A Competitive Field Weaves a New Canterbury Tale
3896.5414 – G3 The Canterbury Tales Stakes
All Horses, 3 Years Old
Six Furlongs (6F)
PURSE: $150K TURF: Firm
In celebration of the 14th Century collection of works by Geoffrey Chaucer, the New South Wales Jockey Club brings you its own rendition of an equine masterpiece … a story yet to be told in the Grade 3 The Canterbury Tales Stakes. A capacity crowd is expected on Saturday to watch the events unfold here as several quality three year old colts vie for the honours of hoisting the golden chalice in victory. Led by stevemunoz’s IN MY BLOOD(IRE), chloedawg3’s TYCOON WELLS(FR) and urko1’s URKO’S KING(IRE), this competitive field will parade to the post with many looking to push aside these leaders as they attempt to climb the ladder to the top of the division. Let’s look at the field.
PP1: 173672 RED BANANA(IRE) chiknsmack (8/1)
Red Clubs x Storm Cat x I Am The Game
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 30
WINS: 4 BANK: $168,000
This lightly raced son of Red Clubs has only five dances on his card to date due to starting late in his two year old season. AS a two year old he won both of his starts against non-graded company in dominant fashion wiring the field while earning matching 87 speed figures. In his three year old debut, the Babified Silver Special Stakes, he demonstrated his stalking ability while coming from off the pace in convincing style to overtake the leader late. He stubbed his toe in his next and only graded outing to date, the Grade 3 Booty Call Stakes, where a poor start did him in early causing him to lose confidence and resulted in his slowest career speed figure to date. He comes into this event on a winning note having wired the field in the Abbess Roding Special Stakes. This group will prove much tougher than the last but he may have learned from the Booty Call and a better beginning is a must to be successful.
PP2: 63144 URKO’S KING(IRE) urko1 (4/1)
Sadler’s Wells x Kingmambo x Roberto
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 28
WINS: 5 BANK: $199,775
This son of Sadler’s Wells is coming in here of a strong allowance effort over six and half furlongs and just missing less than a length at the wire. It may have been his best race to date though not a winning one. The final time was a speedy 1:15:4 earning him a 101 speed figure and his style that day suits this race set-up perfectly. Over his brief career, he’s won at distances of six and a half to seven and a half furlongs and has the speed to stay in touch here though he may not be on the lead initially. Though not required today he has demonstrated an ability to handle the off going in the past which will serve him well down the road. He shortens up here to six furlongs which may not help nor hinder as he faces other speedy types as well but has the versatility to adapt and may pose a threat in deep stretch. A contender.
PP3: 66070 COUNTJEU(SAF) safrace5 (7/2)
Count Dubois(GB) x Montjeu x Ela-Mana-Mou(IRE)
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 17
WINS: 6 BANK: $242,875
Another high percentage type, this son of Count Dubois(GB) has won six races in his young career with five of the events being in non-graded Stakes company. With the lone exception of his last start, his preferred style is one of speed. He’s a versatile runner having won at distances from six to seven furlongs so his rider will have options with him depending on the break from the gate and his opponent’s strategy. He enters the event coming out of his first graded effort, the Grade 2 African Guineas, over a mile of turf in which he ran a credible sixth beaten five lengths after sitting in mid-pack throughout and earning a 98 speed figure. The cutback in distance will be a welcome respite for him as he looks to get back to his winning ways. A contender.
PP4: 13768 TYCOON WELLS(FR) chloedawg3 (3/1)
Anabaa x Last Tycoon(IRE) x Sadler’s Wells
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 23
WINS: 4 BANK: $256,475
A seasoned veteran already of six graded races in only eight career starts, this son of Anabaa is poised to make his mark upon this division. As a two year old, he won the Grade 3 Omnipotent Juvenile Stakes and in his three year old debut captured the Grade 3 Roasting Weanies Stakes over seven and seven and a half furlongs respectively. The latter effort generated his first triple digit speed figure and although not devoid of speed has preferred to stalk in his races. He did compete in the Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf facing the likes of millionaire To All The Cynics(IRE) so his references are positive. He’ll have a lot of speed to chase today so the challenge will be staying close enough to strike at the top of the lane. He comes into this race off a disappointing effort in the Grade 3 Frio Frio Mile where he couldn’t handle a deep yielding track that day. Looking to rebound here, his connections are confident of a solid effort while hoping for a speed duel to bring down the bid dog. A contender.
PP5: 159159 DAN CAN COTC(KY) cotclaim (18/1)
Langfuhr x Nureyev x High Echelon
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 97
WINS: 2 BANK: $79,950
This son of Langfuhr comes into this race having competed primarily in non-graded stakes company with good success. Three starts back in the seven and a half furlong Find Teddy Special Stakes, he stalked the pace throughout and ran on gamely in the stretch to catch them at the wire by just over one length. He ran an eighty five speed figure that day but he’s run faster. In his latest, the seven and a half furlong Art Tilting Stakes, he employed a similar style to miss by just over one while running a ninety three. The cutback in distance will not favour his preferred racing style and he’ll need to stay much closer to what will no doubt be the fastest pace he’s seen to date in his young career. As he matures and stretches out we’ll here more from him under those favourable conditions. Tab for later.
PP6: 160268 CHURCH AND CHAPEL(KY) 007stud (18/1)
Chapel Royal x Honour and Glory x In Reality
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 197
WINS: 2 BANK: $53,146
This $50K maiden claimer has climbed the ladder and had to prove himself at every step along the way. Since that breakthrough journey five starts back, he’s won an allowance race and finished second and third in two consecutive non-graded stakes races prior to his latest outing. He comes into his first graded attempt here off of an encouraging allowance effort in which he finish third at seven furlongs after having the lead until deep stretch running a 90 speed figure. The cutback in distance will suit him but he’ll need to pick it up to stay with the speed of the one to his right in stall seven. An outsider.
PP7: 103482 IN MY BLOOD(IRE) stevemunoz (2/1)
Holy Roman Emperor x Unbridled’s Song x Northern Dancer
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 13
WINS: 6 BANK: $240,820
This strapping grey son of Holy Roman Emperor comes into this race on a roll having won his last two events in dominant wire-to-wire fashion. He’s won six of his seven lifetime starts to date and has never been headed at any call with the exception of faltering in deep stretch in his only Grade 1 attempt, The Digging The Grave Handicap. In his latest, the six and half furlong Grade 3 Alec and Stephen Stakes, he won convincingly opening by as many as five lengths at one point only to cruise under the wire in hand by almost three. He completed the distance in 1:15:4 (103) and has improved his speed rating in every race to date. If allowed to get out on top freely again, he’ll be difficult to coral in at the end. Dangerous and definitely the one to beat.
GRADED HANDICAPS: By Hladun
1. IN MY BLOOD(IRE) stevemunoz (2/1)
2. TYCOON WELLS(FR) chloedawg3 (3/1)
3. URKO’S KING(IRE) urko1 (4/1)