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The 2003-2004 results are at the bottom
of the page for comparison |
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MAY 17th SUMMING UP
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Strike Up The Band has the strongest all round profile and although
he may not have much improvement left his ability to track a strong pace
an produce a quickening to gain 2-3 lengths make him a strong contender.
Phantom Whisper's early season form is not as strong and he was
probably well forward in relation to many of the horses he met at that
time. However he showed a strong finish in both his wins and won comfortably
and can improve further. He has shown less change of pace than Strike Up
The Band but is likely to be gaining on that rival on the uphill finish.
Crocodile Bay has front run in his last two races and Puskas
did the same last time. Lake Hero also seems likely to be prominent
so there should be a strong pace. They may set the race up for the 'trackers'
- Strike Up The Band, Phantom Whisper & Green Pride.
Where's That Tiger is difficult to categorise with no British form.
He was comfortably beaten by BA Foxtrot in a very slow time on soft ground
last time when giving that rival 7lb. M Channon runs Puskas rather then
BA Foxtrot here. In profile Where's That Tiger looks similar to the other
sons of Storm Cat the trainer has run over 5f in early season in Britain
in the last two seasons - Old Deuteronomy, Cougar Cat & Dark Cheetah.
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RACE QUALITY:
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There has not been a Listed race at the meeting previously and the 5f race
has been an ordinary maiden (of no particular quality). This is the second
new Listed race introduced in 2005.
The runners in this race are a good example of the range of 2yos that these
early season races attract. Crocodile Bay, Green Pride, Phantom Whisper
& Lake Hero were relatively cheap buys at the sales for between 5k
to 10k guineas. They represent the small number of horses that develop
notably well from the sales and their precociousness helps them to compete
at higher levels in early season. This level of race is normally the upper
limit for this type. Of the four only Phantom Whisper has a sibling that
was a useful 2yo - his full brother Maktavish was placed in the National
Stakes which is normally the first Listed 5f race.
Memphis Man, Puskas and Strike Up the Band cost between 40k to 50k guineas.
They all are full or half brothers to at least useful 2yos that rated around
90. Strike Up The Band in particular is a full brother to two 90 rated
2yos who developed to be high class older sprinters - Sampower Star &
Fire Up The Band.
Which leaves Where's That Tiger who is by the sire Storm Cat and his fee
(i.e., to produce a single foal) is more than the yearling sales price
of the other seven put together. This type of race would be the minimum
that would be expected of him. However, he's already achieved more than
his previous two siblings by winning an Irish 5f maiden on heavy ground.
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TRAINERS:
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R Hannon had five entries for the race and Green Pride is
chosen to run. The other three were Green Park who won a
Class 2 conditions race two days ago; Grimes Faith who won a Novice
race two days ago; along with previous winner Cool Creek & the
unraced Red Pride. Worth considering whether this tells us the full
story of the ranking between them - or whether other factors such as which
races he thought he could win were also influences.
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SIRES:
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First season sires Bertolini
(Memphis Man) & Arkadian
Hero (Lake Hero) have runners. Bertolini's daughter Bow Bridge won
the first Listed race of the season last week at York.
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