$3million on the line in Golden Shoe (written by Ladofmanor)

Welcome ladies and gentleman, boys and girls to the land down under for the 3rd running of the richest race for two year olds – the $3,000,000 G1 Golden Shoe at 6f on turf in Victoria, Australia. Today we will see a field of 12 loaded into the barriers for the ultimate test of brilliance and a $1,800,000 winners purse. Eleven colts and one lone filly will battle it out with the winner a good chance to springboard into a Breeders Bowl prep.

In the Sim, the $3,000,000 G1 Golden Shoe is run over 6f on turf at A1, Victoria. The race is open to 2yo colts and fillies at special weights. The race has been run just the two times with Medicean siring the first winner Preposterageous in 2009 and Bernardini siring Adjuge in 2010. Colts have won both over the fillies and the race record sits at 1:10 2/5 and SP at 94.   

Heading the list of well known sires in the sim to sire real life winners is the great Danehill. He has sired five winners, with two of them going on to sire a winner each. His champion son – Australia’s champion sire Redoute’s Choice has sired two winners with one of his sons going on to sire a winner. Dehere has one winner and upgraded sim sire More Than Ready has sired the 2008 and 2009 winners including new sim addition Sebring.

In real life, the $3,500,000 G1 Golden Slipper is run over 6f on turf at Rosehill on the first weekend of April. It is open to 2yo colts and fillies at special weights of 54kg for colts and 51kg for fillies and is one of Australia’s three premier races. The race has been run 55 times with 32 colts winning. It carries enormous significance for the breeding industry with many winners going on to influence the race many years after with their own progeny creating history. 

The race was first run in 1957 with Todman (by Star Kingdom) winning. Star Kingdom (Stardust(GB) X Concerto(GB) X Papyrus) went on to sire the next four winners. Todman then went on to sire 1964 winner Eskimo Prince and 1967 winner Sweet Embrace. Star Kingdom has had massive influence since 1957 with his bloodlines present in so many winners including sim sires; Catbird (1999), Sebring (2008), Stratum (2005), Danzero (1994), Marscay (1982) to name a few. The legend Danehill sired Redoute’s Choice who as a 2yo colt won the G1 Blue Diamond in 1999 and was raging favourite for the Golden Slipper. He was sensationally scratched on the morning of the race and most believe he would have gone on to win.   

Below is a list of particular sire’s and their resultant influence on this race.

SIRE	PROGENY	GRAND PROGENY
Redoute’s Choice	Stratum (2005)	Crysal Lily (2010)
	Miss Finland (2006)
Danehill	Danzero (1994)	Dance Hero (2004)
	Flying Spur (1995)	Forensics (2007)
	Merlene (1996)
	Catbird (1999)
	Ha Ha (2001)
Sir Tristram	Marauding (1987)	Prowl (1998)
	Burst (1992)
Wilkes	Vain (1969)	Sir Dapper (1983)
		Inspired (1984)
	John’s Hope (1972)
	Vivarchi (1976)
Biscay	Marscay (1982)	Bint Marscay (1993)
	Bounding Away (1986)
More Than Ready	Sebring (2008)
	Phelan Ready (2009)
Dehere	Belle De Jour (2000)
Clang	Calaway Gal (2002)
Crown Jester	Rory’s Jester (1985)
	Guineas (1997)
Bletchingly	Star Watch (1988)
	Canny Lad (1990)
Kaoru Star	Luskin Star (1977)
	Full On Aces (1981)
Rego	Riesling (1965)
	Baguette (1970)	Dark Eclipse (1980)
Showdown	Tontonan (1973)
	Toy Show (1975)
Star Kingdom	Todman (1957)	Eskimo Prince (1964)
		Sweet Embrace (1967)
	Skyline (1958)
	Fine And Dandy (1959)
	Sky High (1960)
	Magic Night (1961)

For this race preview, we will be looking at five key areas that will be integral to winning this race; the horse’s pedigree, their ability to post a winning SP, their latest form / races / rest, their racing style and the assigned jockey. These five key areas will each be ranked out of ten and added to give us a BTB final ranking.

 

PP #1 – VRAIZEM(JPN) (HARBINGER x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x STORM CAT) 12/1 (Colt from Rafa Stables out of the Hispano Parlante Residency)
Record: 4/2-1-0 for $81,300
Pedigree: First season sire Harbinger has a ungraded stakes win and two graded placed runs already from sixty-six runners. Vraizem’s sim mare Zaragoza has a giant killing record to date. She has thrown a graded winner, two ungraded stakes winners and Vraizem who is graded placed. Zaragoza also won eight races at sprint distance. 8.5/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Posted an 81 to win an allowance in May. Since then he hasn’t topped this with two trips in graded company. His 73 SP last time out wasn’t at all encouraging but we could put that down to a bounce – we could but I cannot see him jumping up to 90 SP to win this. 6/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Horrid run last time out in the G1 Firebird when dropping out to 11th. The race before that – The Triple P, he ran 2nd to Dexie’s Midnight who has since gone on to win a G2 and posted a 93 SP last time out at 8f in G3 company. My colt Tremor Christ finished 3rd in the Triple P and he has gone on to post a 85 SP in graded company – so the form from the that run is good. Will meet three of the colts that beat him in the Firebird here again this week. Apart from that run you could say he had good form – lets see if last time out was a bounce? 7.5/10

Running Style:
Tipping him to sit mid-field in the run. This I have ranked a better position than forward so I will say it is positive. Can capitalise on this position if the young eager colts up front fire their guns early and have nothing in the stretch. 8.5/10

Jockey:
B Edwards – 13yrs experience, 10.2% winners and 31% ITM this year is an improvement on overall record. 7/10

BTB Ranking: 37.5 / 50

Final Comments:
When the field enters the stretch he will have about four behind him would look to all be in the finish. As they accelerate he will either go with them or show us that last time out was a bounce or he will fade…

 

PP #2 – THE ROYAL KING(AUS) (ROYAL ACADEMY x GALILEO (IRE) x KINGMAMBO) 7/1 (Colt from Baggio Stables out of the DelPenn National Residency)
Record: 2/1-1-0 for $52,120

Pedigree: Looks to be geared towards a Sydney Derby at 12f with a definite turf route pedigree. Crossed to Northern Dancer in the 3rd generation he may just have some of the brilliance required to win a nice 8f crown??? Galileo and Kingmambo need no introduction as elite sires with Royal Academy decent value. Over 3,000 races for just 145 winners doesn’t fill me with excitement and just the one horse with four graded wins backs this up. I personally really like the breeding but not at 6f. Game dam was an ungraded 2yo winner on turf at 6f. 7/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Posted a 74 SP last time out when running on. Didn’t really accelerate and to win this he must run at least run a 89 SP. 1:11 3/5 last time for the 6f was very slow and he still couldn’t pick the winner off so he may battle here. 5/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Just the one race after his maiden win so very lightly raced. Ran into second place in that graded run to grab some points to enter here and apart from that what else can I say. 6/10

Running Style:
Tipping him to sit just worse than mid-field in the run about the same place as Miss Timoshenko. From my point of view, I think is the best position. Their will be a solid pace set up front allowing the back markers to swoop late. 9/10

Jockey:
S Barton – 15yrs experience, 8.6% winners and 31% ITM this year is right on his average for his career. 5/10

BTB Ranking: 32 / 50

Final Comments:
Will be well placed in the run but an average jockey and no ability proven in such a big test, I prefer others.

 

PP #3 – NITE TRAIN(KY)  (SMART STRIKE x DYNAFORMER x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE)) 11/1 (Colt from Simply……Super Stables out of the DelPenn National Residency)
Record: 4/1-1-0 for $31,950

Pedigree: Heavily inbred to Mr. Prospector in the 2nd generation sire side. Nite Train is the first foal from dam Blues In The Night who was 3rd in a G3 on turf @ 9f. This colt looks to have plenty of brilliance through the Mr. Prospector influence and Smart Strike is certainly up there in terms of runners / winners percentage with almost 95% of his progeny foaled in 2009 going on to win at least one race. In his 5th year as sim sire and has 191 ungraded wins and 35 graded wins to his name. Certainly has a tendency for dirt and props to the trainer for starting him there and switching to turf after a failed maiden attempt first up. 8/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Posted best SP of 80 in late May and then dropped a long way back to 72 SP last time out at 8f. Won his maiden by almost two lengths and posted a 1:11 2/5 for the 6f so he can defiantly go better if pushed. Can he reach the high 80’s remains to be provde but certainly cannot discount. 7/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Let’s say either he didn’t handle the 8f last time out (although the Dyaformer in him says otherwise) or he just had a bad run. He won his maiden standing on his head and ran home nicely in an attempt before that. An eight week break is more than enough and would have loved to see him at ungraded level going the 6f before this but he may have pulled up average after the 8f attempt. Stats say form is a bad run last time out and otherwise Nite Train is a maiden winner however I would rate his potential higher than his record so far. 6/10

Running Style:
Will sit at the back of the field. I am rating this a 10/10 as I think that (or just slightly forward of that) is the best place to be. As with his three turf races to date, he will grind away in the stretch but I am unsure if he has the ability to overhaul the best. 10/10

Jockey:
N Hartel – 13yrs experience, 6.6% winners and 25% ITM this year is well below his career average of 12.2% and 36%. 5/10

BTB Ranking: 36 / 50

Final Comments:
Will be well placed in the run but an average jockey and no ability proven in such a big test, I prefer others.

 

PP #4 – FLINGING ARROWS(SAF) (A. P. ARROW x ALLEGED x HAIL TO REASON) 5/1 (Colt from Gosford City Stables out of Queensland Racecourse Residency)
Record: 5/1-3-1 for $191,950

Pedigree: Would not have been my idea of a genuine turf sprinting pedigree but this colt has certainly not put a hoof wrong so far. A.P. Arrow is in his second year as a sim sire and he boasts 73% winners from his 2010 crop including three stakes winners one graded winner. Hard to get a good idea of which surface he will tend lean towards with a 50/50 split last season but with A.P. Indy, Seattle Slew and Mr. Prospector in his blood he looks most competent on dirt. Also looks like he will appreciate more distance. 6.5/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Ran an 88 SP last time out when narrowly missing in a G1. With another couple of weeks of growing under is belt he will post a 90+ this week. Has progressively increased his SP’s and should continue this trend. 9/10

Form / Races / Rest:
He is the ninth ranked 2yo turf sprinting colt in the sim even though he narrowly missed winning the G1 Firebird by just a ¼ of a length last time out. Bohemian Mercury had to run a 1:10 4/5 to hold him out on that occasion and as it is just 2/5 outside the Golden Shoe race record, one could say – and I will say that Flinging Arrows is in great form. Matt, his trainer agrees whole heartedly and is very confident that Flinging Arrows has the form to win this. His five career races have been very well spaced out and he has shown tremendous promise in each start – hitting the board every time and as Matt says “he has improved more and more as the year goes on”. He is coming into this race off a five week break which looks perfect and with many of the horses that have beaten him going on to Black Type success he looks great. 9.5/10

Running Style:
This colt is a serious contender for the Breeders Bowl Juvy Turf. In each of his five starts he has closed late and apart from winning his maiden, he has come up short.
This may be his biggest query on winning this week however his ability looks as if it will certainly go a long way to helping him get a cheque. 9/10

Jockey:
J Cox 5yrs experience, winning 20.8% and ITM 55% this year. 9.5/10

BTB Ranking: 43.5 / 50

Final Comments:
Great form, great jockey, drawn a good barrier has to see him finish better than most. Look for this colt to be running on but may be a couple of furlongs too short. I would guess he will run again week 4827 at 8f and move onto the Breeders Bowl with ease. J Cox was second last year in this race and third the year before that!  

 

PP #5 – MISS TIMOSHENKO(CAN) (NORTH LIGHT (IRE) x DANEHILL x SECRETARIAT) 6/1 (Filly from Briant Breeding & Racing Empire out of GR Simsters Residency)
Record: 5/4-1-0 for $310,000

Pedigree: I bred her to be exceptionally inbred to Danehill considering his influence on past winners and sires of winners. North Light was a great choice of sire as he is heavily turf bias and can run distance much like Danehill. I would have preferred to use Danehill Dancer or Redoute’s Choice however I though for the cost of North Light it seemed a bargain at the time. North Light is in his fifth year as a sim sire and has a total of 23 graded wins and has 101 ungraded wins. His stats are certainly not ‘elite’, however he has averaged over 80% of his runners as winners in years 2007, 2008 and 2009. This year he has just the one graded win and three stakes wins, all from Miss Timoshenko. 8/10

Ability to post winning SP:
This is by far my biggest concern. To win, she will need to post a 90+ and as her best is just 83 SP, she looks in like she must improve. Many have had a big jump to win races but I would have preferred that she had posted at least an 87 or 88 or above. Having said that, she has not raced for 9 weeks so could well improve on her last run and with many in the field having not posted a better SP than her last she may well go very well. 8/10

Form / Races / Rest:
She is the second ranked 2yo turf sprinting filly in the sim. I wanted to prove that she could beat the colts last time out and she picked them all up coming from 10th at the third call to win. Her 1:11 1/5 was slow but a win is a win. Her five career races have been spaced out a month apart and will head into this with a massive nine week rest to ensure she is fresh. Although her last win was slow and her SP was not flash, she is a fighter and will hopefully be able to match the colts again. 8.5/10

Running Style:
A very late closer, Miss Timoshenko does not get too far back but she does rally late. When she accelerates she really does have a good turn of foot and this has served her well. She did show in her maiden that she is capable of leading but should get back a little this week. 9/10

Jockey:
None other than D Evans – the big race rider in Victoria. 10/10

BTB Ranking: 43.5 / 50

Final Comments:
She has beaten the colts before and has a great race record. Her race times are slow however the recent G1 Blue Diamond Road @ 6f was won in 1:11 2/5 which was slower than she ran seven weeks beforehand. Best jockey, drawn a good barrier and will capitalise on the heavy early speed in the stretch.

 

PP #6 – STARS AND STARS(IRE) (STARSPANGLEDBANNER x HARADASUN (AUS) x MORE THAN READY) 15/1 (Colt from Kings Park Stables out of the Universal Racing Club Residency)
Record: 3/2-1-0 for $98,520

Pedigree: Starspangledbanner was a serious racing colt. After flopping in the G1 Blue Diamond, he missed the Golden Slipper. He went on to win the G1 Caulfield Guineas at 8f and the G1 Oakleigh Plate at 5.5f. He then went to display his brilliance in front of the world winning the G1 Golden Jubilee and the G1 July Cup. Stars And Stars has plenty of sprinting credentials from a bloodline point of view.
In the sim, Starspangledbanner had just the one runner in 2010 and already has 55 runners in 2011. No black type success yet but he looks to have exceptional credentials. 7.5/10

Ability to post winning SP:
He must improve to get a cheque. His last run may not have been an accurate representation of his SP as the track was rain affected and connections will be hoping that this is the case. 5/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Second place in G3 Cyborg last time out was impressive considering he beat a colt of mine called Tremor Christ who went on to post an 85 SP in a G3 in his next race. The winner of the Cyborg raced last week and won an easy allowance – so the form from the Cyborg is quite good. Just the three races to this point means he is lightly raced. 7/10

Running Style:
Will certainly be fighting for the lead. Not a great style for this race with 80% of the runners preferring that early speed. 7/10

Jockey:
S Benoit – 18yrs experience, 11.1% winners and 37% ITM this year is an improvement on overall record. 7.5/10

BTB Ranking: 34 / 50

Final Comments:
Has a 100% winning record at this track with his first two runs as winners. His step up to G3 company in the Cyborg may have not been a true reflection of his ability as the rain affected track may have hindered him. Is probably the biggest unknown in the race from where I sit.

 

PP #7 – CYRUS DE VIRUS(KY)  (GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x KINGMAMBO x DANZIG) 9/2 (Colt from Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing Corporation out of the Hispano Parlante Residency)
Record: 4/3-1-0 for $221,420

Pedigree: Exceptional breeding with two of the greats in Kingmambo and the very successful Danzig. Giant’s Causeway seems to be showing up everywhere at the moment with a graded win and three ungraded wins to his name already. Over half of his runners this year have won already and this colts looks as if he is right in this on breedeing. 9.5/10

Ability to post winning SP:
As with Miss Timoshenko, his effort last time out was super however his SP was is now not earth shattering. At the time it was great so it is now a matter of whether he can improve to somewhere near 90 SP to take this out. 8/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Cracking form with three wins in succession. Won his maiden in April at this track then tore away with an ungraded win in June posting an 84 SP which was enormous. He then took out the G2 Bobby Papin by just the ¼ length and has had an eight week rest. The horse that ran 3rd in the Bobby Papin went on to smash out an 84 SP to win an ungraded stakes by a length two weeks back so the form from that race is hot! 9.5/10

Running Style:
Here we have the pace setter of the race. This colt will gun barrel from the 7 barrier and take up the running. In his four career starts he has lead at every call except in his first maiden attempt when he finished second. This may not be advantageous this week as there are quite a few forward running colts who will look to really push Cyrus here. 7/10

Jockey:
D Dowell – 4yrs experience, but has a decent 15% winning and 47% ITM record. 8.5/10

BTB Ranking: 42.5 / 50

Final Comments: Ledwith is the trainer and I believe this will see him into the top 3 as this guy has the score on the board and sim Royalty. If a leader prevails it will be this colt with exceptional breeding, good jockey, great trainer, great rest and form. D Dowell actual won the first edition of this race two years ago.

 

PP #8 – CHOICE OF MANY(AUS) (REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x PIVOTAL(GB)) 5/1 (Colt from Tazdevil Stables out of the Universal Racing Club Residency)
Record: 4/1-2-1 for $85,100

Pedigree: Exceptional breeding with a great mix of stamina and brilliance. Redoute’s Choice is with the ‘elite’ and his race in real life is the Golden Slipper. Redoute’s Choice is in his sixth season as sim sire and has so far shown a propensity for turf. He has been used to achieve a 91.8% winning runners success rate in 2007 and 93.1% in 2008 and already has 82% of his runners from 2010 as winners. 25 graded stakes wins so far is a bit lower than I would have guessed but his 134 ungraded wins is impressive. 9/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Massive turn around last time out to post an 86 SP after taking three attempts to finally win his maiden whilst posting a 78 SP. I once had a dirt juvy colt that jumped from an 83 SP to a 95 SP to win the G1 Sparkling Wine Stakes and never ran well again. I certainly hope this colt doesn’t suffer the same fate and some thing tells me he won’t as he still looks to have some degree of improvement in him yet. Should post somewhere in the region of a 88 to 92 SP. 9/10

Form / Races / Rest:
3rd in the G1 Firebird week 4764 was exceptional – especially coming off a maiden win. Chased home Flinging Arrows on that occasion and both look well placed to run off the 5 week break here. Just the four races this year so he is fresh. 8.5/10

Running Style:
Last time out he sat just off the leader and just failed to pick up the winner who sat in front. Doesn’t look to have massive acceleration but certainly can wear them down. This looked to be the case in his maiden win where he slowly drew away and was simple too classy. Will be in the front half of the field this week and look to grind out an assault on the leaders around the 4f mark. There looks to be a lot of early speed in this race and with a fast pace will come the swoopers – not ideal. 7.5/10

Jockey:
J Kohlmorgen – 9yrs experience, but just the 7.2% winning and 33% ITM record this year has seen him drop considerably. 7/10

BTB Ranking: 41 / 50

Final Comments:
A colt who looks to have loads of ability and may run a very smart 8f. 6f may be too snappy for him but I would expect that he will be in the mix. Breeding great, form good, and good SP last time out shows he can match it with them – look out!
 

 

PP #9 – ROCK HARD RANSOM(KY)  (ROCK HARD TEN x COZZENE x RED RANSOM) 15/1 (Colt from Fabman Stables out of the Great Plains Residency)
Record: 4/2-1-0 for $57,970

Pedigree: Inbred to Roberto in 3rd generation sire side and looks to want this further. Game dam was not flash and Rock Hard Ten looks as if he tend to throw routing progeny from his stats. 5/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Posted 77 SP last time out in the G1 Firebird and will need to grow wings to keep up with many of these. Unless it improves from 77 to around 90 SP he will be left behind.  5/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Rock Hard Ransom is an ungraded placed colt. Was second in start before the G1 Firebird when he stuck on in the stretch against three others. His Firebird flop was less than impressive and apart from his allowance win he doesn’t look to be able to trouble this field. 4/10

Running Style:
Wired a small field in his maiden win and has not really taken on any particular style. If he attempts to lead this week he will be punished so his best bet may be to get back in the field and attempt to run them down. 7/10

Jockey:
R Bailey – 8yrs experience, but just the 14.3% winning and 37% ITM record this year. 7/10

BTB Ranking: 28 / 50

Final Comments:
A colt who looks way out of his depth and outgunned. Another trainer who is a sim champion but having a great trainer will not save this colt.

 

PP #10 – REPLACE YOUR DIVOT(AUS) (ELVSTROEM (AUS) x ZABEEL(NZ) x HALO) 16/1 (Colt from Mv4ever Stables)
Record: 3/1-1-1 for $31,749

Pedigree: Definite turf influence but certainly not what you would call blueblood. Two very influential sires from this area with one a track legend and the other quite possibly one of the most influential turf routing sires Australia has ever seen however it doesn’t translate into sim success. 4/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Another colt who will need a set of wings and looks totally out of it in this respect. 72 SP is his three run career best but will need to transform himself if he is to get close. 2/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Replace Your Divot is a maiden winner. Second last time out in allowance company and looks as if he was entered based on a weak field contesting the race. Plenty of rest with about ten weeks off racing and very lightly raced. 2/10

Running Style:
Can lead or take a sit. If he leads he will be flogged, if he sits he may suffer the same fate. Hopefully gets back in the field and attempts to run home strongly. 7/10

Jockey:
S DeMarchi – 11 yrs experience, 9.3% winning and 39% ITM record this year. 5/10

BTB Ranking: 20 / 50

Final Comments:
Not for me.

 

PP #11 – PROPER POP(CZE) (POP ROCK x KING OF KINGS (IRE) x A.P. INDY) 16/1 (Colt from Ace Stables out of the Fans of 5:00 Residency)
Record: 3/2-1-0 for $61,480

Pedigree: Pop Rock ran 2nd in the 2006 Melbourne Cup (Millwood Cup @ 16f) whilst King Of Kings and A.P. Indy both look to enhance the chances of this horse running out a solid 100 miles none stop. Looks like he may develop later rather than winning this test of brilliance at 6f. Pop Rock may be a sim gun with 2011 being his first sire season and three stakes wins and a graded win already to his name. Certainly has a turf influence and although not the most pricey breeding, this colt looks to have some credentials. 7/10

Ability to post winning SP:
If he is to win this, he may have to borrow a set of wings. Ran a 77 SP to win an ungraded stakes last time out in 4764 but really must improve on that effort. I cannot see him displaying the raw brilliance needed to overhaul this field. 5/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Ungraded stakes win in last time out – week 4764 was just by a nose and as stated just the 77 SP. Although it was a very small field, he did show fighting quality in the final furlong to edge out a persistent adversary. Coming off a five week break is encouraging and is certainly lightly raced with just the three previous starts so far. Needs to really step up. 6/10

Running Style:
Basically sits box seat – on the shoulder of the leader and uses them up until he is ready to do his thing. In his three starts to date, he has never been more than ¾ of a length off the leader which means he will figure in some way in this race. Until this point he has dealt with the ungraded stakes level however a G1 for $3,000,000 is a different ball game. Proper Pop will either stand up and be counted or faded very quickly. A very handy running style but not for this race with plenty of colts that like to sit on the speed 7/10

Jockey:
P Lipps – 20 yrs experience, 12.1% winning and 41% ITM record this year. 8/10

BTB Ranking: 33 / 50

Final Comments:
Form is average but good rest and lightly raced is a positive. When the pressure is applied in the stretch and those that have proven themselves at graded level step up to make a name for themselves, he will be asked a question that only he has the answer to.

 

PP #12 – JOHANTAL(ENG) (PIVOTAL(GB) x JOHANNESBURG x GONE WEST) 9/1 (Colt from Pisano Stables out of the Kentucky  Residency)
Record: 3/2-1-0 for $61,480

Pedigree: Recently upgraded sire Pivotal is a massive bonus however in his sixth season as sim sire he has not posted a stakes win. He has a strong tendency to throw routers so the shorter sprints have obviously not favoured him but look out for him in the 12f 3yo classics next year! With almost 200 ungraded and 44 graded wins to his name he is a gun. Game dam has had three foals with Johantal and another posting ungraded placings. 6/10

Ability to post winning SP:
Posted career best 80 SP last time out when fading in the G1 More Nay and a 79 SP in the race before that when close to lead but nailed by winner Miss Timoshenko. Will certainly need to improve to place here this week. 7/10

Form / Races / Rest:
Was fading very badly last time out in G1 More Nay four weeks ago. That race was run in 1:10 3/5 and he was against stiff opposition on that occasion. Race before was well in the race until over run but just two lengths off winner. Will need to improve here however not as much required as others 7/10

Running Style:
Wired field in maiden win but generally sits just off leader much like a quite a few others in this race. The further forward – no worse off this week from where I sit. 7/10

Jockey:
L Debow – 15 yrs experience, 6.9% winning and 21% ITM record this year. 5/10

BTB Ranking: 32 / 50

Final Comments:
Form is alright but More Nay loss was significant. Needs to bounce back heavily to place here. 

 

So there we have it! 12 horses and just one winner.

Here’s how the stats have ranked them.

43.5             Flinging Arrows & Miss Timoshenko
42.5             Cyrus De Virus
41.0            Choice of Many
37.5            Vraizem
36.0            Nite Train
34.0            Stars And Stars
33.0            Proper Pop
32.0            Johantal & The Royal King
28.0            Rock Hard Ransom
20.0            Replace Your Divot

 

Here’s my own opinion:

Top 3 – Flinging Arrows or Miss Timoshenko or Cyrus De Virus

Then came – Choice of Many, Vraizem, Proper Pop, Stars And Stars, Nite Train, The Royal King, Johantal, Rock