Blessings, Glory and Rock for the Ages!
We have traveled down under to the beautiful Queensland Racecourse for the Knick Knack Juvenile. After this weeks rains, it may be a bit dicey on the grass on Saturday. This mile and a sixteenth race for two year olds has a purse of $500,000 and there are several candidates for the winners circle so lets take a look:
#1 CHATEAU ANGELUS(IRE) trainer – super29, ( 13/1), Jockey – T. Phillips (10%), Avg Sp # (80.8)
This nice looking roan El Prado colt stretched out to a mile last time and really seemed to like the extra distance, winning an allowance by two lengths with an 80 speed figure. He has yet to run on an off course but may get his chance here.
#2 GO VERTIGO trainer – tejanoroy, ( 16/1), Jockey – C. Simien (11%), Avg Sp # (N/A)
Trainer dowelly has a really nice Red Ransom colt out of Amanda Jane. He has never finished worse than second in four races and has three seconds in a row including two stakes races. He has shown improvement every time out and has continued to stretch the distance including this first race over a mile. He is a closer that may need to stay closer to the leaders here.
#3 GALLANT DANCER trainer – coffee, ( 9/1), Jockey – Y. Carpenter (14%), Avg Sp # (86.2)
Two races and two wins for this light grey Sadler’s Wells colt out of Flyami Theater. He moved to seven and a half furlongs last out and seemed to have plenty left at the end with a nice 80 speed figure. He should be able to carry this distance and looks like a colt to be reckoned with. With Y Carpenter up in the stirrups, you might want to watch for a grey streak flying down the stretch.
#4 WREATH OF ROSES (Filly) trainer – twoofus, ( 8/1), Jockey –B. Baker (12%), Avg Sp # (77.2)
The only young lady in the race, Wreath of Roses may match up well with the boys. She is another Sadler’s Wells offspring and won her only race, the Frosty Opal Stakes. It was a small field but she had a nice 77 speed figure and should do well at this distance. A nice jockey up and trainer twoofus has a whole stable full of two year olds worth of experience.
#5 ROCK FOR THE AGES(IRE) trainer – marto, ( 5/1), Jockey – Z. Purton (5%), Avg Sp # (81.4)
Rock of Gibralter offspring generally mean grass runners but this colt seems to run best on the dirt. He has run four on the dirt course and only his last race, the Quick Seattle Stakes on grass. He finished 2nd there with a respectable 81 speed figure. He has run over 90 on dirt. Five races, all in the money so this youngster knows how to hit the board.
#6 HIDE BEHIND GLASS trainer – cjt4, ( 12/1), Jockey – V. Singleton (10%), Avg Sp # (70.3)
Hide behind glass won his maiden 3 back then struggled a bit in two stakes races with one third place finish. This Pulpit offspring can’t seem to decide whether or not he likes the grass or dirt course. He needs to decide in a hurry against this talented young bunch.
#7 DROP THE BOMB(GB) trainer – mikehusker, ( 10/1), Jockey – G. Rodenhauser (5%), Avg Sp # (76.5)
This colt was coming along nicely until he threw a bit of a clunker last time out. The British bred Beat Hollow colt finished dead last and had his worst speed figure in that one. He seems to like a little more distance and perhaps that last time out was an anomaly. He’s just like most juveniles… hard to figure. He is coming out of an up and coming stable for trainer mikehusker though and he and jock Rodenhauser may figure this one out.
#8 GLORY B GOOD trainer – rhfarms, ( 6/1), Jockey – S. DeBerg (14%), Avg Sp # (85.2)
It appears that Glory B Good will be leading them past the first pole as this speed burner colt of Belong to Me craves the lead. He has held on to win in half of his six races. He seems to like the shorter distances a bit better and this will be the first time over a mile. Don’t look back at the top of the stretch as there will be a lot of talent moving up fast on his flanks.
#9 CRIMSON WARRIOR trainer – dowelly, (8/1), Jockey – V. Hull (14%), Avg Sp # (83.1)
Trainer dowelly has a really nice Red Ransom colt out of Amanda Jane. He has never finished worse than second in four races and has three seconds in a row including two stakes races. He has shown improvement every time out and has continued to stretch the distance including this first race over a mile. He is a closer that may need to stay closer to the leaders here.
#10 TEST THE SLEW(AUS) trainer – alagou, (14/1), Jockey – T. Cox (10%), Avg Sp # (N/A)
A two times stakes winner already, this Testa Rossa Aussie bred colt is looking to stretch out past six and a half furlongs for the first time. He is generally a closer with plenty left at the end so this may do him some good. His best time to date was on dirt but he seems equally proficient on either surface. A “Test” for the test this time out.
#11 BLESSED ROAD trainer – lasthope, ( 9/2), Jockey – C. Wyatt (22%), Avg Sp # (81.1)
This undefeated Kingmambo colt out of broodmare Kristeene S. is two for two in his young career. Both his maiden and his winner in the Off Til Star Bonanza stakes last out were at a mile or longer. He threw an 82 speed figure in his stakes race and won by a head. The big chestnut colt looks like a force here and I sure wouldn’t bet against him.
#12 HOPES AND FEARS trainer – bobmarley, (11/1), Jockey – J. Jones (11%), Avg Sp # (78.1)
Trainer bobmarley had to be happy that this Grand Slam colt finally won his maiden last time out and rather nicely at a mile. He is moving way up in class this race, and the sharp looking chestnut colt will have to kick it up a notch to find the board here.
As with all Juvenile races, it is a bit up in the air but I like BLESSED ROAD to come in third just ahead of CRIMSON WARRIOR. A fading GLORY B GOOD will get passed in the stretch by the big Irish colt ROCK FOR THE AGES and he will move on for the win.
Good luck to all runners!
Paz