Welcome all to Dubai for what is shaping as a great race on a mammoth race day. Seeking Sal will headline a fourteen horse field in this the eighth running of the $2,000,000 G1 Sand Castle Fee Duty on a firm turf track going 9f. He won the race last year in record time and is perfectly positioned to go back to back. The race is open to all horses 4yo and up and other winners include Jacques in 2005, Cad Crop in 2003, Prospector Spend in 2001 and Huge Tale in 2000. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how they will greet the judge; <\/p>\n
PP #1 \u2013 DRACO \u2013 SADLER’S WELLS x A.P. INDY x UNBRIDLED (spqr) 11\/1
Lightly raced 4yo son of Sadler\u2019s Wells who is a G3 winner and G2 placed and comes into this race on the back of two gallant performances when 5th in the G2 Sanders Stakes and a 4th last time out in the G3 Sussex Handicap at 9 and 8.5f respectively. Races from mid-field which prevents him getting too far back and with D Lakencher aboard who has eight wins at 15.4% this year they will provide good value at 11\/1. Has shown he can run quick SP\u2019s with a 110 when winning the G3 Haw Haw Derby at 9f and I believe is great value at odds. If he can reproduce that massive effort, he can win this for sure. <\/p>\n
PP #2 – SKILLS IN MAGIC – DENON x SADLER’S WELLS x KEY TO THE MINT (peeps9) 10\/1
After winning his debut race, this 4yo colt has raced exclusively in listed and graded company with three G1 wins including the Big Red Stakes and the Coxless Stakes. Was beaten by Otto Oh No by over sixteen lengths in the G1 KyHorseman Derby in December and came back in after a seventy day lay-off to place 3rd in the Realistic Bert Special Stakes at 12f in 3140. Ranked seventh in turf classic and will run from behind this week to attempt to improve that with jockey Q Cassell aboard who won the race in 2003 and is at twenty-three winners at 14.4% this year. His last win was in the 3035 G1 Coxless Stakes in which he rattled home from over twelve lengths down and he will be looking to regain that form if he is to win this prestigious race. Decent value at 10\/1. <\/p>\n
PP #3 \u2013 HEADLONG – PULPIT x HERBAGER x IN REALITY (thunderman) 9\/1
This 5yo horse had been well out of form in his last two runs last year and first run this year until last time out when placing 3rd in listed company. G2 victor at 10f and three time listed stakes winner at 8.5f \u2013 10f that can lead wire to wire or close from the deep. G Ayso aboard has nine wins at 10.2% this year and although not the most decorated jockey, he brings twelve years of experience to a horse that has won 50% of his starts and rode the 2nd placed horse last year. I prefer others in this race however he is a graded winner and has over 500k banked. <\/p>\n
PP #4 – BEYER BEWARE – DAYJUR x DISTORTED HUMOR x TROY(GB) (lenny271) 13\/1
Either lenny has a million stables or he is that good that he only has graded runners as I cannot remember a week in the last ten that I have not previewed one of his chargers! Two runs for this 5yo horse on turf this year have been great with a G3 Sussex Handicap win in 3126 beating Draco by four lengths. Last time out, he either didn\u2019t handle the dirt or the 10f trip but it can be forgotten. 13\/1 is value for mine as he ran a 108 to take out the Sussex and looks good on a three week break with H Eisen aboard who has ridden four of twenty winners this year. They will settle back in the pack and lenny will hope his deep closing style will see him rattling home in the stretch. Good value each way.<\/p>\n
PP #5 – KEPLER BERZERK – WOODMAN x A.P. INDY x DANZIG (bobo) 7\/1
Here\u2019s the story: Heavily raced 4yo colt that is three times grade placed and a winner of seven listed stakes races. In great form in last two outings this year with a listed win in 3126 and beaten a nose last time out with the untouchable D Evens aboard when 2nd after closing from fourteen lengths down in the Believable Tie Challenge Stakes at 9f. T Tippett is in a completely different league to D Evans and this may be his biggest weakness on Saturday. Can run the SP\u2019s required to place and Tippett does have fourteen year experience under his belt however, others have some great in form jocks aboard. Prefer others but is not out of it. Dam was a five time stakes winner on dirt at sprint distance. She won thirty-six races all as a 4yo onwards and ran in the money fifty-eight times from seventy-nine races. Kepler Berzerk also has a very talented 5yo mare as a sister as well. <\/p>\n
PP #6 – DANCING MASTER(IRE) – PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) x SHIRLEY HEIGHTS(GB) x VICE REGENT (yunkai) 13\/1
4yo colt with three listed wins and was only beaten by three lengths when 4th in the Single At The Pro Handicap Stakes last time out going 9f in 3133. Was smashed by twelve lengths in the G3 Haw Haw Derby by Draco but bounced back with a three length listed stakes win going 9f in last race as a 3yo. Another horse that will be running from behind in this race, he has H Cain aboard who has four wins this year at 12% and fourteen years experience in the saddle. He is able to run 100 + SP\u2019s however I believe he may not have the zip required to conquer some of these established grade winners. Prefer others but as is the case with most in this race, he is by no means out of this. <\/p>\n
PP #7 \u2013 PJ JUST ME(IRE) – SLIGO BAY (IRE) x LIT DE JUSTICE x PHONE TRICK (pjfarms) 17\/1
4yo colt hitting his straps in his first two races this year showing improvement on last year in which he was twice listed stakes placed. Won the S. Lord Handicap Stakes at 9.5f first up then went on to placed 2nd in the Run Run Tony Handicap Stakes at 10.5f in 3133. Hard to say if the 9f will suit him as his dam gives no indication with seven races for $392 career earnings. V Carpenter will partner him this week and will be looking for win number four at twenty-nine attempts. In good form of late however I think he may just be a little sluggish for some of these this week. One possible positive is that he sits just off the leaders and therefore may just be able to hang on when the large contingent of deep closers arrive on scene in the stretch. Prefer others.<\/p>\n
PP #8 – DRY YOUR EYES(IRE) – HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) x ALLEGED x DAMASCUS (tonno500) 33\/1
Well to me, this 4yo colt looks as if he wants as much ground as possible. Would love to see him at and exceeding 12f just to see what he does as both his past record and breeding suggest this trip will be too zippy for him. Solid run when posting first triple figure SP last time out of 106 in allowance company in 3126 at 8.5f and this run is the only to suggest he will not be smashed in this G1 $2,000,000 race. Placed once in listed stakes at this trip but cannot see him beating much in this. Adding to his woes, R Sailor is still to post a win in thirty-one races this year and will keep that record intact with Dry Your Eyes this week. Last three \u2013 follow the odds here.<\/p>\n
PP #9 – MANNART TORNADO – STORM CAT x A.P. INDY x SILVER DEPUTY \u2013 (ashworth) 5\/1
5yo son of Storm Cat who is a four time graded winner including the G3 King George BB Stakes and the G1 Turf Invaders Stakes at 9f. Placed 3rd first up this year in G2 Sanders Stakes ahead of Draco and went on to claim the G3 Jennifer Connley BC Turf Cap beating champ Hey Zeus by almost two lengths. This guy can run just off the leaders or take a sit in mid-field and this will be an advantage as there are quite a few deep closers in this race. Another positive comes in the form of A Witter who has fourteen years experience and has won six races at 17.4% this year and will be used to the pressure of such prestigious races and the high quality opposition they attract. Will be there in the finish looking to exceed the 1 million mark in career earnings. Solid place chance. <\/p>\n
PP #10 – SEEKING SAL – SEEKING THE GOLD X KRIS S. X MAGESTERIAL (keryn) 7\/2
After doing both the preview then review of this 5yo horses last run in the G2 Idle Hour stakes in which he nailed a solid field to maintain his supreme turf classic rank and take his earnings to 4.85 million, I think that Seeking Sal is an in the money certainty this week providing he doesn\u2019t get a bounce. His five and a quarter length win with champ D Givens aboard was great and will look to make it six graded wins in a row. This guy performs in big races including seven G1\u2019s a G2 and three G3\u2019s. He has hit the board in his last sixteen runs winning eleven of them and placing 2nd in the G1 Simulated Sports Racing Hall Of Fame by a hand. Massive form coming in and deserves all the respect admiration that a number one ranked, 5 million dollar earning champion horse should. H Harzheim who won the race in 2005 has ridden forty-three winners at 22.3% this year and combined they are a formidable force. Either wins it or hits the board. <\/p>\n
PP #11 – OTTO OH NO – MINESHAFT x IRISH RIVER(FR) x KRIS S. (freeky) 5\/1
This 4yo colt burst onto the turf classic scene in October last year with a G2 win at 9f after having his first five races on dirt. Since then, he has been unstoppable winning his next four including the G1 Eclipse and G1 KyHorseman Derby to finish off last year and winning back to back graded stakes this year in which he beat Horseshoe Bay last time out in the G1 Open To All Older Horses at 10f. He is hot and this bullish son of Mineshaft will look to maintain his unbeaten record on turf with a massive deep closing effort again this Saturday with non other than S Ledwith aboard who has a 19.7% success rate this year with thirty-five winners. Ranked third in turf classic, Otto Oh No is bred to stay and although he has tasted G1 success at this trip before, the only way I could see run outside the money is if he gets too far back and runs short of ground to pick up the leaders in the stretch. Four week break means he is well rested and he has not been stretched at all in his last five runs with a minimum winning distance of two and a quarter lengths. Will place and battle Seeking Sal for line honors.<\/p>\n
PP #12 – BEZKEEPER(AUS) – KEEPER (AUS) x EXCALIBUR’S LAKE x KRIS(GB) (derbil) 99\/1
I will try my hardest to be nice derbil. Odds appear very generous and I think that Bezkeeper may be in trouble with last years winning jockey Z Edwards indicating that he may jump off half way and race his horse home in a battle for last place. Career highest SP of 81 and the only thing he has going for him is that he is inbred to Northern Dancer in the 4th generation and he can hang his hat on that. 6yo horse, thirty-nine races, $37,000 career earnings. Chance to beat jockey home only!<\/p>\n
PP #13 – GALLANT WINGS(GB) – IN THE WINGS(GB) x KEY TO THE MINT x GALLANT MAN (gboro) 16\/1
5yo chestnut horse with over 300k earnings from thirty-five starts. Three runs this year with 4th in G1 at 12f beaten over thirteen lengths, 3rd in listed at 13f and an eleven length 8th place in the G3 Jennifer Connley BC Turf Cap won by Mannart Tornado. Decent form forgetting last run however he has shown better form in longer races highlighted by his G3 Carlton Fisk Handicap win at 12f in 3028. Does have the ability to run with some of these horses when in best form but as indicated in his breeding, he appears to appreciate more ground to gain advantage over quicker horses. Place at best.<\/p>\n
PP #14 – THE STUPID HORSE(IRE) – THEATRICAL(IRE) x DEVIL HIS DUE x CHEROKEE RUN (corza4) 36\/1
5yo horse that is not up to this level highlighted by his last three attempts at G1. Has lost last three races at average of over nineteen lengths and will not fire a shot at the top tier horses in this. Has a healthy dose of stamina in blood and a drop back to 9f may be the wrong way, however if he does appreciate the drop back, he may run well. One win in thirty-two races from jockey G Oldham doesn\u2019t help The Stupid Horse\u2019s cause and although he will not place in this, he may put in a decent performance. <\/p>\n
Lado\u2019s tips \u2013 Seeking Sal, Otto Oh No and Mannart Tornado are my top three. Add Draco, Beyer Beware and Skills In Magic to the trifecta and hopefully they provide some value.<\/p>\n
Also may want to back Mannart Tornado each way as he will ease after opening at 5\/1 and be great value. <\/p>\n
Winner takes 1.2 million and takes a massive step towards Sim notoriety so may your noble steed be swift.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sal To Seek Sim Legend Status<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":262,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3824\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}