WHO’LL WIN? TATSU – THAT’S WHO!
Dubai, the land of sand will host a sensational Saturday of galloping this week (4267) and the turf is set to scorch during the running of the Sand Castle Turf Sprint Grade I, a race for all comers 4yo and up over the flying 6 furlongs. Eight super sprinters have assembled so let’s take a look at their credentials.
1 – SHEA BUTTER (KY) – hilofarms – 18/1 – A 5yo son of Vindication who has managed to salute on 3 occasions from his 17 appearances at the track earning just under $50,000 in prizemoney to date. Ran 3rd at stakes level over this trip last time out after good Allowance form prior to that in cluding 2 wins in his last 5. This race however is a massive rise in class and he is thrown in at the deep end. I’d be surprised to see him trouble them here.
2 – TRICK OR TREASON (KY) – scooted45 – 40/1 – Raced very well as a 3yo with the year culminating in a stakes win over this distance. This 4yo son of Hat Trick however has had a nightmare start to his 4yo campaign with 2 starts for 2 last placings, both in easier company that todays race. On the creedence if that it would be a boilover if he was to be competitive here.
3 – THOR’ ODYSSEY (KY) – aaafarms – 7/1 – A 4yo on pace runner by Unbridled’s Song who has won an amazing 10 races from his 15 starts including 3 of his last 4. Last time out he blew a stakes field away over 5.5 furlongs winning by 1 1/4 lengths and prouducing a nice speed figure of 108. A source close to aaafarms has said the camp is “quietly confident” of producing a result here, it is certainly not beyond him but he will need to produce career best form to do so.
4 – BAJA PENINSULA (KY) – mav1763 – 9/2 – A proven Grade 1 perfomer who has ammassed over $750,000 in prizemoney from his 18 starts which has included 7 wins. Was gaining on the winner when 2 lengths 3rd at this level and trip last time out at Victoria in the Newmarket Handicap and also won at Grade III level the start prior to that. This 4yo boasts a turf sprint ranking of 77 and looms as a solid place hope.
5 – LEOZIG (IRE) – peeps6 – 4/1 – Very rarely misses out on the top 3 in sprints. Won last time out over 6.5 furlongs producing an SP# of 110. Was only past in the dying stages when 3rd at his last Grade 1 appearance over this distance. A 5yo son of Galileo who has been trained to the minute by peeps6. Has a turf sprint ranking of 22 and must be respected on that alone. Jockey D.Lakencher was bullish about his chances when asked yesterday and said “this win will pay my mortgage off”. One of the major players here.
6 – URKO’S KING (IRE) – urko1 – 4/1 – A champion son of Sadler’s Wells who has earned urko1 over a million dollars in stakes money. Boasts a second in last years Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint and has also won at Grade 1 level. A turf sprint ranking of 6 highlights his credentials and whilst his last 2 starts haven’t been his best, on any given day he could take this race by the scruff of the neck. Cannot be discounted.
7 – TATSU (KY) – given – 2/1 – The head honcho of the turf sprint world and an out and out champion. This 5yo son of Ghostzapper has achieved plenty and looks to be at his very best right now. Has won 13 of his 28 starts en route to claiming just under $2,500,000 in earnings, almost every cent of it in turf sprints. His only failure in his last 5 outings was in the Breeders Bowl Turf sprint which may have proved a little too long for him at this level. That blemish has been more than atoned for with 2 Grade 1 wins back to back at 5 and 6 furlongs. He produced a speed figure of 117 last start when he won at this distance. Add to that the fact that he has top jockey H Harzeim on board and he is mentored by the astute given. The number one ranked turf sprinter on the planet and the obvious selection to win here today.
8 – ETHICS PARADOX (KY) – gradetwo – 9/2 – Has only won 7 from 31 which in this field looks modest but it is also a deceiving statistic. A 5yo by Giant’s Causeway who has won over a million dollars in prizemoney and just happens to be the number two ranked turf sprinter in the world this year. Whilst his recent form may not be headline grabbing material he does have top three finishes in his last 2 races, one of those at grade 1 level. He also won the Grade 1 Cup of July at this distance last year. His racing style of getting back and thundering home makes him a real crowd favourite and there will be plenty of eyes watching his every move as jockey S L Ledwith lets him go on Saturday.
This race is a classic case of quality not quantity with the top two turf sprinters of the day taking part.
I’m predicting 7-8-5
Good luck and Good punting
Butcha