New South Wales Celebrates Saint George
Race ID:3868.5414
Grade III The Saint George Stakes
$200,000, 3 Year Olds and Up
One Mile and an Eighth (9 F)
Track: Turf
Local racegoers will be crowding the grandstand in spite of the gloomy forecast as fourteen older horses take to the track to compete in the 1st Edition of the $200K Grade III The Saint George Stakes over nine furlongs of turf in New South Wales. A highly competitive field will parade to the post and without a standout among them it promises to be an exciting edition.
Let’s examine this competitive field …
Race Analysis by Hladun
We are unveiling a new prognosticating tool today as we seek to gain every edge we can in deciphering the complexity of throughbred handicapping. No it’s not the “ThoroughGraph” or Brisnet’s sophisticated computer algorythmic programs. Yes, that’s right. It’s the Magic 8 Ball! We’ll ask the Magic Eight Ball a handicapping question specific to the horse in question to gain valuable handicapping insight into the race … enjoy!
PP 1: 81047 DWYCK(AUS) willyam13 (41/1) RANK: 315
This five year old son of Spinning World has been in a funk since the summer when he last won The Bounded Que Stakes over nine furlongs in Vermont. Since then he’s been beaten by 18, distanced and 14 lengths respectively over three races. A rank outsider here.
QUESTION: Will he get moving in the right direction here?
Magic 8 Ball says … “My sources say no”
PP 2: 110195 ARTIFICIAL CRISIS nowitsdark (7/1) RANK: 174
The races elder statesman at the ripe age of seven, this son of Machiavellian has not seen the winners circle since June of 2008 when he won the one mile Grade III Philly Cheese Steak Turf. The last time he won at today’s distance was in September 2006. He hasn’t been at his best for a while now and maybe it’s asking a lot of him now to compete at this level. An outsider.
QUESTION: Do you feel at seven you can still get it done?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Yes”
PP 3: 89474 BOOM GATE(ENG) thegeneral (8/1) RANK: 89
This four year old son of Rainbow Quest comes into this event never having gone longer than one mile on the turf so the additional furlong is a question mark. His success to date has been primarily as a sprinter however he did win the Grade III Dracula Stakes at a mile last spring. In addition, he has had several good placings in other graded events including the Grade I 2000 Guineas where he finished a closing third beaten by five. He’ll need a fast pace to close into and his running style fits the additional yardage. If ready, he’s a contender in this spot.
QUESTION: Can you get the additional distance?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Outlook good”
PP 4: 21205 CHOP EM DANE(KY) meguire6th (15/1) RANK: 1071
This five year old son of Wando comes out of The Well Resume Special Stakes where he finished a fast closing eighth beaten four lengths running a 106 over nine and half furlongs. He’ll need things to fall into place just right for him to succeed in this spot but he may crave additional yardage in the end. Watch this time and tab for later on the stretchout.
QUESTION: Would he be more successful at a longer distance?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Cannot predict now”
PP 5: 160069 WIRBEL(IRE) papaxerxes (35/1) RANK: 92
The oddsmaker has this all wrong and this three year old son of Hurrican Run is worth a bob or two depsite his youthful inexperience. This is not a deep field and flaws abound so he just may not realize that at 93-1 he’s not supposed to compete. He’s on the improve and I expect him to raise his game and just surprise everyone including himself. His last came off of a layoff in his first start as a three year old last out so I’d give him that one. GO for it lad!
QUESTION: Can he compete against older horses here?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Outlook good”
PP 6: 151140 PAWN OF PROPHECY(JPN) simjunkies (12/1) RANK: 212
This four year old son of Rule of Law comes off two non-graded stakes appearances in which he competed against stronger gaining valuable experience in the process. Both at today’s distance, he ran a 105 and 107 speed but ran out of room in the end while running hard at the end. Watch here and tab for later on the stretchout as ten furlongs may be ideal for him.
QUESTION: Would he fare better at a longer distance at this level?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Without a doubt”
PP 7: 53149 THE GRIFTER(GB) super15 (12/1) RANK: 1182
This five year old son of Powerscourt(GB) is running in stakes company for the first time in his career. He comes into the Saint George riding a two race win streak at the allowance level having posted a 101 and 108 in consecutive races. He gets the acid test today and has the running style to be a factor on a repeat of his last. Watch once.
QUESTION: Can he compete against graded compnay?
Magic 8 Ball says … ”Very doubtful”
PP 8: 108272 HURRICANE RELIEF(IRE) topicountc (10/1) RANK: 1047
This six year old son of Generous(IRE) is another short on graded stakes experience but giving it a try in this spot. He comes out of an allowance affair where he won going away over nine furlongs running a 106. A winner of eleven races to date, including a victory in The Castle Fred(IRE) Memorial in 2007, he looks to test himself here. A contender.
QUESTION: Can he make the jump to graded stakes company?
Magic 8 Ball says … “It is certain”
PP 9: 17124 HI HOOFIN G(IRE) sweetie (75/1) RANK: 86
Another up and coming three year old gets no respect in here by the track oddsmaker. This three year old son of Footstepsinthesand(GB) comes out of the Grade III Rantofan Handicap where he finished a fast closing third in his first graded attempt. He’s improving quickly with every race and one of these days … pow. His style may best be suited to the classic mile and a quarter distance. He’s going to break through to everyone’s surprise but his own.
QUESTION: Can he compete against older horses in this spot?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Outlook not so good”
PP 10: 123037 MAVERICK’S CAT (KY) mavrkzx7r (7/1) RANK: 238
This five year old son of Storm Cat is rapidly improving and riding a three race win streak coming into this event. He exits The Rain Joe Memorial a winner over today’s distance of nine furlongs in 1:47:1 (113) just three weeks ago. It was his first attempt in Stakes company after twenty eight starts at lower levels. He gets the acid test today.
QUESTION: Can you compete at the graded stakes level?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Better not tell you now”
PP 11: 95197 REDSAD(KY) sherwood (3/1) RANK: 22
This seven year old son of Red Ransom is the most accomplish competitor in the field having won seventeen races and banked $2.0M in earnings to date. He may have found a soft spot here as he won the Grade I Eddie O Cap just last summer in wire-to-wire fashion. His latest proved out of character for him of late as he’d been a consistent sort but he was coming off of a ten week layoff and can be forgiven. He looks to get back on track here and will be tough.
QUESTION: Was that last one just racing rust being shaken off?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Yes”
PP 12: 33586 BLACK WEST(KY) freek (5/1) RANK: 61
This five year old son of Gone West is making his first start in over three months as he returns from his freshening stint on the farm. He comes off two consecutive victories over today’s distance the last being a strong performance in The Lord Gray Bonanza Stakes where he covered the nine furlongs in a smart 1:47:1 (112). He ran with authority that day closing from far back as he gobbled up over ten lengths in the stretch to win by over two. Trained by the astute freek only time will tell if the rest did him good and a repeat of that one makes him huge today.
QUESTION: Are you ready to run big today off the long rest?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Cannot predict now”
PP 13: 76711 DANISHA(ENG) paceman2 (15/1) RANK: 1010
This four year old son of Dansili(GB) has not had a lot of success in the past taking on graded stakes company. Though his last two were discouraging, he did run a 102 in his last which is a better speed figure than he’d run the past three races. His form cycle may now be coming back around and may pull off an upset in this spot. A live longshot.
QUESTION: Will he rebound here from his last two races?
Magic 8 Ball says … “Yes”
PP 14: 120348 WARWICK(IRE) sparadise (9/1) RANK: 308
This six year old son of High Chapparal(IRE) comes off of six consecutive non-graded stakes appearances where he had mixed results. An inconsistent sort, he won five starts back over nine furlongs in The Danzig Relaunch Special Stakes by two lengths running a 106 in the process. He disappointed in his latest when he lost ground at every call to finish a well beaten eleventh in The Well Resume Special Stakes at today’s distance. Anybody’s guess?
QUESTION: Can he rebound here in this spot?
Magic 8 Ball says …”Without a doubt”
GRADED HANDICAPS: By Hladun
1. REDSAD(KY) sherwood
2. BOOM GATE(ENG) thegeneral
3. DANISHA(ENG) paceman2