EQUINICS Race 10. SUPER IMPOSE PLATE – 3YR OLDS 10F TURF

Super Impose was one of the most durable and popular gallopers of his era, a crowd favourite whose toughness and electrifying finishing bursts defined Australian racing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Trained by Lee Freedman, the chestnut gelding compiled an outstanding record of 20 wins from 74 starts and earned over $5.6 million in prize money, then a record in Australasia. 

Renowned for his ability to charge home from the back of the field, Super Impose became a true big-race specialist, winning eight Group 1 races including back to back Epsom Handicap and Doncaster Handicap victories in 1990 and 1991.  His crowning moment came as an eight-year-old when he captured the Cox Plate in 1992, becoming the oldest horse to win the race at the time and cementing his place among the sport’s greats. 

For the record Fields of Omagh now holds the record as a 9yr old winning in 2006 having won it as a 6yr previously.

Now for my take on the 121 starters for the event. Only a field of competing with BRITISH EURO not having a starter in the event.

1. Kings Karma (5/1) – ( EWC )

• Distance Ability: Brilliant middle-distance type. He has 7 starts in the Route division for 5 wins, including an exceptional, standard-setting 2000m Group 2 victory in 2:00.51 last time out.
• Class History: Highly comfortable at this grade. This is his second consecutive appearance in a Group 2 race on turf following that dominant last start victory.
• Head to Head: Handily defeated #9 Blood Pact when winning the Group 2 Adam Gene at DEA.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his local track debut here at QLD. New jockey M. Cameron takes the ride today, looking to maintain the horse’s elite winning momentum.
• Name : Sounds like a royal decree reminding everyone that what goes around comes around. Let’s see if his rivals get served a king-sized dish of cosmic retribution.

2. Once and Future (8/1) – ( ESR )

• Distance Ability: Strongly suited to the 2000m journey. He has 6 route starts for 2 wins and an elite Group 1 third 3rd finish.
• Class History: Proven at the highest level. He is class dropping out of consecutive Group 1 races on turf, making this Group 2 field a slightly easier target.
• Head to Head: Was narrowly beaten by #12 Astins Sett when finishing 3rd in the Group 1 Queen’s Dish.
• Track / Jockey Success: Never raced at this track before. New jockey M. Vinson takes over the steering duties for this assignment.
• Name : A classic paradox of a name. He is either a time traveling champion or a horse having a massive identity crisis about whether he’s already won the race or is yet to start.

3. Kaleidoscope Dream (10/1) – ( URC )

• Distance Ability: Versatile stayer stretching his speed. While his recent victories have been over longer 2400m distances, he possesses strong 2000m form with a close 2nd place in 2:02.46.
• Class History: Riding a two-race win streak, including a dominant Group 3 win in the Derby de Danish last start. This is his official stepping stone into Group 2 company.
• Head to Head: Has managed to avoid lining up against the other top-tier chances until today.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his first appearance at this track layout. Gets a brand new pilot with jockey R. Gibson booked for the ride.
• Name : A beautiful name that describes exactly what the punters will see after an eight-hour stint at the trackside bar, a swirling, colorful mess of confusion.

4. Call Pat (13/1) – ( LATINOS )

• Distance Ability: Proven winner at the 2000m distance. He has 6 route starts for 2 wins, including a dominant 3.5-length Stakes blowout over exactly 2000m last time out, stopping the clock at 2:01.88.
• Class History: Making his Group level debut. Up until now, he has been targeted at Maiden and regional Stakes company, but his progressive speed figures show he earned this rise in grade.
• Head to Head: Has not lined up against any of the other runners in this field yet.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his track debut. Gets a fresh pilot with jockey T. O’Shea booked for the ride today.
• Name : Sounds like the emergency instruction you get when the office fax machine catches fire. “Don’t look for the manual, just Call Pat!

5. Save The Blanco (10/1) – ( FRC )

• Distance Ability: Exceptional top tier stayer. He has 7 route starts with a massive bankroll from matching it with the world’s best, including a fighting 3rd-place finish in the Japanese 2000 Guineas in 2:01.78.
• Class History: Massive class dropper. This colt has spent his entire 3YR old season running in consecutive global Group 1 features (including the Irish and English Derbies). Moving into a Group 2 makes this a significantly easier task.
• Head to Head: Was soundly beaten by #11 Zarakudo in the Japanese 2000 Guineas.
• Track / Jockey Success: Never seen this track layout before. Brand new jockey B. Sinstead takes the reins today.
• Name : Sounds like an urgent request to protect the reputation of a generic white house wine before a backyard barbecue gets out of hand.

6. Outside Sources (7/1) – ( MIDAS )

• Distance Ability: Elite middle-distance performer. He has a perfect top two record over 2000m to 2100m, including a spectacular 2000m Group 2 victory in 2:01.38 two starts ago.
• Class History: Highly reliable Group winner. He won a Group 3 in Germany, a Group 2 in America, and ran a huge 4th in a Group 1 in France. He is perfectly suited to this Grade II level.
• Head to Head: Has managed to completely avoid facing the other horses on this card until today.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his first appearance at this track layout. Brand new jockey C. Williams takes over the steering duties for this assignment.
• Name : Sounds like a shady corporate excuse you use when your budget reports are completely wrong. “Don’t blame me, I got the data from outside sources!”

7. Muffliato (15/1) – ( ERC )

• Distance Ability: Strong middle-distance type. He has 6 route starts for 2 wins, including a massive 7 length blowout over this exact 2000m distance last start in 2:02.16.
• Class History: Stepping up significantly in class. This is his official debut in Group 2 company after building his form at the minor local Allowance level.
• Head to Head: Has not crossed paths with any other runners on this card until today.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his local track debut. Brand new jockey P. Rosportz takes the reins for this major class assignment.
• Name : Sounds like a fancy, over-priced coffee order you get at a hipster café that contains way too much oat milk and zero actual caffeine.

8. Tete Vaer (10/1) – ( EURO / UNION )

• Distance Ability: Highly competent around this length. He has a perfect top-two record over 1900m to 2100m, highlighted by a massive 10.5-length demolition job over 1900m in 2:01.12.
• Class History: Class dropping out of Group 1 company. He found the elite field in the French Grand Prix a bit too sharp last start, but his previous Group 3 form shows he is perfectly placed at Group 2 level.
• Head to Head: First time facing any of the current competitors.
• Track / Jockey Success: Never seen this track before. He gets a brand new pilot with jockey D. Coffey booked for the ride.
• Name : Sounds like the name of a high-end Swedish flat-pack wardrobe that takes seven hours, three arguments, and an allen key to assemble.

9. Blood Pact (5/1) – ( MECCA )

• Distance Ability: Elite 2000m performer. He has a spectacular record around this trip, highlighted by a dominant 6.25-length Group 1 blowout in the Rosehill Classic in 2:01.43.
• Class History: A proven millionaire and absolute class heavyweight. He is a Group 1 champion who comes into this fresh off a brilliant, close 2nd place at this Group 2 level last start.
• Head to Head: Finished a narrow 2nd just behind winner #1 Kings Karma at DEA.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his local track debut. Brand new jockey M. Mason takes the mount today for this highly anticipated rematch.
• Name : A deeply intense, terrifyingly dramatic name for a racehorse. Let’s hope his rivals are ready for an absolute battle on the turf, rather than a sinister cult ritual.

10. Holy Scratch (12/1) – ( NORTHWEST )

• Distance Ability: This trip is a massive query. While he has 3 wins from 6 route starts, his biggest victories have been over shorter distances, and his only previous attempt at 2000m resulted in a massive, 24 length thrashing.
• Class History: Huge class jump. Stepping up from a $30,000 claimer straight into a Group 2 field on turf is a monumental ask.
• Head to Head: Has not previously crossed paths with any other runners in this field.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his track debut. New jockey G. Lawson takes the reins today for this tough assignment.
• Name : Sounds like what you mutter under your breath when you realize you just scratched the side of your car on a shopping centre pillar.

11. Zarakudo (9/1) – ( DUR )

• Distance Ability: A classic 2000m weapon. He has 8 route starts for 4 wins, including a phenomenal performance over this exact distance to take out a major Group 1 feature.
• Class History: The class benchmark alongside the top earners. He is a Group 1 champion (Japanese 2000 Guineas) dropping back to Group 2 level after finding the 2400m trip a bit too far in the English Derby.
• Head to Head: Defeated #5 Save The Blanco when winning the Group 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas at JPN.
• Track / Jockey Success: First time racing at the Queensland layout. Gets a fresh pilot with jockey P. Lannoo booked for the ride.
• Name : Sounds like a high-energy martial arts class where you kick wooden boards while trying to pronounce Eastern European surnames

12. Astins Sett (7/1) – ( ORPHANS )

• Distance Ability: Brilliant front-running middle-distance type. He has 5 route starts for 3 wins and 2 seconds, including a dominant 6-length Group 2 victory and an elite 2:01.46 over this exact distance.
• Class History: Exceptional Group performer. He won consecutive Group 2 features earlier this year and enters this fresh off a magnificent, fighting 2nd place in a Group 1 classic.
• Head to Head: Narrowly defeated #2 Once and Future when finishing 2nd in the Group 1 Queen’s Dish.
• Track / Jockey Success: Making his track debut. Brand new jockey N. Landrum takes over the riding duties today.
• Name : Sounds like a fancy, concrete outdoor patio furniture bundle you bought on sale at a hardware store.

Wrap of the Top 3 Chances

1st: #9 Blood Pact (5/1)
Time for some sweet revenge for this elite millionaire. He was incredibly unlucky to be pipped by Kings Karma over this distance last month, but he has the superior peak performance on paper, including a dominant 6 length Group 1 blowout. With a fresh set of eyes in jockey M. Mason taking the seat, expect him to stalk the speed and explode over the final 200m to take the prize.

2nd: #1 Kings Karma (5/1)
You cannot ignore a bloke on a three-race winning streak. He has been absolutely flawless over the 2000m trip, clocking a blistering 2:00.51 to win a Group 2 last time out. He has to carry top billing here, but his dynamic turn of foot makes him a massive threat to repeat the dose.

3rd: #12 Astins Sett (7/1)
The ultimate front-running professional. He won back to back Group 2 races by open spaces earlier this year and was only beaten a nose in a Group 1 last start. Because he goes straight to the lead, his new hoop N. Landrum won’t have to worry about traffic or bad luck, as I believe he will play catch me if you-can from the front.

The Best Roughie

#2 Once and Future (8/1)
This son of Camelot is a massive over-price in the betting ring. He is class-dropping out of two massive Group 1 fields, including a brilliant 3rd-place finish behind Astins Sett where he was hitting the line hard. Because all 12 horses have brand new jockeys today, there is zero established chemistry across the entire field. If the front runners get into a tactical war down the back straight, this bloke has the raw stamina to steam home over the top of them.

Best of luck to all runners in this very. It is going to be an absolute cracker of a contest with all these jockey changes keeping everyone on their toes. Hopefully, the boys find the line beautifully for all residencies.