

PP   Horse                       Owner      Jockey   Odds 
1  PATH TO RICHES(KY)  hardnfast  R Gibson   5/2 
2  MISS ISRINGHAUSEN(IRE)  deadwood6  E Lindsey   5/1 
3  RAGING RIVER CAT  siriusflit  H Knott   Even 
4  NOT TODAY(KY)  sheetwise  J Ruckriegel   7/2 
5  TESTA RATTA(AUS)  drdj  J Rapp   6/1

 

 

A quintet of older, long winded fillies and mares are here in Norway to compete in this week’s two mile feature.  Here are the ladies in order from the hedge outward.

 

 

Breaking from barrier one will be Hardnfast’s well named five year old, Path To Riches.  The big, almost white Mineshaft mare has won six of nine career starts at two miles on the grass.  She arrives in Norway riding the crest of a two race winning streak, both two mile turf stakes.  Looks to pad her already hefty ($231,580) bankroll on Saturday afternoon.  Could not possibly be sharper and clearly the main threat to heavily favored Raging River Cat. 

 

 

Number two is Miss Isringhausen from Kirby’s Deadwood6 barn.  The six year old gray mare has compiled an impressive  31-9-8-8 $236,142 record in turf races over the years.  She has been dabbling in dirt events recently and arrives from North Korea off a third place finish in a mile and three eighths main course stake.  Has yet to actually win an added money event and seems to be in tough here. 

 

 

Siriusflit’s Raging River Cat tuned up for this tilt with a pair of easy allowance scores.  The rangy Storm Cat mare is a four time stakes winner in turf marathons and is graded placed twice.  She has had mixed results at two miles.  Two romping wins, twice distanced, and once third.  Loaded with class and clearly the one to beat if she brings her “A” game.

 

 

Next comes the talented and versatile Not Today from the Bizalls stable group.  She is very good on both surfaces as evidenced by her six figure earnings on each.   As consistent as the flashy Johar chestnut has been throughout the majority her career, she’s been highly erratic of late.  Her last two are simply awful, having been beaten a total of forty eight lengths combined.  However, three back she won a mile and a half North Korean stake by open lengths while posting a sparkling 106 speed figure.  Her four outings prior to that show a huge win and three double digit defeats.  How will she do Saturday?  Depends on which Not Today shows up. 

 

 

Last but not least is Darnath Stables’ consistent Testa Ratta.  She makes her four year old debut having been first or second in nine straight turf allowances.  This will be the first stakes start for the chestnut Testa Rossa lass and the difficulty of her assignment is apparent.  l wouldn’t be surprised if she outruns her odds, but a victory is not likely.