Don’t Step in the Awa Pooey
3903.8912 – G3 Awa Pooey Gold Cup
All Horses, 3 Years Olds and Up
One Mile and a Quarter (10F)
PURSE: $75K TURF: Firm
I’m not sure what we’re celebrating here in the land of Kiwi but I do know that I’ll be careful not to step in it this weekend at the New Zealand racecourse. A capacity crowd is expected on Saturday to watch the events unfold here as several older horses are set to compete in the Grade 3 Awa Pooey Gold Cup in hopes of hoisting the golden chalice in victory. Led by morning line favourite rintintin’s SHAMZIG(IRE) at 5/2 and several others just behind at 3/1, this compact but competitive field will parade to the post in hopes of adding graded credentials to their racing resume. Let’s look at the field.
PP1: 139557 PLEASANTLY BBOR(KY) italst4 (9/1)
Pleasantly Perfect x Awesome Again x Kingmambo
4 Year Old Chestnut Colt
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 734
WINS: 3 BANK: $60,142
An interesting entry, this four year old son of Pleasantly Perfect has the pedigree to compete on the lawn but is a relative newcomer to the surface having competed over the dirt in sixteen prior races since making the switch. After a failed effort one year ago on the grass, he tried again in December after going stale on the dirt and found the change invigorating resulting in a wire-to-wire NW2L Allowance victory popping a 96 over nine furlongs. In his next attempt, he further validate his turf credentials by crushing an open Allowance group while cruising to a four length win with a 105 at a whopping 60-1. In his latest, he tried non-graded company for the first time in The Hermit Improve Challenge. Again getting no respect from the betting public, he finished a solid second missing by less than two lengths covering the nine and a half furlongs in 112 at 52-1. He looks to take the next step here and with his rapidly improving turf ability we may hear much more from him both today and in the future.
PP2: 129797 ICE DRAGON(ENG) grrm (3/1)
Rainbow Quest x Roberto x Nijinsky II
5 Year Old Homebred Brown Horse
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 267
WINS: 7 BANK: $325,720
This five year old son of Rainbow Quest is a turf veteran who comes into this event with two victories out of three starts at today’s distance of ground in his career. He tries graded company again having finished in the top three only once and that was in The Alex In A Brother Bonanza two starts back. In the Fall, he did compete in the Grade 1 Eclipse Stakes only to find that group much too tough to stay with though he did figure prominently early in that event beaten seventeen lengths while running a 102 at today’s distance. He did face multi-millionaires Exclusive Habitat and Puppet Regime on that day but meets far less here in the Awa Pooey. He comes into this race off a solid allowance performance at nine and a half furlongs in which he attempted to wire the field missing by less than a length. Over his last seven races he has three wins, two seconds and a third to show for his efforts, his last four with triple digit speed figures. In fine shape at the moment, another forward effort here is likely and may just get the job done today.
PP3: 146932 SHAMZIG(IRE) rintintin (5/2)
Shamardal x Danzig Connection x Sovereign Dancer
4 Year Old Homebred Brown Colt
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 173
WINS: 6 BANK: $229,459
This four year old son of Shamardal comes into this event having competed now in four consecutive non-graded stakes races. Beginning to lengthen out here in this spot, he has one win and two seconds to show for his stakes efforts with his off the board finish coming in his latest. In that one, The Tarbash Justice Stakes at 9.5 furlongs, he just never got going and finished beaten seven at the wire. Prior to that one he won the 9.5 furlong The One Orbit Stakes by a scant nose catching the leader in the final stride and winning in 1:54:1 (109). He has earned triple digit speed figures in seven of his last eight starts and tries graded company here for the first time in his blossoming career. He gets respect as the post time favourite but will have his work cut out for him as he faces stiffer here today.
PP4: 47029 STEEL GIANT(KY) racer (7/2)
Giant’s Causeway(IRE) x Rainbow Request x Theatrical(IRE)
5 Year Old Homebred Brown Horse
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 346
WINS: 5 BANK: $231,428
This strapping son of Giant’s Causeway has competed in graded company before and comes into this race having won the Grade 3 Fusahoochie Turf Classic last summer. On that day he left “almost millionaire” El Kursaal in his wake as he covered the eleven furlongs in 2:15:3 (107) winning by over three as he wired the field that day. Most recently, he competed in the Grade 2 San Francisco Capitan Handicap at a mile and a half which proved to be beyond his ability as he shut it down at the top of the stretch preferring to fight another day. He’s been an “in and outer” over the past several months so it’s anyone’s guess which version will show up here but the cutback in distance will only help him.
PP5: 97987 STRIKE AT SUNRISE(KY) theagakhan (8/1)
Smart Strike x Sadler’s Wells x Alydar
4 Year Old Homebred Chestnut Colt
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 1242
WINS: 4 BANK: $88,938
This four year homebred son of Smart Strike is looking to establish himself here as he competes in stakes company for the first time in his career. A former $125K claimer, his new connections quickly raised the bar for him first in starter allowance company and then allowances. He comes into this event off of a winning performance in NW2X last month running the 9.5 furlongs in 1:55:2 (101). Smart Strike is proving to be solid turf sire as his breeding career unfolds so there is upside for this colt on pedigree. With three wins in his last five starts, he’s on a bit of a role and though not expected would be a mild surprise here.
PP6: 157687 OBAMA TO GET OSAMA(KY) bashbush (3/1)
Swain(IRE) x Theatrical(IRE) x Rahy
4 Year Old Brown Colt
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 326
WINS: 7 BANK: $227,697
This four year old son of Swain likes to run all day long on the grass and the farther the better. With five of his seven career victories coming over his last nine starts over distances ranging from 10.5 to 13 furlongs, he likes to control the pace of his race by getting to the top quickly and play “catch me if you can”. Although this is his first attempt in graded company, he’s competed with much success in non-graded events having won three of them since October. In his latest, The St. John Appreciation Stakes at 12 furlongs, he led from the outset though pressured throughout eventually folding late to finish a distant fourth. Prior to that one, he did win consecutive non-graded stakes in front running fashion by a combined total of thirteen lengths never headed in either event over farther ground than today. The cutback in distance won’t hinder him in the slightest and it’ll be interesting to see how the pace unfolds with this small field as others in here have a quick turn of foot as well.
PP7: 108629 ULTRRANDOM hawkz (15/1)
Jallad x Youth x Elocutionist
7 Year Old Homebred Brown Colt
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 6944
WINS: 3 BANK: $147,634
It’s been a long time between drinks for the seven year old son of Jallad. The last time he tasted victory was in June of 2007 and that being in a NW2X allowance affair on the dirt where he has raced two thirds of the time over his career. He comes into this race off of a second place finish in a $35K allowance race but gets to cutback a furlong here which will suit him. He’ll have to find an inner strength to catch and stay with these … anything’s possible though not likely.
GRADED HANDICAPS: By Hladun
1. OBAMA TO GET OSAMA(KY) bashbush (3/1)
2. ICE DRAGON(ENG) grrm (3/1)
3. PLEASANTLY BBOR(KY) italst4 (9/1)