Evenly Matched Race Down Under.
We have traveled down under to the beautiful Queensland Racecourse for the Rich Tree Challenge Stakes. The race is named for Rich Tree a long turf runner with moderate success. After this week’s rains, it may be a bit slick on the grass on Saturday. This mile and three quarters race for three year old and up fillies and mares has a purse of $55,000 and there are several candidates for the winners circle so lets take a look:
#1 TONNOCHI ROAD trainer – waqkombi, ( 9/2), Jockey – S. DeBerg (14%), Avg Sp # (90.3)
Four Year old Rainbow Quest filly that has been a bit off her game lately. She won the Blackberry Drill Stakes five back and hasn’t broken a 90 speed figure since. She was running better earlier this year but most of those were a bit shorter distance. She may not like the extra real estate. She has one of the tracks best up in DeBerg but he has his hands full here and will really have to show his magic.
#2 GO IN THE HABIT(GB) trainer – grimreeser, ( 6/1), Jockey – J. Jones (12%), Avg Sp # (88.7)
In the Habit is another four year old, this one by the British sire In the Wings. She has been in the habit of jumping out to the lead and lately has had a bit of trouble holding on at the end. She went 14 furlongs last out and won with a 90 speed figure, her first in six races. That was an allowance race but she is definitely stakes tested as well. She has gotten a lot of work this year with this being her 14th this year and may be wearing down a bit.
#3 CARSON A. S. trainer – johnstable, ( 6/5), Jockey – C. Wyatt (14%), Avg Sp # (98.4)
This Pine Bluff four year old has won an amazing eight of her 10 races this year, all Stakes races. She began the year with seven in a row and came in third in a grade two stakes last out. She is extremely consistent and likes to make her move at the top of the stretch. With C Wyatt up in the stirrups, she will be very tough to pass coming home. Three for three on an off track.
#4 FOUR SIXES trainer – kirby55, ( 3/1), Jockey –T. Phillips (10%), Avg Sp # (93.8)
One of two five year olds in the race, this Aljabr mare has won 22 of 40 races and has earnings of nearly a million dollars. She hasn’t thrown any of those triple digit speed figures this year that came so easily when she was a bit younger but she still knows how to win and has won five stakes races this year alone. She’s been king of yo-yoing her races lately and this would be a down race if that form holds. She is five for five on an off track if the rains continue.
#5 KING’S PYE trainer – ballylinch, ( 3/1), Jockey – D. Missen (7%), Avg Sp # (N/A)
The other elder stateswoman in this race is a Housebuster mare that is in her fifth year. She has never run at this distance and seemed to have a bit of a struggle stretching it out the past two races. This will only be her fifth race this year and she has gotten progressively worse in each she attempted this year. Is it time to start singing “The old brown mare just ain’t what she used to be”? It might be, but it could just as well be time for this proud lady to show the young things a lesson or two.
A fairly even race, I like GO TO THE HABIT to finish third. FOUR SIXES likes an off track and that may be the case come Saturday. But CARSON A.S. not only likes to play in the muck but she is on top of her game right now as well. I don’t see anyone beating her.
Good luck to all runners!
Paz