ANTARES IS ANYONES GUESS

The glamour of Graded racing takes place this week in the land of the rising sun, Japan, where a fast dirt course will see the running of The Antares Grade III, a race for all horses 4yo and up over the mile and one eighth course. A solid field of 12 runners have assembled for a crack at the huge $750,000 purse so let’s see how they look.

1 – IACCHUS(KY) – Catullus – 5/1

(AWESOME AGAIN x A.P. INDY x NIJINSKY II)

A regally bred 5yo who ran a nice second in a similar race to this last time out.  He ran a nice fourth the start before in Grade 1 company and appears to love this distance. Has won twice in recent times over this trip including a Grade II victory. Definitely has the right credentials for this race.

2 – TAHARKA(KY) – willyam47 – 6/1

(MEDAGLIA D’ORO x DUBAI MILLENNIUM (GB) x PRIVATE ACCOUNT)

A winner of 8 from 30 who has been a little below his best at his last four outings, with three of those over longer trips than this one. Before that he did string back to back Graded wins together over longer  distances and obviously has ability. Will need to find his best in this one to be competitive.

3 – URKO’S HONOUR(KY) – eliteteam1 – 12/1

(VINDICATION x GONE WEST x NIJINSKY II)

A veteran of 45 starts who will be looking to make it four wins in a row in this one. Has won his last 3 in allowance company with the two most recent of those being over the distance of this race. Despite a rise in class here he is definitely in form and we often see horses like this continue on their winning way. Value.

4 – FLEET DAISY(KY) – opus – 5/1

(AFLEET ALEX x AFFIRMED x NUREYEV)

Has been knocking on the door for a win with top three finishes at his past four outings, with three of those being at Stakes level. He has been flashing home and just failing over slightly longer trips with trainer opus hoping the drop back will see him finish over the top of them. He should be close again here.

5 – SISSON’S DE CRAFTY(AUS) – patriots – 8/1

(ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR x LEE DAVID)

This Aussie bred horse has the imposing record of eleven wins from just twenty three starts. Was a tad disappointing last time out in Grade 1 company when finishing thirteenth over ten furlongs. Before that he was in superb form and saluted at Grade 1 level over this distance just 3 runs back. Certainly represents big value here.

6 – BIRTHDAY BOY(IRE) – shagfarms7 – 14/1

(THEATRICAL(IRE) x RAINBOW QUEST x SHARPEN UP(GB))

A winner of ten from thirty who has not missed the top three in his last eight starts. Had been running in Starter Allowances until four starts back where he took the step to Allowance events with ease. He really looked to have found a pet distance in his last two starts when winning in style both times over ten and a half furlongs including a Stakes race last time out. Drops back today which puts a question mark over him but he is ultra consistent. Keep safe.

7 – SURREAL NEIL(AUS) – pviscount – 28/1

(OCTAGONAL(NZ) x PINE BLUFF x DANEHILL)

A lightly raced 4yo who takes the track for his sixteenth start here. Just three starts back he was running in claiming events and has only won twice in his career. Improved sharply in his last two runs to land a second in an allowance followed by a huge run to finish second over ten furlongs at stakes level. Keeps surprising every start but can he do it again here?

8 – ZETTERBERG(KY) – waremblem5 – 8/1

(ANY GIVEN SATURDAY x PLEASANT COLONY x WOODMAN)

A 4yo who has been racing consistently over this distance at his last four outings. Ran a fourth last start in a race similar to this, before that was placed at stakes level and won an allowance three runs back. Ran a nice second at this distance in a Grade 1 race last year and will be running on when the whips start cracking. Place chance.

9 – HUECO MUNDO(NY) – ace3 – 6/1

(MIDAS EYES x KINGMAMBO x RAHY)

Has won two of his last four but really came into speculation for a race like this with his last outing. He absolutely brained a field of ten over this trip running away to score by two and three quarter lengths in an SP# of 103. Before that his efforts over this distance in allowances had been solid with him regularly appearing in the top three. The big query here is the rise in class, if he can cope with that he should feature in the finish.

10 – SILVER SUNRISE(NZ) – vkstables – 11/1

(ZABEEL(NZ) x IN THE WINGS(GB) x DEPUTY MINISTER)

A 6yo who finished over the top of a small field last time out in a restricted allowance race to win well. Had been struggling before that in harder races. Steps back up to Graded racing here and will find it a lot harder than last time out. Will need to find something special to win.

11 – ALENTEJO(KY) – zatopeck – 9/1

(DISTORTED HUMOR x CAT THIEF x SADLER’S WELLS)

A 4yo with a dirt classic ranking of 98 who has been in the top three at his last eight races. Ran third at this distance last start at Grade II level with his last two stakes efforts at this distance also yielding good results, both seconds. His consistency definitely cannot be questioned and he has to be considered strongly in this kind of race.

12 – OL SUKIE JONES(KY) – sdmfstc – 9/1

(EMPIRE MAKER x HALO x DEPUTY MINISTER)

A 4yo who has won six races from just seventeen starts. Had been running in top grade races over two miles with reasonable success, before dropping back to nine and a half furlongs and winning at stakes level two starts back. Last time out he disappointed finsishing tenth, beaten fourteen lengths in a Grade I over ten furlongs. Drops back in class and distance and may return to some form again in this very open affair. Definitely one to take on trust.

Probably one of the most open races I have written about in a long long time. Many runners have different variables that can make or break them in this one.

I’ve gone for 1-5-11-3 with no confidence at all!

Good Luck and good Punting

BUTCHA