The Balding Matters
Race : The BALDING MATTERS Memorial – Stakes – $70,000
Track : Queensland (AUS)
Restrictions : All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance : A mile and one eighth on the Turf
A small field of eight will contest this race on Saturday to kick off the new year at Queensland. PENCHAYE looks the likely leader with DYNA IN DUBAI and FAR FROM OJA also pushing forward. I like DYNA IN DUBAI, the winner of over one million in stakes and has been racing well in higher grades. SISSON’S STORMELLO is another one he drops back in grade for this and will be running on. The favourite looks a risk here has form over longer distances and has been disappointing last couple of runs.
PP1 – 13301 PENCHAYE (KY) 6/1
4YO Horse by Arch 20 starts 8-2-3 $219,685 (donosti)
Win Percent 40% AveragePze 10,984 SPRating 104
Found Grade One level too much at New Zealand before returning to South Korea for a very impressive win over seven and a half furlongs in an Allowance race when long odds on favourite. Not the roughest here.
PP2 – 11276 BEN’S PACKIN (JPN) 3/1
6YO Horse by Deep Impact 32 starts 10-7-4 $338,193 (billqulch)
Win Percent 31.2% AveragePze 10,568 SPRating 104
Was a good second in the Grade Three Chosen Stakes at Surrey over a mile and a quarter three starts back. Has failed twice since but can improve. Should be well ridden by S DeBerg.
PP3 – 90120 DYNA IN DUBAI (KY) 9/2
6YO Horse by Dynaformer 43 starts 13-4-7 $1,239,560 (desperado)
Win Percent 30.2% AveragePze 28,826 SPRating 112
Scored well in Allowance level before second at Newmarket in the Grade Three Farley Stakes over nine furlongs. Badly drawn last start so forget poor run. The winner of over $1.2M in stakes and can improve here. Will be given every chance by Queensland’s top jockey C Wyatt. Looks the one to beat here.
PP4 – 31130 TAO JONES (KY) 11/1
4YO Horse by Dynaformer 19 starts 4-4-3 $99,748 (twinoaks)
Win Percent 21.0% AveragePze 5249 SPRating 101
Smart four year old working through his classes. Won two on end at Allowance level both over nine furlongs before striking a wet track in the Metallic Sherba Special at Minnesotta. Can improve of last start tenth in slightly harder race.
PP5 – 21111 FAR FROM OJA (CA) 5/1
5YO Horse by Cee’s Tizzy 20 starts 10-4-4 $296,600 (ojai09)
Win Percent 50% AveragePze 14,830 SPRating 101
Has scored five winds from past six starts but all over slightly longer journeys. Last start scored a very easy win over eleven furlongs at Greece at Allowance level and will be running on strongly at the finish.
PP6 – 21563 RODE ME HARD (KY) 9/2
6YO Horse by Rahy 39 starts 14-8-4 $1,950,400 (40oz)
Win Percent 35.8% AveragePze 50,010 SPRating 105
Won the Grade Three Berkshire Gold Cup over a mile four starts back and has been slightly disappointing since. Ran third in the Pepe’s Pipes Challenge at Indonesia last start and is is the class runner of the field. Will be handled by M Cameron who will give him every chance.
PP7 – 15516 SISSON’S STORMELLO (KY) 5/1
5YO Horse by Storm Cat 28 starts 8-7-3 $239,307 (taztiger)
Win Percent 28.5% AveragePze 8546 SPRating 108
Scored a good win at New Hampshire over a mile and a quarter at Allowance level before a good effort at Japan in a harder Grade Three There You Are last start. Has a good chance in this.
PP8 – 06141 GIGAWATT (IRE) 8/1
7YO Horse by Shamardal 38 starts 7-5-5 $213,872 (hawkz)
Win Percent 18.4% AveragePze 5628 SPRating 107
Scored his second win from last three starts when an easy winner at South Africa over nine and a half furlongs at latest run at Allowance level. Never placed at Stakes level. Will go close in this.
Good Luck to all Runners
Steve