G1, The Mihali the Great Stakes
This week we are headed to New Zealand where on the card this Saturday they will host the running of the G1, The Mihali the Great Stakes. This race will be across the turf track that is listed as “good” and will be at the distance of 11 furlongs. The race will be restricted to those horses that are 3 years old and older. A nice looking field of eleven horses will make the start for this race as they look to find the wire first and get a trip over to the winner’s circle. The morning line odds and post positions have been released so let us take a preview of the eleven horses that will make the start in the G1, The Mihali the Great Stakes in New Zealand.
| 1 | JOIE FRANCAISE | FR | 5G | wtas02 | D Lakencher | 23 | 14 | 78% | $631,438 | 56.00 | 7/2 |
Heading out of the paddock first will be this 5 year old Bay Gelding (WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) x KITTEN’S JOY x MONTJEU ) that had been running successfully recently in some Listed Stakes starts. For his most recent start he would drop in class traveling 11 furlongs Surrey in a $37500 NW4y Allowance start. He would come out strong from the gate and lead this field all the way to the wire to pick up the win with a 114 speed rating. He is a former G3 winner and will be headed back up in class this weekend representing the Midas residency.
| 2 | BODE STRONGHOLD | NZ | 4G | flyracingstable | M Vinson | 12 | 4 | 67% | $481,027 | 104.00 | 18/1 |
Here we have a 4 year old Bay Gelding (RIBCHESTER x DUKE OF MARMALADE x SADLER’S WELLS ) that had a couple of off the board starts prior to his most recent trip to the track here in New Zealand. He would go 10 furlongs in the G3, Awa Pooie Gold Cup. In sixth at the top of the final stretch, he would find some extra effort and find the win by a nose at the wire with a 111 speed rating. He is moving back up in class again this weekend on a track he seemed to like last time out. He will head out of the paddock this weekend to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 3 | RISING MONSUNS | IRE | 6M | oakridge61 | C Roser | 23 | 9 | 74% | $1,896,560 | 108.00 | 9/2 |
Next, we have this 6 year old Bay Horse (ORDER OF ST GEORGE x MONSUN x KITTEN’S JOY ) that is a prior G1 winner and has been close in getting a win in his most recent starts. Last time we saw him would be in Italy going 12 furlongs in the G2, The Carlsbad Lessons. He got out of the gate well in third and would move into second at the third call. He would hold that spot in his stretch run with a 106 speed rating. We have seen him put up better speeds in the past and may need to find it this weekend representing The Mecca residency.
| 4 | LUCKY VAN | AUS | 5G | bigred77 | D Hall | 17 | 7 | 53% | $362,480 | 25.13 | 9/1 |
Here we have a 5 year old Bay Gelding (BIVOUAC (AUS) x GALILEO (IRE) x BERNARDINI ) that has shown he is able to run on the wet turf before such in his most recent start in Victoria where the track was listed as “good”. He wasted no time with this field as he popped out of the gate and took the early lead in this $53600 NW2s Allowance race. He would go gate to wire for the win and a 108 speed rating. He will be jumping back up in class this Saturday and will need to bring with him his best performance representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 5 | ESCAPING FATE | AUS | 5M | sacredheart | Y Rhino | 21 | 6 | 57% | $771,139 | 20.00 | 6/1 |
This is a 5 year old Bay Horse (I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) x SADLER’S WELLS x CAERLEON ) that after a few poor starts would drop down in class for his two most recent races at the Allowance level. This paid off in his most recent start in Ireland going 12 furlongs in a $82500 Allowance. He stayed close to the leaders often clipping their heels as he made his way to the front down the final stretch to get up for a nice win with a 114 speed rating. He is headed back up in class this weekend and needs to bring that speed in tow representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 6 | WEIGHED GLUTTONY | AUS | 4G | acarigua107 | I Dris | 14 | 6 | 64% | $220,429 | 24.50 | 20/1 |
Next, we will see this 4 year old Light Grey Gelding (WAYED ZAIN (AUS) x LONHRO x TAPIT ) that three starts back would have a nice win a Listed Stakes, Slew J. Turf Challenge going off as one of the long shots in the field at 24/1. He would then have two off the board races with his most recent start coming in New South Wales going 16 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, DUR Autum Carnival-Sydney Cup that was an Owner Restricted race. He would find a lot of difficulty in this start as he crossed the wire in eight over eighteen lengths back with a 97 speed rating. He should be more comfortable in this 11 furlong start on Saturday but will need to bring a good effort representing the Down Under Racing residency.
| 7 | MADIKWE | KY | 5M | tribeca | M Walker | 17 | 6 | 47% | $331,090 | 0.00 | 8/1 |
Here we have a 5 year old Bay Horse (QUALITY ROAD x STREET CRY x NIJINSKY 2ND ) whose last win would come last year in the G3, Peach State Classic. Since that start he has been unable to find a hit on the boards and that includes his most recent start in British Columbia. He would travel 10 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Hulk Nijinsky Dirt Route. He found a spot in second out of the gate and held it until his final stretch run where he would fall back to cross the wire in fourth with a 108 speed rating. This horse has exclusively run on the dirt track in all of his career starts. He will be making his first turf start this weekend and we will have to wait and see if he can transition over to the turf when he heads out this weekend representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 8 | MAD LLAMA | GB | 6G | verymole | S Lee | 32 | 7 | 53% | $830,052 | 92.00 | 8/1 |
Next, we have this 6 year old Bay Gelding (NEW APPROACH (IRE) x SHAMARDAL x SADLER’S WELLS ) that two starts back would earn another GP badge as he came in third in the G3, Great Beer Cap. His most recent start would then come in Surrey going 12 furlongs in the G1, The Coronation Pilsner. He lingered mid-pack throughout this race and would not challenge as he crossed the wire in sixth with a 110 speed rating. He will need to find a good performance this weekend against this field when he heads out of the paddock to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 9 | PULL YOU UNDER | IRE | 5F | xpansion5 | E Bernstein | 21 | 11 | 81% | $789,570 | 82.00 | 8/1 |
Here we have a 5 year old Bay Mare (SEA THE STARS x DUBAWI (IRE) x HEART’S CRY (JPN) ) that has three wins in her four most recent starts. One of those wins would come in Kentucky in her most recent start against the boys. She would go 12 furlongs in the G3, CEO Classic. She stayed way back in the early going and was almost 11 lengths off the lead at the third call. She would find a lot of firepower down the stretch to pick off the win by one and a quarter with a 109 speed rating. She has proven she can handle the boys in her two most recent starts and she is looking for her third win in a row this weekend facing the boys again representing the Midas residency.
| 10 | FADE INTO A DREAM | GB | 6G | beerkeg19 | D Brock | 28 | 5 | 50% | $1,847,021 | 320.00 | 5/1 |
This is a 6 year old Bay Gelding (KINGMAN x KINGMAMBO x FRANKEL (GB) ) that has been on fire in his two most recent starts. He would pick up the win in the G2, The Nikki Show and then would make his most recent start in Brazil. He would travel 12 furlongs in the G1, The Grand Brazilian where he would take no prisoners. He had a good start and grabbed the early lead and never looked back as he took this field gate to wire for the win with a 112 speed rating. He will be seeking his third graded win in a row this weekend when he heads over to the turf representing the Midas residency.
| 11 | KAWAII ANIME | IRE | 4F | stalbrabant17 | S L Ledwith | 17 | 4 | 35% | $454,882 | 8.00 | 22/1 |
Breaking from the final gate in this race will be this 4 year old Bay Filly (CAMELOT (GB) x AWESOME AGAIN x STREET CRY ) that has seen a lot of disappointment in her most recent starts. Her most recent start would be in Deauville going 12 furlongs in the G2, The Silly Rabbit. She would be making her sixth start in a row against the boys that have given her no respect. She would cross the wire in this race nineteen lengths back in fifth with a 97 speed rating. She will be making her seventh start in a row against the boys this Saturday and needs to show up much improved as she makes the start representing the Down Under Racing residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
1-Joie Francaise: Running well with good speeds. Can he challenge this Saturday?
3-Rising Monsuns: Has been in the money in his four most recent starts. Can he find the win in New Zealand?
10-Fade Into A Dream: Seeking his third graded win in a row. Does he find it against this field?