{"id":49601,"date":"2019-07-18T20:28:36","date_gmt":"2019-07-19T00:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=49601"},"modified":"2019-07-18T20:28:36","modified_gmt":"2019-07-19T00:28:36","slug":"crowds-flock-to-see-wet-bikini","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=49601","title":{"rendered":"Crowds flock to see Wet Bikini"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturday afternoon sees South Africa host a capacity field of precocious two-year-old fillies with the running of the grade I Wet Bikini Stakes.\u00a0 The race represents a leap into the unknown for all starters, none having fronted up for a grade I race before or ever started over the mile before.\u00a0 Bookmakers have had great difficulty framing a market for this race with so little disclosed form.\u00a0 As a result, we have three horses within a point of each other at the head of the market and a correspondent who can make a case for virtually every starter coming home victorious.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#1\u00a0 JUST A WASP<\/span> (Just A Way) 3-2-0-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 17\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Eschewing the Maiden path, Lightng debuted Just A Wasp <\/b>in a Japan Allowance where she was tardy out of the gates but soon assumed a handy position, a couple of lengths off the lead.\u00a0 In the run home she picked up strongly and accounted for the early leader before registering a length win.\u00a0 Following this race Just A Wasp moved up to stakes class and achieved an all-the-way win in Wyoming.\u00a0 Just A Wasp\u2019s globetrotting continued in her latest run when she appeared at Berkshire for a grade II stakes.\u00a0 By mid-race she had assumed a mid-field spot, three lengths from the lead, a position she then maintained for the remainder of the race.\u00a0 A grade II win here would equal sire Just A Way\u2019s best result but the surface and distance have certainly been to his progeny\u2019s liking in the past.\u00a0 The very proficient R Whisper will travel from Surrey to guide Just A Wasp in the Wet Bikini.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#2\u00a0 RED DRAGOON<\/span> (Cameron Highland (IRE) ) 3-1-2-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 14\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Lightly used sire, Cameron Highland, will be searching for his first graded stakes winner when Red Dragoon <\/b>jumps from barrier 2 in the Wet Bikini stakes.\u00a0 Ultra consistent, Red Dragoon has finished at the pointy end in her three starts and has franked her first-up Allowance win with two stakes placings.\u00a0 In all three starts she has been doing her best work at the finish and looks certain to benefit from the additional two and a half furlongs of this event.\u00a0 Red Dragoon\u2019s last start was her most impressive, a strong-finishing second in a Danish stakes race.\u00a0 The additional two and a half furlongs of the Wet Bikini look to be a real bonus for Red Dragoon.\u00a0 Red Dragoon will be piloted by stable favourite T Tees.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#3 PRICELESS ADVICE<\/span> (Galileo (IRE) ) 2-2-0-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 4\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The morning line favourite for the Wet Bikini is the impeccably-bred Galileo filly Priceless Advice<\/b>, one of two entries for Tenpoint Racing Stables.\u00a0 Unbeaten, Priceless Advice started her career with a gate to wire romp in a Kentucky Maiden in May over six and a half furlongs.\u00a0 Priceless Advice returned to Kentucky in mid June and showed that her debut was no flash in the pan.\u00a0 Bursting from the gates she was never headed and recorded an excellent 79 over the seven furlong journey.\u00a0 Experienced jockey B Doherty should find gate 3 the perfect alley to launch Priceless Advice into the lead with a perfect rails run, but she is not the only entrant possessing blistering speed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#4 SOPHIE HOHENBERG<\/span> (Akmanzor (FR) ) 2-2-0-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 5\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Challenging Priceless Advice for favouritism, and the race lead, is fellow-unbeaten filly Sophie Hohenberg<\/b>.\u00a0 Bred by the WarEmblem Stables, Sophie Hohenberg is believed to have been named after Princess Sophie of Hohenberg, daughter of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand of Austria.\u00a0 Her career started with an all-the-way win in a Paris Maiden over five furlongs at the start of April.\u00a0 A brief trip across the Atlantic to New York allowed Sophie Hohenberg to retain her unbeaten record with a barn-storming front running charge over the longer six and a half furlong journey.\u00a0 The allowance win saw her registering a very slick 79 SP.\u00a0 Connections have attracted the well-credentialed Danish hoop M Kiprusoff who clearly sees plenty of upside in this lightly-raced filly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#5\u00a0 FRANKLY STARTLING<\/span> (Frankel (GB) ) 3-1-1-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 6\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The blueblood of the field is the Frankel filly Frankly Startling.\u00a0 Frankly Startling has displayed considerable stalking abilities in her three starts thus far.\u00a0 She sat among the tailenders in her debut Maiden before bursting through the pack and winning impressively.\u00a0 Running in a stakes race at her next start Frankly Startling failed to reproduce her finishing brilliance but still finished solidly beating all but the winner A.P.Deflate.\u00a0 Tenpoint Racing showed plenty of confidence in their filly by then sending her out in a grade II in Berkshire.\u00a0 Frankly Startling had only one view of her fellow contenders when she commenced her run at the two and a half furlong mark but was beaten by just over a length at the post.\u00a0 If ever an unplaced run was impressive, this was it.\u00a0 Champion Turkish jockey H Artack will be new to Frankly Startling but will be happy to see plenty of pace up front to help her \u2018sit and surge\u2019 style of racing.<\/span><\/p>\n

———-<\/span><\/p>\n

#6 KOKADARK<\/span> (Vadamos (FR) ) 1-1-0-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 40\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Rank outsider in the Wet Bikini is Lightng\u2019s Vadamos-sired filly, Kokadark<\/b>.\u00a0 The only exposure punters have had to Kokadark was in mid June when she lined up in a very small field in an Iowa Allowance.\u00a0 Although she was also the outsider of the field in that race the closest her opponents came to her was standing next to her in the barriers.\u00a0 The five furlongs were as far as Kokadark was wanting on that day but the engagement of N Labreche from Italy may see a slight change of tactics against the charging Priceless Advice and Sophie Hohenberg.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#7 STARORDER<\/span> (Order of St George (IRE) ) 3-1-1-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 14\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

BobMarley Racing Stables have put their faith in first year sire Order Of St George in breeding Starorder <\/b>and have been rewarded with his best performing offspring.\u00a0 Starorder opened her account in her first start in an Irish Maiden.\u00a0 Racing near the pace Starorder proved too strong and registered a creditable SP of 65.\u00a0 Eight weeks later she had crossed the English Channel and contested a Paris stakes race.\u00a0 On this occasion Starorder was held back in the early going and pulled out a powerful finish, only to find the finishing post 50 metres too close.\u00a0 Backtracking across the Channel, Starorder was then tested in a graded stakes for the first time.\u00a0 Employing the same \u2018sit\u2019 tactics repeat pilot T O\u2019Shea wound Starorder up but didn\u2019t find the same spring in her step.\u00a0 Starorder ground her way steadily to the line, working her way into the top six and finishing a length behind rival Darkeus.\u00a0 O\u2019Shea is very familiar with Starorder\u2019s idiosyncrasies and will be looking for the key to bringing back her Paris form..<\/span><\/p>\n

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#8 PACK OF TROJANS<\/span> (Trojan Nation) 2-1-0-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 11\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

MTK76 Racing Stables have paired their grade II-winning mare, Saphire Blue, with first season sire Trojan Nation to produce filly Pack Of Trojans<\/b>.\u00a0 The winner of 3 grade II\u2019s at or near the mile, Saphire Blue has already produced a grade III winner and is looking to reach the grade I pinnacle with Pack Of Trojans today.\u00a0 Ireland was the location for Pack Of Trojans to begin her racing career, in a six furlong stakes race.\u00a0 In a tightly contested event she ran close to the lead and simply proved too strong and determined for her rivals in a narrow win.\u00a0 Her SP of 67 was very impressive for an early-season filly at her first start. \u00a0After a break of two months Pack of Trojans was next seen in a full field in an Italian stakes over six furlongs.\u00a0 In this race she travelled a few lengths off the lead.\u00a0 Although clearly beaten and out of the money she battled home resolutely and still recorded an improved SP of 76. The owners were clearly not impressed with S L Ledwith\u2019s handling in that race and have booked the experienced P Harzheim for the Wet Bikini.<\/span><\/p>\n

———-<\/span><\/p>\n

#9\u00a0 SAVOURY SHAPES<\/span> (Camelot (GB) ) 2-1-1-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 13\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Camelot has sired an impressive looking filly, Savoury Shapes.\u00a0 Out of a grade I winning miler mare, Savoury Shapes made an early January impression, quickening in the last furlong to take out an allowance after trailing the whole field for the first half of the race.\u00a0 Trainer Corza then showed commendable patience holding her back for her second run until the end of April when Savoury Shapes stepped out in an Indian stakes.\u00a0 Exhibiting the same running style she dropped out early but finished the five furlong event in fine style, missing the win by under half a length.\u00a0 Successful Queensland jockey C Wyatt will be taking the ride on Savoury Shapes for the first time but will clearly have no trouble with her straight forward running style.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#10\u00a0 A.P.DEFLATE<\/span> (National Defense) 3-1-0-1\u00a0 Opening Odds 18\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Consistency in speed has been the hallmark of A.P.Deflate<\/b>, sired by second-year stallion National Defense, who has managed only a single graded winner to date.\u00a0 A solid, but unspectacular, debut third in an Irish Maiden was followed by a more convincing stakes win over a shorter distance in New South Wales in April.\u00a0 Frankly Startling was a notch in her belt in this race.\u00a0 A trip to Berkshire for a grade II in June produced a pedestrian four length defeat for A.P.Deflate.\u00a0 In all 3 races her speed figures ranged between 65 and 67 and it was not entirely clear what her optimum running style should be.\u00a0 This is the first dilemma which will confront D Evans, who failed to find the key to success in her last start grade II defeat.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#11\u00a0 X MARSCAY<\/span> (Mehmas) 3-0-1-1\u00a0 Opening Odds 19\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Still a maiden, X Marscay<\/b> has been set a considerable task by Lightng Racing \u2013 find your first win in a competitive grade I.\u00a0 There is little confidence in the betting ring with X Marscay easy at 19 to 1.\u00a0 At her first start in a Florida Maiden, X Marscay was not disgraced in running home strongly over six furlongs to go under by just a length.\u00a0 Backing up in Florida five weeks later in a stakes race X Marscay ran an even race but never challenged for the win.\u00a0 Six weeks later X Marscay travelled to Berkshire for the grade II Capital Stakes but she failed to fire and weaken to finish amongst the tail-enders.\u00a0 Very successful Paris jockey J Ledwith will take the mount here in South Africa and will be looking for a great improvement in her performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

———-<\/span><\/p>\n

#12 NO NAY SPIRIT<\/span> (No Nay Never) 3-2-1-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 5\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Also vying for race favouritism is No Nay Never sired filly, No Nay Spirit<\/b>.\u00a0 Racing out of the megalith Harrylan Stables, No Nay Spirit first stepped out on a track in an Irish Maiden in February.\u00a0 Settling comfortably toward the rear of the field, No Nay Spirit picked up well at the three furlong pole and ran home solidly for second.\u00a0 \u00a0No Nay Spirit\u2019s SP of 74 was very good but the winner has failed to hit the boards in her five other starts, certainly not franking the quality of the run.\u00a0 After a near two month break No Nay Spirit returned in a Berkshire Maiden over six and a half furlongs, settling near the back and bursting through for a clear-cut victory.\u00a0 Stepping up to Allowance level repeated the process in Berkshire in June, recording a SP of 82.\u00a0 E Bernstein will be the fourth different rider to take the No Nay Spirit reins but the German is very confident of adding another grade I riding trophy to his cabinet.<\/span><\/p>\n

———-<\/span><\/p>\n

#13 \u00a0DARKEUS<\/span> (Vadamos (FR)\u00a0<\/b>) 2-1-0-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 8\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Having a third start will be Lightng Racing Stable\u2019s Vadamos filly, Darkeus<\/b>.\u00a0 First seen in an Argentinian stakes, Darkeus was the only challenger to the tearaway leader, swooping in the last half furlong for a convincing win, registering an impressive 82 speed figure for the five and a half furlong course.\u00a0 Two months later Darkeus stepped up to graded level in the Capital Stakes in Berkshire where she was unable to display the same finishing power, battling home to a creditable 5th<\/sup>, beating home Starorder and X Marscay.\u00a0 Notwithstanding the relative disappointment of her second run the brilliance of her debut suggests that Spaniard M Zeus may well be toasting a grade I victory ride on Darkeus come Saturday afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#14\u00a0 CONTRASTATION<\/span> (Mohaymen) 3-1-1-0\u00a0 Opening Odds 30\/1<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Meguire brings his Mohaymen filly Contrastation<\/b> to South Africa for her first tilt at a graded win.\u00a0 Contrastation is from Mohaymen\u2019s second crop and already represents one of his most successful runners, being one of only three stake winners.\u00a0 Contrastation achieved this at her first start when she shocked punters and bookmakers alike in an Irish stakes win over five and a half furlongs of turf.\u00a0 Meguire rolled the dice by following up with a stakes run on sloppy German dirt but came up with snakes-eyes.\u00a0 At her latest outing back in Ireland in an allowance Contrastation produced a better run finishing off the race nicely for a strong second place.\u00a0 The only local jockey in the race, T Lopez, will jump from the outside barrier and is certain to cross to the fence and settle well back in the field.\u00a0 Only time will tell if Contrastation still has petrol in the tank when the time comes to quicken her pace over the concluding four furlongs.<\/span><\/p>\n

———-<\/span><\/p>\n

In trying to produce a speed map for the Wet Bikini it is clear that three contenders present themselves as likely leaders, Priceless Advice, Sophie Hohenberg and outsider Kokadark.\u00a0 Priceless Advice\u2019s natural brilliance is likely to win out but she will be pushed solidly by the other two.\u00a0 Normally a hot pace at front would lead to a giant smile on the faces of jockeys riding the stalkers but the quality of Priceless Advice and Sophie Hohenberg is much higher than the average speed demon.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second half of the race will see the commencement of the charge of the challengers, headed by No Nay Spirit, Frankly Startling, Red Dragoon, Savoury Shapes and Darkeus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last furlong Sophie Hohenberg finally draws level with a desperate Priceless Advice with Frankly Startling and No Nay Spirit drawing closer but running out of ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Predicted result:<\/span><\/p>\n

1st<\/sup>\u00a0 Sophie Hohenberg<\/span><\/p>\n

2nd<\/sup>\u00a0 Priceless Advice<\/span><\/p>\n

3rd<\/sup>\u00a0 Frankly Startling<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Disclaimer: The writer will not accept liability for any losses incurred by people relying on the accuracy of this prediction.<\/span><\/p>\n

———-<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saturday afternoon sees South Africa host a capacity field of precocious two-year-old fillies with the running of the grade I<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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-49601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49601","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\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49601"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49625,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49601\/revisions\/49625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}