Westlife in concert bring yor earplugs

Race : The Freer Stakes – Grade III – $150,000
Track : Newmarket (ENG)
race: 4407.4914

Thank goodness this race has be taken from Berkshire to Newmarket the thought of being in the same place as loads of Westlife fans makes you feel yuk. The real meeting is sold out due to those clowns playing after racing shame really as it is a decent card to go and watch.

This is in fact the best grade 3 race in the world. That is based on the rating of winners over the last 10 years. In truth it would be a decent grade 2 race but because of politics and the race distance it is rated lower. It has been won by some decent horses in the past include an Arc winner. Several classic winners have also run and won the race. Since 1979 these are some of the more interesting winners.

Niniski he won this as a 4yo after classic success as a 3yo. He then went to stud and did very well. He has one decent son still at stud in Hernando. He surprised most people at stud but given his strong female family and top class sire was it really such a surprise.

Ardross won this race twice was a really good race horse from 13f to 20f and was placed in the Arc. He went on to be a very good national hunt sire and his stock tend to be tough and genuine like he was.

Ibn Bay went to stud in Japan after a long time racing over many season. He did come second in the Breeders Cup Classic at the end of his racing days. He met with some success in Japan and should be able to get the odd stakes horse as a dam sire.

Presenting not much value for the sim but he is about the best national hunt stallion in the world now and commands a fee of 12,000 euros and covers over 250 mares a year. That is not bad going really.

Dushyantor was a decent race horse. He is not much shakes as a sire in Europe on the flat but in Chile he is the king. He has had 23 graded winners in the last 7 years. These are lead by Belle Watling the leading filly in South America right now. She goes on turf and dirt and stays well. Her form though not top class would be better than that of the horses that ran against Zenyatta last week. I am surprised that a US based owner has not purchased her. She would be of interest if raced in the US. It is a shame the Breeder’s Cup tries to prevent horses from running there as she would make an interesting addition to the line up this year. She stays the trip would not mind an off track which could well happen in Kentucky come November.

Recent winners that have retired to stud without real life runners are not of much interest. Admiral Cruise A.P. Indy’s best runner ever in Europe is at stud in Venezuela and is skid material. Papa Bull is a national hunt sire and offers very little as does Sixties Icon that added to his mares and lack of quality had a breathing operation as well.

There are 19 five day declarations for this race which reflects the strength in depth of 12f+ horses in England. 18 of the 19 pass the quality test of having wither their sire or dam sire having raced in Europe.

The sires are Galileo*3, Cape Cross*2, Singspiel, Halling, Danehill Dancer, More Than Ready, Lando, Indian Ridge, Kalanisi, Rainbow Quest, Linamix, High Chaparral, Dr Fong, Lion Heart, Mr Greeley and Val Royal.

The dam sires being Mark Of Esteem, Shirley Heights, Ahonoora, Green Dancer, Seattle Slew, Unfuwain, Salse, Relaunch, Sadler’s Wells*2, Darshaan, Rubiano, Be My Guest, Kahaysi, Dr Devious, Zafonic, Caerloen, Danzig and Woodman.

The list shows the most important factor is Sadler’s Wells he is the dam sire of two horses and the grand dad of 4 and great granddad of another. This is no surprise given his outstanding record at stud. He really does need a sim upgrade at 10f+ plus in the sim.

WOLFRAM AND HART (KY) EMPIRE MAKER x RAINBOW QUEST x NORTHERN DANCER (CAN)

This horse could really be bred given the way Juddmonte breed horses. The problem is though the horses they have bred with Empire Maker and raced in Europe have fallen well short of the levels achieved by their to superstar European sires Oasis Dream and Dansili. It appears from breeding patterns they have given up with him form turf racing and he will as a sire slowly decline in profile. He has though been bred to some nice families and therefore will do well as a broodmare sire in years to come. This horse comes into the race unbeaten on an off track. He in fact appears a better horse on off tracks. With the good surface and the fact this will be a negative to other runners he has to have a good chance of making the frame as he has won over the trip before. Well placed by the owner here.

FAPPI’S EASE (KY) EASING ALONG x FAPPIANO x PRIVATE ACCOUNT

This horses sire is has had very few runners in Europe. The ones he has had have been imported from Argentina and all are pretty pathetic by the looks of it. They all seem to like artificial surfaces and none have any aspiration to stay anything like this trip. The pedigree of this horse also says useless on turf outside of the USA as well. This horse has a decent record on off tracks that will be of a benefit here. HE can run good speed figures. The major issue though is class. Apart from one 5 runner race his stakes results are not good. You would have to think he is likely to find a couple to good here but cannot be thrown out completely due to the going.

STINKFOOT (IRE) SADLER’S WELLS x SEEKING THE GOLD x GREEN DESERT

This horse’s sire was dealt with when reviewing the field for the real race. Based on those facts he would be a worthy winner here. It should be pointed out though a back end of Seeking The Gold and Green Desert there would have to be major stamina doubts. I would be amazed if the dam of this horse could stay more than a mile and even SW would struggle to inject enough stamina to let the horse stay this far. He is another horse that likes off tracks and has a very good record so once again the horse is well placed. He handles the trip and class and came second on the same track in the spring (in a race Harbinger won in real life). He has to have a great shout in the race and should be there about at the finish.

HUNT FOR KIRBY (KY) DYNAFORMER x KINGMAMBO x A.P. INDY

Dynaformer is getting old now and how he was marketed at stud this year suggests he may well be retired or do a Kingmambo next year cover like 20 mares or less. It is interesting to review his stud record he has sired no surperstar horses (mind Barbaro could have been). In fact his best turf horses are a long way removed from top class. Ratings of 122 for all three are ok but not world beating and those horses have did run like that. His best runners have been o n dirt. He is a very good sire and offers something being by Roberto. It is interesting that his fillies are more in demand than colts by big breeders which supports this view. This horse has not to bad a record on off tracks. His recent form suggests this class of race is well beyond him as well. He has always tackled long trip but won on his run at 9f the shortest trip he has encountered. It may be worth a try at a shorter trip again and or try dirt to see if something clicks and sparks an improvement.

MADRIGAL (GER) MONSUN (GER) x UNBRIDLED x NASHUA

This horse should love the tip and conditions based on his sire’s record at stud. German horses love a distance of ground and also enjoy being knee deep in mud. His only off track run on speed figures suggest he should act as well. He is improving with age as one would expect from his breeding and his last start was his best so far. That proves he can handle the class factor. If as expected he handles the conditions he can be in the shake up for prize money at the end of the race.

THE GALLOPIN GHOST (ENG) SULAMANI (IRE) x TAKE YOUR PLACE x TINA’S PET (GB)

Sulamani has sire one good horse at stud so far that one did win a classic. Overall his offspring have not been that good. He is now in France and maybe he will get better support there. That may come as he was a top class 3yo in France in fact a classic winner. You would have to say though overall his record is not likely to get much better and his sim rating is reasonable in fact may well be a bit to kind in truth. This horse has done very well for his new owner. Evidence would suggest off tracks are no this thing though and he may well bounce after a very good run in his last start. Overall given track conditions he would not be my choice in this race.

CENTEO (ENG) RAINBOW QUEST x WOODMAN x NORTHERN DANCER

Rainbow Quest is an interest horse. In real life he is far better as a dam sire than sire 13 winners as a sire and 42 as a dam sire over the last 7 years show that to good effect. He is top class as a dam sire. Interestingly in the sim it appears the other way around. I t would be fair to say he actual needs a boost as a dam sire in the sim. Again this horse likes an off track as well. He was graded placed on the surface in his last start. He has to therefore hold very good claims in this race as well. He should run well here as well.

As for my selections:-

1, Stinkfoot should run well
2, Wolfram And Hart likes the surface and improving
3, Madrigal improving and has good pedigree for this type of race