Favourite Races - Week of Jan25-31: Stormin Exit

Jan25, Newcastle, 15:35, Lombard Physiotherapy Handicap Chase (Class 3), 2m4f

Newcastle is one of my favourite class "B" racecourses in England. I like its long stretch. The 2m Northumberland Plate is always a fun race to watch for distance-race enthusiast like me.

The winner of this class 3 handicap chase on Monday is Stormin Exit, and he was ridden by James Reveley. He is a 7-year-old gelding by Exit To Nowhere. In "Chasers and Hurdlers' 08/09", Timeform's annual publication for steeplechase racing, Stormin Exit was just described as "fairly useful form in frame in bumpers at Musselburgh, modest maiden hurdler." He was winless in 7 starts before this race - 3 on flat and 4 hurdling. This is his first race of this 09/10 season as a novice chaser and trainer Jim Goldie selected this class 3 handicap chase at 2m4f at Newcastle to start. Overnight odd was 20/1, it moved to 8/1 to 9/1 in the morning for a few firms. Final on course odd is 7/1.

It was also a fine ride by the jockey. Racing at 7th of 10 initially, he stormed up to the lead when approaching to the 6th fence, first time passing the post. He held that leading position comfortably to the top of the final stretch, when 3 competitors were closing and only 2 lengths behind him. He held on gamely and at the last fence, Jack The Blaster looked to have al the chance to overtake the lead. He did momentarily after the last fence, but Reveley put his head down and rode galantly on Stormin Exit. He battled back in the final 50 yards and regained the lead and won by a neck. Spendid ride!

In a post-race interview, Goldie said: "He jumped brilliantly, it was a good debut (over fences) taking on handicappers ... It wasn't the plan to be in front (as soon as he was at the fifth) but he jumped his way there."

Full result and replay

Favourite Races - Week of Jan18-24: Whinstone Boy, Our Vic, Toorak Toff, Ron The Greek, Brushburn

The focus this week will be on top-class handicap chase races. There are 5 of them at class 2 (or equivalent) and above. I am also adding a class 3 handicap chase at Haydock as it also had a pretty good purse.

• 1/21 Gowran Park, 14:35, Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade A), 3m, total purse of €90,000, 17 ran - won by 9-year-old Whinstone Boy (OR=119), trained by James Joseph Mangan, and ridden by Sean Flanagan
• 1/23 Ascot, 15:45, victorchandler.com Handicap Chase (Class 2), 2m5f110y, total purse of £70,000, 13 ran - won by 10-year-old The Sawyer (OR=130) with conditioner jockey Nathan Sweeney and carried only 9-8
• 1/23 Haydock, 13:45, Tim Molony Handicap Chase (Class 3), 3m4f, total purse of £17,500, 9 ran - won by 8-year-old Boris The Blade (OR=106)
• 1/23 Haydock, 15:30, Peter Marsh Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap), 3m, total purse of £70,000, 12 ran - won by the 12-year-old veteran Our Vic (OR=152)
• 1/23 Leopardstown, 14:30, Leopardstown Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A), 2m5f, total purse of € 80,000, 11 ran - won by 10-year-old Anothercoppercoast (OR=123)
• 1/23 Wincanton, 13:55, Wincanton Cup Handicap Chase (Class 3), 3m1f110y, total purse of £30,000, 15 ran - won by 8-year-old Richard's Sundance (OR=134)

Jan 21, Gowran Park, 14:35, Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade A), 3m
The racecourse was heavy. Ridden by Sean Flanagan, the 9-year-old gelding took the lead prominently soon after the first turn when the fields hadn't even jumped yet. He was ahead of Hangover and Siegemaster by 5 lengths and then the rest of the field. 3 miles and 16 fences later, these 3 came back 1-2-3. I always admire chasers who win the race wire-to-wire, especially staying chasing races at 3+ miles. It is one thing for a 2-year-old to win first-time out in a MSW at 6f on the dirt at Saratoga wire-to-wire in the middle of August. It is a completely different ball game when winning a 3 miles chase wire-to-wire at Gowran Park in the rain on a heavy course in the middle of January. The first 3 were ahead of the rest of the field by 14+ lengths. If the race was re-run again, any one of them can win the race. Siegemaster had a couple of mistakes - once 3 out and then again at the last fence.

Result and Replay

SportingLife story


Jan 23, Haydock, 15:30, Peter Marsh Chase (Grade 2 limited handicap), 3m
The race has attracted a pretty decent field.

No. Form Horse Age Weight Trainer Jockey OR
1 2781-P3 Mon Mome (FR) 10 11-10 Miss V Williams A Coleman 156
2 431FU-3 Cloudy Lane 10 11-10 D McCain Jnr J M Maguire 156
3 P4-61R8 Our Vic (IRE) 12 11-6 b D Pipe Danny Cook (3) 152
4 14/1311- Jaunty Flight 8 10-11 O Sherwood Mr O Greenall (3) 143
5 1F10-27 Kia Kaha 8 10-11 Jonjo O'Neill R P Mclernon (3) 143
6 1114-55 According To Pete 9 10-5 J M Jefferson P Kinsella 137
7 11/321-2 Prince De Beauchene (FR) 7 10-4 J Howard Johnson Ryan Mania (3) 135
8 631111 Fortification (USA) 7 10-4 p N J Hawke Mr M Griffiths (7) 135
9 11P-446 Jass 8 10-4 K G Reveley J Reveley 133
10 83/4-731 Mr Strachan (IRE) 9 10-4 p1 Mrs S J Smith R McGrath 132
11 2412-36 Morgan Be 10 10-4 Mrs K Walton K Renwick 132
12 71P6-14 Palypso De Creek (FR) 7 10-4 C E Longsdon T Siddall 130

In the end, the 12-year-old Our Vic, the oldest horse in the race who also has the deepest back-class, under second top-weight of 11-6, made all and win the 3m chase in wire-to-wire fashion. He was ridden by conditional jockey Danny Cook, who just came off a 28-days suspension due to his ride on Our Vic at Cheltenham in the boylesports.com Gold Cup Handicap in December when he was forced to take the wrong course due to intervention by a loose horse. The ground was very testing, but Our Vic jumped very well and did not make any mistake. That's the difference between winning and losing in these conditions.

The highlight of Our Vic's career was no doubt (when he was a relatively "young" 10-year-old), his victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, then followed by defeating Kauto Star by a nose in the Bowl Chase at Aintree in 2008. His OR reached 171 at that point of his career.

Story

Full Result

Replay


Jan23, Sandown-Lakeside, Race 2, 2-year-old open race, $70k, 1200m
When there was a 12-year-old veteran on one side of the planet who seemed to be rejuvenated in a 3m chase, a group of unraced 2-year-olds arrived at Sandown Park just outside of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on a cloudy and windy Saturday afternoon and ran in the 1200m race. The race was won by Toorak Toff, a $135,000 AUD yearling purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales. He broke the gate alertly with the rest of the field, but a few of them were keen to take the lead, the horse rated just a few lengths behind the leading group. He progressed steadily from the inside and splited horses a couple of times and with a sudden burst of energy, overtook the leading horse in a couple of stride, and won the race handily by a length. The last time I saw that kind of burst of energy in a sprint race was Sacred Kingdom when he won a handicap race at Sha Tin when he was 4.

Toorak Toff is a chestnut; his sire, dam, paternal grandsire, paternal granddam, maternal gradsire and maternal granddam are also chestnuts. Toorak Toff's sire is Show A Heart, who traces the male line to Brave Warrior, Cossack Warrior, Bletchingly, Biscay and Star Kingdom. His current stud fee is $33,000. Show A Heart was a 4-time Group 1 winner, including the T.J. Smith (1600m) at 2, Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at 3, Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m) at 4. His progency are full of early-developing sprinter/milers. Toorak Toff's dam Orong was an unraced mare by Grand Lodge. His second dam, Blixen won 7 times at 1000m to 1600m, including the Group 2 Sandown Guineas. Orong is a full-sister to Avilde, a listed winner from 1400m to 2050m.

Based on a post-race interview to trainer Rick Hore-Lacy, Toorak Toff will run again in 3 weeks time and then target for the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes.

Story

Replay


Jan23, Fair Grounds, Race 10, LeComte Stakes-G3, 3-year-olds, purse of $100,000, 1m40y

There are 2 competitive 3-year-old stakes races on this January Saturday. The Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream has a higher profile with its association to the former Florida-bred Horse of the Year. It was won by the blueblood Winslow Homer, an Overbrook Farm bred Unbridled's Song colt who was a $310,000 Keeneland yearling purchase.

The other 3-year-old stakes race, the LeComte at Fair Grounds, was won by 7/1 shot Ron The Greek. He is a 3-year-old homebred colt by Full Mandate, out of Flambe', by Fortunate Prospect. With absolutely no speed early in the race, he was close to 20 lengths behind the lead at the half-mile pole, and 10+ lengths behind at the top of the stretch. Going to the grandstand side, he was charging to the lead and appeared in the camera at the 1/8 poth, and at the 1/16 pole he was clearly the one with the best momentum and won the race by 2 lengths at the end.



The run reminded me a bit of Pyro's win in the Risen Star 2 years ago, but Pyro, though still dead last at the top of the stretch and going inside before swinging out it the middle of the track, was much closer to the pace early on and the entire field was just about 8-9 lengths apart. The run in the final furlong is similar though.

Story

Jan24, Santa Anita, Race 5, $40k 4-year-old claimers, 1 mile
This is another fine ride by Chantal Sutherland on Brushburn. In deep stretch, she splitted horses through a tiny gap that was narrowing. She can't use the whip because it was so close to the other horses, but she kept on urging and this 4yo Unusual Heat gelding responded nicely. This is what the official chart says: "BRUSHBURN pulled his way along to stalk the pace inside then a bit off the rail, came out in the stretch, responded to left handed urging and rallied between horses in deep stretch to gamely prevail."

What's Next?
It is Australia Day on Tuesday (Jan26) and there is a very good card at Caulfield, highlighted by the return of the brilliant 3-year-old Denman in the listed Zedative Stakes at 1200m, and a pair of Blue Diamond preview race.

Favourite Races - Week of Jan11-17: The Town Lady, Ejimeric Te Specso, Fistral Beach, Pretty Unusual

News of the week: Zenyatta is un-retired and will run in 2010. This is a gain to the entire racing world!

Jan 13, Santa Anita, Race 1, $24,000 Starter Allowance, 1 1/16m

I just saw the replay of Race 1 at SA today and thought Chantal Sutherland really rode a nice race in the stretch on board The Town Lady in this 1 1/16m starter allowance.




Official chart says: "THE TOWN LADY was outrun around to the top of the lane, drifted out under a left handed whip at the top of the lane, drifted in under right handed encouragement in late stretch and was up for the score at the wire."

Even Trevor Denman was almost fooled: "... but Red Door Drive just keeps on finding ... and Red Door Drive on the outside is The Town Lady's flying late"

Jan 16, Sha Tin, Race 4, Class 4 handicap at 1400m

The race was won by first-time start Ejimeric Te Specso (有莊有閑). He is a 4-year-old gelding, by Pins, out of Huntley Lass, by Defensive Play. He was purchased as a yearling for $70,000 NZD in Carnival Sales in March 2007 at Karaka. See the pedigree from the catalog page here.






He started from post # 13 and came out of the gate very alertly and took the lead immediately. He raced greenly but it was clear that he's much better than Class 4 calibre. He was trained by champion trainer John Size and ridden by champion jockey Douglas Whyte.

Although he is "already" 4, it is a relatively young age for racing in Hong Kong. Most of the horses there are geldings and they have multi-years of racing history. From a trainer perspective, it is more important to have a durable horses that can run consistently for 4 to 5 seasons and there is no need to rush them to race in 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds races, because they don't exist.


Jan 16, Kempton, 15:15, williamhill.com - Live Sports Betting Handicap Chase (Class 3), 2m 4f 110y
Jump racing in England and Ireland was halted for 2 weeks due to freezing weather. It finally resumed at Kempton and Huntington on Jan16 (Naas' card was abandoned), and at Ffos Las, Fairyhouse and Thurles on Jan17.

The 3:15pm at Kempton on Saturday was a class 3 handicap chase that was won by novice chaser Fistral Beach. He ran alongside Le Burf at the lead for the first 13 fences of the race and setting a reasonable pace. The lead was overtaken by Heathcote at the 13th and it looked like Fistral Beach was going to fade as the gap between him and Heathcote was widen to 7 lengths with 3 out. After jumping the second last, Fistral Beach was closing back to Heathcote and they jumped together at th final fence. In the ride home, Ruby Walsh on board Fistral Beach simply outgame Andrew Glassonbury on board Heathcote and won the race by 3/4 length. It is always not easy to have the lead overtaken and regained the lead. Ruby had a persistent ride, knowing that the race is never finished until the all fences are jumped and the wire was crossed.


Prior to his Kempton's success, Fistral Beach had 7 seconds and 1 third in his last 8 races - in both hurdle and chase races, spanning from Nov'08 to Dec'09. He is an Irish-bred 7-year-old gelding by Definite Article, out of Empress of Light, by Emperor Jones. He was sold for 58,000 guineas as a foal in the Doncaster Sales in Nov'03. He is trained by Paul Nicholls. Fistral Beach will get an entry in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

Replay



Jan 17, Santa Anita, El Encino Stakes-G2, $150,000, 4-year-old fillies, 1 1/16m
Chantal Sutherland continued her success this week at Santa Anita will her second Graded-stakes victory this weekend on board 29-1 longshot Pretty Unusual in the El Encino. Unhurried and settling at 4th last and about 6 lengths behind early on. Midway through the far turn, she avoided a potential spill when Will O Way had to check hardly inside. She found a big gap inside and Pretty Unusual responded and overtook the lead in the final 50 yards and won by 1 1/4 length. Former champion Stardom Bound, under Mike Smith, was a closing second.

Replay

Bloodhorse story


What's Upcoming?

• The Dubai International Racing Carnival will begin on Thursday January 28 at the new Meydan Racecourse. 9 evenings of high quality racing will be schedule on Thursday and some Fridays between Jan28 to Mar5. The Dubai World Cup night is scheduled for March 27.
• The Hong Kong Classic Mile on Jan24 and the Stewards' Cup on Jan31 - both Group One races at Sha Tin
• Sunshine Million at Santa Anita and Gulfstream on Jan30. The purse of the Sunshine Million Classic is only $500,000

Favourite Races - Week Jan4 to Jan10/2010: Zachary, Ello Ello, Axion

With heavy snow covering all of Great Britain and Ireland, jump racing in that part of the world has come to a complete stand still. Many races had to be re-scheduled and re-located end up being canceled too. Over in the United States, activities are concentrated at Gulfstream and Santa Anita. Horseplayers are desparately anticipating the opening day at the Oaklawn Park on January 15. Although without a turf course, Oaklawn maintained its importance of winter racing, and 3-year-old racing especially in the racing calendar. Their "neutral" location and continual emphasis on traditional dirt racing impress horsepeople and fans alike as an ideal place to place their bet in.

Caufield, January 9th, Race 2, $70,000 for 2-year-olds at 1100m

The first 3 finishers - Zachary (by Commands, out of South Australian Oaks and Queensland Oaks winner Zacheline, by Zabeel), Ello Ello (by Niello) and Divine Luck (by Bradbury's Luck, and a HB to Magic Million 2yo Classic winner Mimi Lebrock) all broke slowly. But they were not too far back and ran steadily at the turn. At the top of the stretch, it was easy to see that these 3 horses emerged from the outside and they outclassed the rest. In the final 150m, Zachary took the lead but Ello Ello, who was dead last early, really closing well from the near side but also very green. It was a mini duel for these 2 in the final 100m and the winner won by a nose. Ello Ello's jockey submitted an objection to the winner for interference in the final 200m, but was dismissed by the stewards.


Source: perthnow.com.au

It is still very early in the career of these juvenile - Zachary was a second-time starters and both Ello Ello and Divine Luck were first-time starters. Their performance have shown their class and ability to get more distance. Zachary was racing in Sheikh Mohammed's maroon silk, and trained by Peter Snowden, who said that we may see Zachary again at Brisbane (The T. J. Smith @ 1600m?) later in the winter. So don't expect to see him at some of the premier juvenile races in February and April. Sounds like they are already thinking about the 3-year-old season.

See more on Zachary's win in this article:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/horseracing/snowden-stable-pulls-the-right-rein-with-zachary-20100109-m004.html


Nakayama, January 5th, Nikkan Sports Sho Nakayama Kimpai (中山金杯)-G3 handicap, 2000m turf

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced on Dec28 that all of JRA graded races will be open to foreign-trained horses starting from 2010. There are 122 Graded races (flat) and 40 other races open to foreign horses, a total of 162 races for the entire year. The Grade 3 Nakayama Kimpai is the first graded stake race in Japan in 2010, and it was won by 7-year-old Japaneses-bred horse Axion, his third consecutive victory. By Sunday Silence, out of Greatest Hits, by Dixieland Band, Axion represented the last crop of the revolutionary stallion, Sunday Silence. The race is worth the equivalent of about $890,000 USD.

Under a patient ride by Shinji Fujita (藤田伸二), Axion was rated about 5th last for the most part of the race and running along the rail. He maintained the horse's position inside turning for home and with less than 400m left in the stretch, the jockey of this 2/1 favourite was still unhurried and patiently swung a bit to the near side for an opening. Once the horse saw daylight, he galloped steadily to pass the leading horses to his inside but then the horses from his outside were also closing fiercely, but the wire was already there and Axion was the winner by a neck. Thes margin between him and the 7th place finisher was just about a length.

It is an exciting finish. Enjoy the 2 videos below:

Favourite Races - Week Dec28/09 to Jan3/10: Can't Buy Time, Distorted Dave, Master Overseer, Egyptian Ra

My "favourite race" may not be "the best race" ... it can be, but it doesn't have to be. I like to share races from around the world with exciting finishes, good ride, funny trip, etc. From Monmouth to Morphettville, from Chepstown to Churchill Downs, from Lone Star to Longchamp, from Nakayama to Nad Al Sheba. I could be comparing Group One sprint race at Royal Randwick on Saturday against a 3m Class 4 hurdle race at Wincanton on Thursday.

Cheltenham - victorchandler.com Chase handicap - G3, on Jan 1, 2010.

Tony McCoy had a beautiful ride on Can't Buy Time (at 8/1) to win this Grade 3 handicap chase at 2m5f at Cheltenham. Ridding from the back of the pack earlier, McCoy rated the 8yo gelding and progressed steadily. At the stretch after the last jump, Private Be was closing well but McCoy squeezed Can't Buy Time for the extra to regain another length to win by 2¼. Kudos to 3rd place finisher, the 13-year-old Mister McGoldrick who was always near the pace and was leading from the 10th to 4 out, only losing by 5 lengths to the winner at the end.

Link to story at the sportinglife:
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/10/01/01/manual_145347.htmlg/10/01/01/manual_145347.html

Link to full result and replay: http://interactiveracecard.bluesq.com/results/race/30180

Link to race result:
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=495972&r_date=2010-01-01&popup=yes


Santa Anita, Jan 2, Race 4, Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds at 5.5f.

First time runner Distorted Dave, by Distorted Humor out of Crazy Ensign (ARG), by Firery Ensign, close from well off the pace on the rail to win by a head in the last stride. He is trained by John Sadler. Solely based on dosage, his DP is 6-3-6-0-1 (16), DI = 3.00 and CD = 0.81, indicating that he should be capable of stepping up in the distance to at least a mile. His dam, Crazy Ensign (ARG), was a Grade 1 winner in Argentina and ran third in the Yellow Ribbon-G1 and Beverly Hills-G1 at 10f. She was sold as a broodmare in 2005 January Sales for $925,000, in foal to Gone West.

Chart:
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/SA010210USA.pdf

Replay: http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/members/video/index.cfm?race_code=100102_SA_4_1


Plumpton, Sussex National Handicap Chase (Class 3) at 3m5f , Jan 3, 2010

Replay: http://www.attheraces.com/VideoConsole/?va=PLU_2010_01_03_04_1420

This is an exciting finish among Master Overseer, Tarquinius and Shaka's Pearl. The first 2 were close to the pace set by Radetsky March from the start to 4 out. Master Overseer took the advantage 3 out to take a big lead but favourite Tarquinius caught up with him with 2 out and was ahead by almost 2 lengths when they jumped the last fence. Under a persistent ride by Johnny Farrelly, Master Overseer battled back in a very good stretch duel and overtook Tarquinius by a long head. Unlucky was Shaka's Pearl, who seemed to have the best chance at the final fence but the gap between the first 2 was closed when he was trying to squeeze in and had to pull up.

Chart: http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=496018&r_date=2010-01-03&popup=yes

Trained by David Pipe, this is Master Overseer's third consecutive victory over fences. His OR was 116 at the start of this race and is expected to increase to the 120s.


Sha Tin, The Chinese Club Challenge Cup (handicap)-G3, Jan 1, 1400m

Although he is already an 8-year-old, it doesn't stop Egyptian Ra from being his best in his racing career. He won the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup on New Year's Day of 2010 at Sha Tin in his usual front-running honest style, holding up the strong closing from John Moore's Sunny King. He has already reached the highest rating of 130 before the race and this victory, which is his second win this season, will keep him at the highest level - one point below Good Ba Ba's 131 and 1 point above Sacred Kingdom's 129.

Full race result with replay: http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/results.asp?racedate=01/01/2010&raceno=09

This New Zealand-bred by Woodborough started his racing career in Hong Kong in 2004 as a 3-year-old PP. When he was in New Zealand as a 2-year-old, he was good enough to be second in the Group 1 Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes and third in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produces Stakes. With such a stella race records, he was alotted a rating of 85 and start racing among Class 1 and 2. In his first 2 seasons in Hong Kong, he was winless in 21 races. But with his pace-setting running style, he was always "visible" and always ran a good race and his rating only went down to 79. In the 2006/07 season, already a 5-year-old, Egyptian Ra won 4 times between 1400m to 1600m, and his rating was 108 at the end of that season. In the 2007/08 season, already a 6-year-old, he was winless in 10 times, primarily racing in domestic group races between 1000m to 2000m.

At the start of the 2008/09 season, already a 7-year-old, he was moved from D J Hall stable to Tony Cruz stable and this marked the beginning of Egyptian Ra's second career. Concentraing in 1400m to 1600m races, he had 7 starts, with three wins, two seconds, one third and one fourth. He faces Good Ba Ba in 6 of the races, and he finished ahead of Good Ba Ba in 4 of them. He best race was obviously the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup-G1 at 1400m, when he defeated Good Ba Ba, Sacred Kingdom, Armada, among others.

His record in Hong Kong is now nine wins, eight second and seven third in 52 starts, with a total earnings of $20,101,250 HKD (or $2.6 million USD).



Hardy Eustace retirement
The 2-time Champion Hurdle winner ran second in a 2m4f hurdle race at Punchestown before retiring from racing. His career earning is £1,088,213.