The Coronation Pilsner Grade I
The Coronation Pilsner Grade I
This weekend we have the The Coronation Pilsner Grade I, a race run over a mile and a half on the turf in
It should be a great spectacle, let’s have a good look at the runners.
- ROYAL DRAKON(IRE) 9/1 (AUTHORIZED x
K Marky ( 34 – 4 – 2 – 2 – 12% )
Royal Drakon is a lightly raced 4 year old son of Tete For Storm who was successful on the track winning at Grade III level and now appears to have produced a good quality galloper. Royal Drakon has won 5 of 12 and has been dominant in his last three outings winning them all by a combined margin of 10 lengths. He generally sits mid field before launching his run late and his speed figures have been impressive winning with 101, 113 and 107 over similar distances in has last few starts. He stepped up from allowance company to win a Grade II race at his last outing and should be competitive here in what is a very strong race.
- FAR FROM OJAI(CA) 5/1 (CEE’S TIZZY x DIESIS(GB) x FAIRY KING)
B Christopher ( 37 – 4 – 3 – 5 – 11% )
This 5 year old light grey horse has proven to be a very consistent galloper placing in 22 of his 26 starts and with career earnings exceeding $350 000. He has 12 wins to his credit with majority of those wins being over staying journeys on the turf so this looks suitable. Although he is a winner at stakes level he hasn’t yet cracked a graded win and he will need to improve a little to win this one. His latest stakes win was over this distance with a career best 111 speed figure which would definitely prove competitive in this. Some chance.
- KETARING(KY) 7/1 (EL PRADO(IRE) x FAPPIANO x KRIS S.)
J Diggs ( 80 – 13 – 6 – 5 – 16% )
Ketaring is a 4 year old light grey mare who looks like being an up and coming star and will certainly be one to watch over the next couple of years. She has so far won half of her 14 career starts and has been well managed by her trainer which should ensure she has a long career. She has already won 3 Grade I races, an amazing achievement in her first 14 starts. She loves this distance and generally sits back in the field before showing a devastating turn of foot to round up the field and win running away. She has just returned from a break and looks ready to show her best after finishing quickly last time out over 10 furlongs. A major player here and good value at 7/1.
- TITLE DEFENSE(KY) 5/2 (AWESOME AGAIN x KINGMAMBO x STORM CAT)
T Nugent ( 178 – 14 – 14 – 30 – 8% )
An absolute champion. Bred to be the best and has turned out to be the best Title Defence is heading to the race track for the 34th time, he’s won 15 of his starts including 6 Grade I wins and over $13.5m in earnings. You would expect that by now he would be starting to fade after dominating for several seasons but champions never die and he’s not done with yet. He has won three of his last four and similar to Ketaring likes to settle back and ping home, it could be a great battle between two outstanding gallopers at different stages of their careers. Last time out he ran on to win a Grade III over 11 furlongs with a 109 speed figure and that run indicates he is a great chance here as well. The deserving favourite.
5. FUTURE DREAM(KY) 3/1 (A.P. INDY x SADLER’S WELLS x NIJINSKY II)
T Liverson ( 35 – 2 – 2 – 8 – 6% )
Another runner out of a former high class galloper in True Dream who was a Grade II winner and when put to A.P. Indy has produced a very good horse. Future Dream has won 9 of 21 starts and has earnings of just under $3m with the bulk of his wins coming over 12 – 16 furlongs so he will have no trouble getting the distance. When he is allowed to get an easy lead he can prove hard to get past and he looks a chance of finding the front here. He ran a 114 over 16 furlongs three back which is a huge run and if he is anywhere near his best he can play a big part in the finish here.
- SEVENTH SENSE(IRE) 5/1 (MONTJEU (IRE) x KINGMAMBO x NIJINSKY II)
R Harzheim ( 341 – 72 – 57 – 70 – 21% )
Another Grade I winner of nearly $4m, Seventh Sense found the 16 furlongs slightly too far last time out when fading late to run 2nd, he returns to his favorite distance here. He is proven over the mile and a half with two recent wins with 114 speed figures including taking out the Breeders Bowl Turf six starts back. He has a great jockey on his back and you can expect to see him settling down just behind the leaders before challenging in the straight. A high quality galloper who has won 8 of his 17 career starts so far and wouldn’t surprise to add to that record here.
- GET OUT THE WAY(KY) 14/1 (STREET CRY (IRE) x LYPHARD x BROAD BRUSH)
L Risquez ( 61 – 14 – 7 – 4 – 23% )
This 4 year old son of Street Cry would be the least experienced runner in the field and faces a big jump in class from what he has contested previously. Although he is a stakes winner he hasn’t had much experience in graded races and has won 6 of 17 career starts so far with earnings of just $130 000. He tends to jump and run and should add some pace into this race which will help the favorites but I can’t see him finishing top three here. He would need to improve considerably on what he has shown previously to challenge these.
- DYLAN TOM N JERRY 5/1 (DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) x MONTJEU x RAINBOW QUEST)
D Aniel ( 273 – 40 – 49 – 45 – 15% )
Another high quality galloper who has been a dominant force in staying races for many years. Dylan Tom N Jerry is the best performed son of Dylan Thomas who himself is a son of the great Danehill. This 5 year old chestnut has won 8 of 34 career starts and banked nearly $4.5m for connections. He likes to get back and finish hard but has trained off a little of late and may be starting to feel the pinch after a long, successful career. He did manage to win the Grade I Ackland Cup three back and has finished off his last couple in reasonable fashion over a longer distance. He has been a great galloper and can never be written off but I can’t see him finishing over the top of the favorites.
A great race.
My Selections
1. Ketaring
2. Title Defense
3. Future Dream