The POPSTAR The BANANA and The WOLF

Welcome to New Zealand for the running of the New Zealand 2000 Dark Beers
Grade I One mile Firm Turf $750,000 All horses, 3 years old.

1 166132 RADIANT WOLF(SAF) newastin12 GD Mate 6/1

Astins Place trained colt by WOLFHOUND x RAINBOW QUEST x DIXIELAND BAND he has raced 15 times for 9 wins $473,805 6 of those wins are at this distance including The German 2000 Guineas-G2 109sp and The Regal Hill-G3 107sp he has run 100+ sps in his last 8 starts and last time out won the Smellington Guineas-G3 7.5f here in New Zealand in a stunning 112sp he is a closer who will be let drift early in the race and come home strong in the stretch. Loves the track and should figure in the finish here.

2 102928 PORT BANUS(KY) limpid M Shaw 11/1

Rafa Stables trained PULPIT x VICE REGENT x RIVERMAN he raced 16 for 5 wins $165,977 he started his career on dirt with 3 runs as a 2yrold with no success at 3 hi was switched to turf and had success in allowance company in his last two starts he has placed in The Orange Prince-Stk 10f 105sp and the Panhandle Derby-Stk 9f 105sp the likely leader in this race he may take some catching.

3 130491 ALTYR(ENG) mtkplaz3 P Chamberlin 10/1

MTK and GALLOPLAZ SIM Joint Venture trained colt by CACIQUE (IRE) from the he-mare PRAIRIE TRAIL(KY) he has raced 13 times for 7 wins and $296,304

In earnings he had a terrific year at 2yrs with 4 wins and a 3^rd from 5 starts and caped the year off with a win in The STARKE STORM Stakes 8f 85sp his best efforts this season have also been over a mile with wins in The CAT S A COMING Special-Stk 95sp and The BBORS A BLUFFIN(IRE) Challenge-Stk 107sp his speeds are increasing at the right time and back to a mile he should be hard to beat.

4 159990 OLD TOWN(KY) stormboot F Inzamam 22/1

Dixiedotco Racing trained colt by SPEIGHTSTOWN from SEIZE THE THRONE the dam also of LACADA POINT(KY) he raced 13 times for 5 wins and $668,370 a lightly raced runner he has performed well at a mile and won The St. James Tavern-G2 in a 109sp and was 2^nd The French 2000 Guineas-G1 109sp was obviously injured in his last start in the Canada Mile-G1 against the older horses he ran a 33sp almost 2 months ago he has been freshened for this and if he id fit enough should go close.

5 173672 RED BANANA(IRE) chiknsmack S Dahl 6/1

Chiknsmack Stables trained colt by RED CLUBS from the SW mare BANANA BRIO he has raced 13 times for 5 wins $281,500 and looks a horse of the best quality which lead me to breed his 2yrold sister ENCOSTAMATE(AUS) who I only hope is as good as this fellow and his siblings. He is yet to race at a mile and this is the only question mark when judging his hopes. He was a stunning winner in the Hawkz Guineas-G3 7f 116sp and last time out was 3^rd after leading in the Smellington Guineas-G3 7.5f 111sp improving out of sight lately if he gets the distance he wins.

6 163072 RAINBOW POPSTAR(JPN) beefcake5 O Rann 3/1

Beefcake Stables trained colt by CAME HOME x REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) x MISWAKI he has raced 20 times for 5 wins $339,760 another horse finding his best form at the right time and all his turf wins have come over a mile so this race is right up his alley. His wins include The SCHOOL KRIS(GB) Special-Stk 101sp The PAYCHECK(IRE) Stakes 113sp and two starts ago The DYARDANES Stakes 114sp last time out he ran 2^nd in The Crying Station-Stk 117sp his fastest races have been over a mile and he will fight out the finish again here.

7 98377 TOKAJI(KY) super18 N Chamberlin 10/1

More Evil Than The Evil Empire! trained colt by DYNAFORMER from the GP SW RAN AWAY he has raced 19 times winning 3 and $216,426 in earnings he has won over the distance but best form is in allowance company and may find some of these a little tough. Although last time out he won the Panhandle Derby-Stk 9f 112sp proving distance will hold no fears for him. Will race with the leaders and be hard to catch in the stretch.

8 170093 STEETCORE(JPN) bigheavy R Chesterman 27/1

Crawford Incorporated trained colt who is by WAR EMBLEM x CARSON CITY x ROBERTO he has raced 12 times for 3 wins and $99,241he is beautifully bred but has yet to race in this type of company and this is not a soft graded field others are preferred in this race.

9 173600 CHILL OF LIGHT(KY) breed4me M Margolf 28/1

Nickesyd racing club trained colt by NORTH LIGHT (IRE) x MR. PROSPECTOR x ROBERTO he has raced 15 times for 4 wins earning $173,775 started his career well with 2 wins from 3 starts at 2yrs and started his 3yrold career in fine style as well with wins in The CONRY Special-Stk 7f 95sp and The LIFE SERIAL Memorial-Stk 7.5f 93sp unfortunately he has struggled in his last 5 starts and he is yet to run the speeds these horses have at this journey. As much as I want Niclas to succeed I really cant see him winning this good luck mate.

10 173681 BULLISH WILDCAT(KY) bezza14 T Childress 11/1

Bullish Luck Lodge trained colt by FOREST WILDCAT from the GW mare VIRGIES EAGLE he has raced 11 times winning 4 and $154,549 in earnings he started his career on dirt but did not show much form and this year his trainer has switched him to turf with success he has had 7 races all at 8f for 4 wins a 3 2^nd and his sps have improved with every run culminating in a nice 2^nd last time in the Mospe Cup-Stk running on strongly in a 110sp he will be storming home again in this.

11 163855 FUSAICHI KITTY(KY) mavrkstbl4 W Dishman 6/1

Maverick Racing Stables trained colt by KITTEN’S JOY from FUSAICHI CYCLONE he has had 14 starts for 4 wins and $117,135 he has run 100+ sps in his last 7 starts but doesn’t win his races out of turn did win an Alw-40500NW4L four starts ago in a 114sp and ran 3^rd in The DYARDANES Stakes 8f 112sp in a four horse field the odds makers have him pretty short at 6/1 and it would be wish to include him in you trifecta’s and exacta’s will be running on from the rear in the stretch.

12 158137 EL OTTO(KY) ottohaack A Tuten 42/1

Otto Haack (Venezuela) trained colt by MALIBU MOON from EL CARTRO he has won 4 from 14 and $77,468 he is yet to race against horses of this quality he has won at this distance in allowance company has been showing form over more ground and might be a better horse again at 4yrs over the longer route distances.

13 185287 GAMMA ANDROMEDAE(IRE) kribensis F Chute 13/1

Brundlefly Stables trained colt by DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) he is the most lightly raced horse in the field with only 5 starts for 3 wins and two placed runs $89,530. Won his first two starts at 8f in 93sp and 97sp then he won The JOYOFLIFE Challenge-Stk 7.5f 108sp and in his last two starts both over 7.5f produced 2nds in The BOSTON PATRIOT Memorial-Stk 103sp and The FRIENDOFTHEFAMILY Stakes 105sp he is likely to be the leader here and back to a mile should be hard to beat.

4 155799 HAZARDOUS(KY) mrrx7 T Mooney 25/1

PEDRO’S RACING EMPIRE trained colt by SKY MESA from the good broodmare SENORITA GERI dam also of GW SENORITA HANAA(JPN) and SW PEDRO ON BOOST , DELZAO(IRE) and IM SMOOTH this colt has raced 13 times winning 5 and $168,235 his wins include The DAYFLY’S KID Special-Stk 9f 92sp also ran 3^rd in The Derby Stud Trail-G2 10f 87sp and last time out ran on for 3^rd in The NORTHERN QUEST Special-Stk in a 107sp he has mixed his racing a bit and its hard to get a line on him.

3^RD RADIANT WOLF(SAF)