Fighting in Hong Kong
Graded stakes aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, and yet the inaugural running of the G2 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes, boasting a purse of $250,000 has drawn less than a full field. Eleven fillies will answer the call to the post, including a four horse super entry and an eirann3 entry. Still, while shorter than expected on total numbers, this is a talented group of sophomores. We’ll begin with the super foursome:
Stray Kat, a daughter of Dynaformer, has shown a real affinity for the green stuff, and in her last two starts, won a one mile listed stakes (94 SF), before taking the lead at the top of the stretch, but having to settle for second to stablemate Artiste in the G3 Triangular Star Stakes (93 SF). It’s a little early to tell whether the Kat has distance limitations – Artiste has been sensational to date – but today should provide some more answers. Rolex has been knocking on the door as of late. The Ghostzapper miss won a pair of stakes this fall, before closing to finish fifth on Breeders’ Bowl day. She has closed for minor spots in her last pair of races, and really looks like she will appreciate the extra distance (and perhaps even additional ground). Solid rider, and six weeks’ rest, this one looks ready to fire. Main knock on her is that her speed figures are a little lighter than some of her fellow competitors. As previously discussed, Artiste enters this race fresh off a score in the G3 Triangular Star (95 SF). The Ghostzapper filly is unbeaten in three starts routing, and comes by that ability naturally, as her “dam” is Derby winner Virtuoso. The only real knock on her is that her best two races have come over an off-track. If she can reproduce her Triangular Star effort, though, watch out. Leading rider Brewer is back aboard, which is always a good sign. The fourth super entrant is Bistro. The El Prado miss defeated the boys in the G3 Mohawk Juvenile last fall, and kind of struggled midpack in her next two starts. She ran a game race in her seasonal debut, finishing second in the Queen A.P. Memorial (85 SF) behind Johannie Cara, who will also be running in this race. Gets a cutback in distance, which I like, but like Rolex, her speed figures will need to improve to get the win here.
This is no super gimmie, however. Wasted Breeding has proven to be anything but that for trainer/breeder sipe. The best daughter of multi-millionairess Seriously Double by Elvstroem, the has won at the mile distance, but has done her best running sprinting. Earlier this year, this sophomore emerged the winner in the G2 Whodini Shootout. She bounced against the boys last out, and her closing kick has apparently tempted her connections into trying routes one more time. It seems a smart approach, particularly when she has never tried more than a flat mile, and has been closing at that distance as well. Speed figure will need to improve slightly, but other than the low percentage jock, lots to like here.
Alondra Power was fourth of five in the G3 Panhandle Park Oaks last time out, which was her routing debut. While her sire, Galileo, suggests distance, so far, her past performances seem to say miler or long sprinter. She has won three stakes sprinting already for owner/breeder haackslew, and it’s entirely possible she’ll turn things around here, but will need to step it up here – previous career best SF is an 87, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to take mid-90s or better.
Another filly wheeling back from the Triangular Star over this course is eirann3’s homebred Gorgeous Trickster. This daughter of Montjeu has flopped in her two most recent graded stakes attempts, and has lost, not gained ground at the end, which causes a bit of a concern about her chances here. That said, the filly did win an allowance two starts back with an 89 SF, at a mile, she has run like she wants to go longer, and the last start might be able to be chalked up to a dislike of the off going. Still, this is not an easy assignment, and her jock has managed only 2 second and 2 thirds from 21 starts this year. The other half of this entry is Give Me A Chill, a regally bred miss by Sadler’s Wells out of a Mr. Prospector mare. She has not quite lived up to her potential to date, although she has managed three wins from 11 starts. Like her stablemate, Chilly was off the board in her two most recent graded stakes attempts, finishing seventh last time out. Has a better jock, and could surprise, but this is definitely a step up.
Miss Troublesome hopes to live up to her name for trainer/breeder rx7. The Mineshaft filly is currently riding a two race win streak, including a stylish score in a 1 1/16 mile listed stakes last time out (93 SF), where she drew off to win by four. The daughter of G1 winner Envisage apparently ran into some trouble in the Graduation Stakes-G1 three back, but 13 week layoff between races suggests she was probably injured in that race, so we’ll give her a pass. Lots to like, speed figures and past performances put her squarely in the hunt.
It’s a little hard to get a reading on pukki’s Phazer. The Sharp Humor filly is decidedly a closer, but her best performances, by far, have been over sprint distances. It may be that she wants to go really long, like 10 or 12 furlongs, but for right now, she’s been a poor ninth in both of her graded starts routing. Her best speed figure, and probably race, for that matter, came on DelPenn Champions Day at six furlongs (87 SF). Anyway, it’s a bit of a puzzler, but for now, I’m going to sit on the sidelines. If she wants longer, my guess it will be longer than 9 furlongs, but I’m willing to be proven wrong on that.
One who does like the added distance is zambaygo’s Johannie Cara. The Arch miss, as previously noted, defeated Bistro in a 9 ½ furlong listed stakes last time out (88 SF). She is unbeaten in three starts over an off-track, and her best speed figure came last time out, which leaves her a little behind some of the other favorites in that department. Still, she looks to be getting better with distance and age, and has a real shot in here, if Cara can keep the forward momentum going. Low percentage jock is a bit of a concern.
Good luck to all of the runners and their connections!