Two-Year-Old Stakes Brightens Card
The feature race in Hong Kong this weekend is The OUR BEADS Challenge, named after the winner of ten sprints on the dirt. There are seven contenders for this Stakes race for two-year-olds over seven and a half furlongs on the fast dirt, which carries a $65,000 purse.
The favourite is Mr. Tiger Bro(AUS), who is drawn on the inside. Bred and trained by chi4505, this son of Reset(AUS) out of a Broad Brush mare finished fifth in the Grade Two Camel Juvenile over a mile last time out, running close to the pace but fading to finish seven lengths behind the winner, Half A World Away. In his previous two runs, which were both Stakes races over six and a half furlongs, he made most of the running until being caught in the stretch, finishing third, beaten three-quarters of a length, and then second here, when he recorded his best speed figure to date of 85. M. Bower will partner him.
Joint second-favourite is Seeking Quirt, a colt by Belong To Me out of a mare by Seeking The Gold, who is bred and trained by quirt22. He has run only three times previously, winning a Maiden Special Weight race over five furlongs on his debut, then following up in an Allowance race over six furlongs, when he put up his best speed figure of 79. Last time out, he finished sixth, racing near the pace but fading to be beaten nine and a quarter lengths, in a Stakes race over a mile. In his earlier races, he had run in a closing manner, and a reversion to that style of running would probably benefit him here. P. Kelly will be on board.
The other second-favourite is Gonzalez Sergio(IRE), who was bred by manni164 and runs for the ruby9 stable. This son of Swain(IRE) out of the Kingmambo mare King’s Warning has run four times previously, winning at the third time of asking in an Allowance race over six furlongs. He followed up last time out in a Stakes race over a mile on good going, recording a speed figure of 86. With wins on either side of today’s distance, he is one to be reckoned with at this trip. He has the assistance of the track’s leading jockey T. Brewer.
Also well-fancied is Road To Isengard, who is drawn one off the rail. This son of Lemon Drop Kid out of a mare by Giant’s Causeway(IRE) has run three times previously, winning a Maiden Special Weight race over six furlongs on the turf on his debut, then losing his way a little when stepped up to Allowance races for non-winners of two, switching to dirt last time out to finish third, beaten two and three-quarter lengths, over six furlongs, recording a speed figure of 76. This is a big step up for an unproven colt, but it looks like a weak race for Stakes level. D. Aldridge will be in the saddle for glendowr.
Count The Birdies, bred and trained by kinghaven, finished fifth, beaten three and three-quarter lengths, in an Allowance race over six and a half furlongs last time out. He has run in six previous races, not winning his Maiden Special Weight until the fourth time of asking, when he made all the running on sloppy going to record his best speed figure of 76. He was then tried in an Allowance for non-winners of three on good going, in which he finished a close second. In his two most recent starts, he changed tactics to closing, and that seems to have resulted in his needing a greater distance of ground. Di Thomas will partner the son of Numerous out of X. Dancer, a mare by Shareef Dancer.
Drawn on the outside is You Bred That(IRE), who was bred by tracktails for twinholder. The chestnut son of Ballingarry(IRE) out of a mare by Tight Spot makes his debut on the dirt track here, having run in six races on the turf. Last time out, he won an Allowance race over this distance, recording a speed figure of 76. It will be interesting to see if he can translate his form to the dirt. C. Shinkle will be his jockey.
The outsider is Cozy Lil Cat, who is by Cat Dreams out of Jove Cozzene, a mare by Cozzene. Bred by atticus and trained by slowmann, this grey colt achieved a hat-trick of wins earlier in the season, in Maiden Claiming, Claiming (from which he was claimed by current connections) and Allowance NW1x races. He then stepped up to Stakes races, where he has struggled thus far, putting up a speed figure of 60 over a mile last time out. His best speed figure to date is 69, gained in the Allowance race that he won. R. Dilllungham is the jockey.
This race looks to be between Mr. Tiger Bro(AUS), who ran into some very talented competition last time out, and Gonzalez Sergio(IRE), who has recorded the highest speed figure in the field and has won over both six and eight furlongs. Some of the others are not really up to Stakes calibre at present, but the competition for third spot looks tight.