Grade III Sussex Handicap a wide open affair
Race ID:3854.3415
Grade III Sussex Handicap
$125,000
4 Years Olds & Up
Turf: 8.5 furlongs
Surrey, one of England’s finest old racecourses, is a proud member of the newly formed Eurpopean Region (101) of SIM Racing which includes Paris (35), Berkshire (33), Newmarket (49), Deauville (62), Spain (57), Ireland (59) and Portugal (64). A capacity cowd is anticipated for this 10th renewal of the Grade 3 Sussex Handicap over eight and a half furlongs of turf. A field of eleven goes to post in what experts are calling a “wide open” affair that could very well produce boxcars. The crowd will also be abuzz in anticipation of having British Royalty visiting their beloved Surrey to join in the racing festivities.
Let’s look at the entries …
Race Analysis by Hladun
PP 1: 141008 DYNA IN DUBAI(KY) desperado J. Diggs (13/1) RANK: 251
A roan son of Dynaformer, this four year old is riding a three race win streak. Most recently, he comes out of The Bailey Beach Challenge Stakes (GA) at today’s distance of grass covering it in a smart 1:41:1 to win going away under a hand ride. In two previous graded appearances he finished well back however, that was much earlier in his career and he is clearly not the same horse. His last race, his first as a four year old, may be signaling greater improvement on the horizon and he is the dark horse in here. Watch out!
PP 2: 131122 BELISARIUS(KY) spqr3rd A. Edwards (9/2) RANK: 203
This five year old son of Afleet Alex has not seen the winners circle since August where he ran a huge race in the The Slew in the Tires Memorial covering the grassy mile in 1:33:3. That race took the edge off his game though he did finish a good third in the Grade III Violin next time out. His best chance here may be to employ a speed style similar to his last and in doing so may just wire this group … dangerous wake-up prospect.
PP 3: 106833 ALLUMER deajai2 R. Whisper (7/2) RANK: 192
One of our senior citizens, this well seasoned six year old son of Elusive Quality comes off a monster performance just three weeks ago in Queensland(A3) where he won impressively covering a mile in 1:33:4. It’s hard to believe that after forty two career starts, this is his first attempt in graded company. He’s never been in finer fettle and his connections feel he deserves the chance to add “black type” to his racing resume. The sentimental choice.
PP 4: 143523 LEAGUE OF NATIONS(ENG) bunsay R. Harzheim (10/1) RANK: 101
This four year old son of Rainbow Quest comes into this race with something to prove to his connections. After a dismal performance in the Grade III Maclean Mile, he bounced back in the one mile Grade III Laffit Handicap where he finished a closing fourth at 19-1 in a smart 1:33:3. The extra sixteenth of a mile should prove beneficial here in this spot and only time will tell which horse will show up.
PP 5: 93910 RAGING MENACE(WA) teerades B. Dawg (13/1) RANK: 226
This four year old son of obscure sire Trail City had been anything but having banked $499K to date and the only Grade I winner in this race. As a two year old, this colt took the GI Knick Knack Juvenile Stakes at today’s distance and next out, competed unsuccessfully in the $1M GI Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf. Most recently, he finished third in a Listed Stakes after leading in deep stretch only to be caught late. This race being a half furlong longer may call for him to revert to his usual stalking style to be successful. Has a class edge on these … a definite shot!
PP 6: 172631 THE OIL RULES ALL(KY) tao S. Tevex (19/1) RANK: 226
This four year old son of Unbridled’s Song is the least experienced horse in the group have competed in only five events to date with this being his first stakes attempt of any description. However, there is much to be said for the rapid improvement he has demonstrated so far and it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of the immense challenge for both he and his trainer tao. He comes out of a recent Allowance affair in Belgium where he posted a 106 speed figure in clobbering a field of nine. This is the acid test!
PP 7: 151144 ENCHANTERS ENDGAME(KY) alverton D. Aniel (7/1) RANK: 124
This strapping roan son of Badge of Silver has won eight of twelve starts and has only missed the board once in his brief career. He comes into this race off a surging win in The Clique Ralph Handicap covering today’s distance in 1:41:2 for a speed figure of 109. His lone graded effort to date came in the Grade III Haw Haw Derby where he finished a fourth on a tiring track listed as “good”. He has earned triple digit speed figures over his last seven consecutive starts and there’s no reason to expect a drop off here. A strong contender.
PP 8: 154324 I DONT GIVE A DAN(ENG) tyedye T. Nugent (10/1) RANK: 131
This four year old homebred son of Dansili(GB) has already posted two starts in 2009 and both efforts were of the positive variety. Having traveled from across the Atlantic, he comes out of The Judge Rank(IRE) Stakes where he finished second going one more furlong than he needs to today. The cutback in distance here will likely be beneficial as he’s won over eight to nine furlongs to date. He’s looking for his first win in Graded company in this his fourth attempt.
PP 9: 20025 NETHERLANDS(IRE) bayouranso J. Tull (9/1) RANK: 160
This homebred son of Galileo enters this race after two consecutive second place finishes in Listed Stakes company. Although this is his first start as a four year old, he is well seasoned having won six times in sixteen career races. He’s looking to step up in graded company here having competed twice before with his best finish (3rd) coming in the Grade III Kcusrocek last March. His stalking style is well suited to today’s event but he’ll need to pick up the pace.
PP 10: 7960 CRAFT STRIPE(ENG) aarau T. Liverson (6/1) RANK: 17F
This five year old chestnut son of Starcraft(NZ) was a last minute entry on the backstretch but that shouldn’t imply that his chances are remote. He is trying to breakthrough for his first placing in graded company and may have found a spot here. He relishes a fast pace to close into and prefers an unhurried come-from-behind style. He comes out of The North Life(GB) Stakes where he came flying through the stretch only to miss by three lengths finishing third. He’ll have to stay closer to the early pace if he wants to share in the post race festivities.
PP 11: 41864 SILENT AND SMOOTH(IRE) finalfix2 L. Risquez (6/1) RANK: 402
Two for two as a two year old, this son of Shamardal began his three year old season with five consecutive second place finishes in allowance company. Now four, he has had some Stakes experience sprinkled onto his resume with his best finish to date being a fourth in the Grade II Jockey Club Classic on a yielding course in which he attempted to wire the field. If he can get loose it may be his best tactic today and this race has little speed to contend with.
Stake History:
- Stake Record (8.5F): 1:41:0 … Go West Sal (sal) (2003)
- Lowest Win Mutuel: $ 3.40 … Starke Storm (stu) (2002)
- Highest Win Mutuel: $ 46.40 … Extremely A Fan (ejdstable) (2005)
- Smallest Win Margin: Nose … Dane’s Affair (sunline) (2006)
- Largest Win Margin: 5 1/4 lengths … Flipper Dipper (rascal) (2004)
- Most Post Position Wins: #8 has posted two Wins
- Most Jockey Wins: J. Stivers … 2 Wins (2005 & 2006) plus a 3rd (’03)
- 2008 Edition of the Grade III Sussex Handicap shows no record of being run
- First two editions (1999-2000) were run on the “dirt” at AK at today’s distance
- From 2001-2007, The Sussex Handicap has been run on the lawn in Surrey(E2)
The Swami sayz …
1. DYNA IN DUBAI(KY) (desperado)
2. ENCHANTERS ENDGAME(KY) (alverton)
3. ALLUMER (deajai2)