Grade III King Don Buffet a Smorgasboard of Talent
Race ID:3875.8913
Grade III King Don Buffet Stakes
$75,000
All Horses, 3 Years & Up
Six Furlongs
Firm Turf
New Zealand Darby Day brings a strong undercard as eight horses prepare to compete in the Grade III King Don Buffet Stakes over six furlongs of New Zealand turf. A competitive group parade to the post featuring lawdro’s CLARITY THRU SMOKE(KY), the SIM’s 19th Ranked older grass sprinter, who’s set to take on a pair of up and comers in victory’s three year old GREENSPAN(IRE) the SIM’s 11th ranked 3 year old grass sprinter and CHANTILI EXCEED(ENG) mclevystud. Honorary Drawmasters Don King of boxing fame and Hawaii’s lengendary crooner Don Ho performed the duties of drawing post positions and will be presenting the winning connections with the Gold Cup on Saturday afternoon. Let’s look closer…
Race Analysis by Hladun
PP 1: 155452 WARSAW WITCH(ENG) gbnorthern (99/1) RANK: N/A
This three year old daughter of Medicean(GB) is the lone filly in this race and is up against it in more ways than one. In addition to her lack of experience she is still eligible for NW2L and NW1X allowance conditions and may be better off conquering those foes first. Will be chasing.
PP 2: 118669 IMMUTABLE(NZ) seeya (2/1) RANK: 150
This five year old son of Starcraft(NZ) is a nine time winner with a bankroll of $393K to date. He comes into the King Don on a two race win streak at the allowance level with his second last being a huge effort covering the six and a half furlongs in 114. Like others in here, this distance may prove a tad short for him so he’ll have to stay close for a chance to pounce through the stretch. A sharp effort will be needed for him to share. For a minor award.
PP 3: 147370 IT’S MY COURT(GER) borrow2 (6/1) RANK: 125
This four year old son of Monsun(GER) is an improving horse who relishes the turf. His early races were undistinguished on the lawn but after an eight race foray on the dirt he returns a more mature racer who now embraces his turf pedigree. He comes out of the six and a half furlong Edison In A Lord Special in which he ran down the leaders in the stretch to win going away by almost two. It was his second triple digit speed figure in a row in stakes competition and primes him for a good run here. He cuts back to six furlongs here and although he may prefer a longer distance he should be competitive in this spot. On the fringe for a minor award.
PP 4: 117539 VIVA LE DIVA(AUS) turfy (6/1) RANK: 173
This five year old son of Redoute’s Choice(AUS) has been an in and outer of late. One race he’s “on” and the next he’s “off”. This is his second career start in graded company. His first was a Grade III attempt last season in the four and a half furlong Otter Dash where he finished up the track. Two starts back he led wire-to-wire covering six and a half furlongs in 1:15:2 (106). Will the real Viva please canter forward. I’m from Missouri … “show me” you belong.
PP 5: 165208 CHANTILI EXCEED(ENG) mclevystud (47/1) RANK: 67
A three year old son of Exceed and Excel(AUS) by Danehill looks to make a name for himself here in graded company. Coming into this race having won two straight, he covered the six furlong distance in his last in 1:10:1. With improving speed figures, he just may a factor before this race is over and merits respect as the “dark” horse in this field. Take a shot!
PP 6: 133712 JKGQERE(IRE) marramucia (6/1) RANK: 155
This five year son of Montjeu(IRE) may be the speed in this race and has been very successful employing that tactic. He has six wins and two seconds in his last eight starts over the turf winning at various distances from five and a half to seven furlongs. This race sets up for him perfectly as there is little speed to contend with and many of the major players in here would prefer more additional yardage than afforded today. A “catch me if you can” strategy is his best chance for success and this field may be caught chasing his tail throughout. For the upset.
PP 7: 92195 CLARITY THRU SMOKE(KY) lawdro (7/2) RANK: 19
This four year old son of Theatrical(IRE) is a high percentage sort with ten career victories in nineteen starts and a bankroll of $592K for owner lawdro. He is a graded winner having taken the GIII After Shave Sprint and most recently finished third in the Grade II Everclear Handicap four weeks ago where he ran a 107 on a track listed good just missing by three quarters of a length. Though he chose to stalk in that affair, he muchs prefers to set his own pace and may choose to do so in this spot. Dangerous on a repeat and the class of the field.
PP 8: 30597 ODDS ON SAL juju (10/1) RANK: 505
The elder statesman in this group, this nine year old son of With Approval has been to the winners circle twenty six times in his eighty start career and boasts an in the money percentage of fifty nine. Having said that, he’s been in a prolonged slump of late and last won last May in an allowance race. He’s up against it here and would need to be at a level he hasn’t seen for awhile to compete in this spot. An outsider.
PP 9: 107038 SHAMMED(IRE) jkj3 (9/2) RANK: 146
This four year old son of Shamardal is on a roll of late with two strong performances in consecutive non-graded turf races both coming over six and a half furlongs. Two starts ago he got up in time to win going away in the Cow Under Books Handicap in 106 at a juicy 12-1. In his latest trying the same tactics he missed by less than a length covering the distance in a smart 112 at 14-1. He’ll need to stay closer to the pace if he hopes to catch this group at the wire.
PP 10: 110372 GREENSPAN(IRE) victory (59/1) RANK: 11
A three year old son of Noverre, he’s entered against graded company for the first time in his young career. With four wins and four second’s in twelve career starts, all have come in listed stakes company with the exception of his intial maiden victory. He comes out of the six furlong Joseph’s Pride Special, run two weeks ago, where he closed with a furious rush to be beaten one length finishing second and putting up a 91 speed figure. He figures to stalk once again and position himself to strike should the speed breakdown in front.
Graded Handicaps: By Hladun
1. JKGQERE(IRE) marramucia
2. CLARITY THRU SMOKE(IRE) lawdro
3. CHANTILI EXCEED(ENG) mclevystud