gold silver bronze

3 M 8 T






Guineas winner in bid to grab more gold an Delpenn wave the Banner.

By- Pogook

Grade 1 Equinics 1 mile Firm turf 3 yo Open China

Race 9 on Saturdays Equinics turf card from China is sponsored by Spring Hill Horse Rescue. Spring Hill Horse Rescue was established in 2000 with the aim to rescue and rehabilitate horses who are being neglected or suffering abuse, and with loving care turn these poor animals fortunes around until they have fully recovered and can be fostered to caring homes. So far over 500 rescued horses have passed through the stable door. Money is always needed as the charity often has to pay the owners to buy the neglected animals in private sales and sometimes having to rescue horses in auction. Feed and fuel prices has also rocketed with the current credit crunch so click on the race banner and check out this worthwhile charity`s website.

The Runners and Riders

A top class field of seventeen 3 yo colts are declared for this grade 1 mile race on turf, at what is argueably the sims most prestigious meeting. We have a clear favorite at 6/1 in what is, as expected an open looking race.

1) HISPANO PARLANTE PASAME LA BOTELLA Victoria 251262 S L Ledwith 19/1

3 yo colt Libbertist x Sunday Silence x Unfuwain
10 runs 3 wins 4 seconds $93790

This likeable colt ran his achieved his fastest speed to date last time out in Arkansas when running on in a $30400 nw4l 8.5 furlongs allowance to take runners up spot with a 103. He has ran in 3 stakes races in his career to date, managing to take the runners up spot in 2 of these, but this represents a massive jump in class and it will be a hell of a training performance if her trainer can make this colts first stakes win an Equinics win.

2) RASH SHIRE Notanice1 505112 D Evans 34/1

3 yo colt
Aaragon x Danzig x Mr Prospector
13 runs 3 wins 3 seconds $60148

Improving sort who has enjoyed a change of fortunes since being switched to turf 4 runs back in April. Last time out he produced his fastest speed figure to date, staying on to claim 2nd place in a 7 furlongs $26000 nw4x allowance on the yeilding turf of Connecticut with a 101 . He may have stamina doubts over this mile, that remains to be seen but what is clear is he takes a mighty leap from allowances to this grade 1. It may well be mission impossible.

3) MINNESOTA DOWNS CREDIT CASTLE Brentuk 112051 R Harzeim 7/1

3 yo colt
Castledale x Sadler`s Wells x Machiavellian
14 runs 7 wins 4 seconds $413865

Smart double stake winning 2 yo who carried his form over as a 3 yo. His finest hour came back in February the 9th in the Grade 2 Vermont is 4 lovers mile where he sat a couple of lengths off the lead before running on and winning with a speed figure of 105. He did go off the boil a little after that with 2 average runs, in particular he flopped badly when not unfancied in the 2000 Guineas before finding form again in the 3yo open mile race at Smackdown 4 where, although he couldnt hit the boards and finished 5th, he again ran a speed of 105. Last time out he ran his best speed figure to date when winning an ungraded stakes over 7.5 furlongs in Wisconsin. His 108 that day must give his owner optimism for this race.

4) QUEENSLAND STONEBRIDGE KNIGHT Marsattack 212031 J Stivers 11/1

3 yo colt
Belong to me x Kingmambo x Nureyev
15 runs 7 wins 3 seconds 1 third $569840

This one has a lot in common with the previous horse, Credit Castle. He was also a double stakes winning 2 yo who carried on where he left off as a 3yo. He won his first race of his 3 yo campaign, an ungraded stakes over a eight and a half furlongs in Ostend before exploding into life in the Grade 2 Vermont is 4 lovers race won by Credit Castle. Stonebridge Knight led from the traps that day until collared in the final furlong. He held on for 2nd and his speed figure of 102 represented a marked improvement which he was to carry on to his finest hour in his next race. He was shipped of to California for the Grade 1 Mountain that Rides Battle over a mile and he showed what a game little colt he is by fighting all the way up the home stretch and sticking his neck out to win by a head. His speed figure that day 104 remains his lifetime best. After another decent race in an ungraded stakes over 8.5 furlongs he also flopped badly in the 2000 Guineas. Again he has come back into form in his last couple of runs but his overall level of form leaves him with a bit to find.

5) EWC METRIC CONNECTION Recnrichie 511150 G Arnold 16/1

3 yo colt
Dansili x Fusachi Pegasus x Metfield
10 runs 4 wins 1 second 1 third $81172

Could be a difficult days work for recnrichie`s charge. He started his racing life as a 3 yo, breaking his duck at the second time of asking at Epsom over a mile, which remains to this day as the only time he has won over that trip. He was then tried for a spell on dirt, which he did not really appreciate. However on his return to the green stuff he quickly wrapped up a quckfire treble in restricted allowances over 6-7 furlongs. However since then he has been firmly put in his place firstly in stakes company at Newmarket over 7.5 furlongs where he led until fading late into fifth and latterly in the Grade 1 six furlong turf open 3yo race at Smackdown 4. So with stamina and class doubts it will take a brave man to stick his ten bob on this one.

6) KENTUCKY HORSEMEN SAVAKRIS Rivahboat 051221 A Craig 67/1

3 yo colt
Savabeel x Kris S. x Vaguely Noble
8 runs 2 wins 2 seconds $14647

The outsider of the field, if Rivahboat can get this one to win not only will he be the toast of the bookmakers for years to come, but surely he will be seen by the sim playing public as the 2nd coming of the messiah. A recent $25000 claim, he makes his debut for his new owner in this race. Whilst it is clear he is not in this class to be fair to the horse himself he looks like he has a chance of improving into an allowance class animal in time, but this race is not for him.

7) DELPENN BANNER 2tohold 362521 H Harzeim 6/1 Fav

3 yo colt
Danehill Dancer x Kingmambo x Danzig
11 runs 3 wins 3 seconds 2 thirds $718125

Surprisingly, as a favourite for this grade 1 event Banner has never tasted success in graded company. However dont let that fool you, he wouldnt be favorite if he didnt have a lot going for him. A class 2 yo, he finished off his campaign as a juvenile with a mighty performance in his first ever stakes attempt, leading from trap to wire with a winning speed of 96. Onto his first race as a 3 yo and he ran in his first Grade 1, leading the field in The Fainting Goats Nightmare Stakes over a mile in Arizona before giving up the lead and finishing third with a 102 speed figure. His owner must have had high expectations after that but it has taken a while to materialise. He ran in the Grade 3 Dracula stakes over a mile at Kentucky, finishing runner up before a respectable yet unspectacular 5th in the 2000 Guineas . He conspired to somehow get beaten in allowance class next giving no clue what was to come at Smackdown. Running in the 3 yo open mile turf race, which is ungraded but as good as any graded race I have seen he found the improvement his owner has spent the last 6 or 7 months looking for, and after leading most of the way ran out cosy winner with a huge 112 speed figure. He still has to prove that performance wasnt a one off and it looks like the bookies have him as favorite on the strength of that one run, but if he reproduces that here it may be good enough to see off this field.

8) THE CR RACERS ALBERTA TORNADO Holeinone 010103 L Fontain 12/1

3 yo colt
Storm Cat x A.P.Indy x Sadler`s Wells
13 runs 4 wins 4 thirds $210260

If grade 1`s were given out for bloodlines, this one would be a classic winner. A 12/1 shot but he goes into my book as a real darkhorse with a better chance than the bookies would have you believe. He started off his racing life on dirt as a 2 yo, indeed winning his maiden on dirt. However after defeat it wasnt long before he was switched to the lawn and he went on to win in stakes class as a 2 yo. He opened up his account as a 3yo winning an ungraded stakes in Ostend over a mile before finishing down the field in the Grade 1 The Mountains that Ride battle in California. A six week break clearly had him in good fettle because next time he seen the track he sparkled at Newmarket leading from trap to wire in the Grade 3 Craven Stakes. His 107 speed is still his personal best. He did run a stinker in a grade 2 Bean Sprout Turf Cup over 8.5 furlongs in Ostend at the start of July, but went some way to redeeming himself just a week later where although he could only finish 3rd in an ungraded stakes over 9 furlongs, he just got the worst of it in a titanic 3 way battle going down by a nose and a nose, the winner was the very useful Hoarfrost Hill so it represents very good form. He drops back in trip today to what I think is his best distance, and if he has got his going head on today could spring a shock.

9) NORTHWEST RACING CURCUIT SARDINI Punter41 010231 B Ball 7/1

3 yo colt
Bernadini x Sadler`s Wells x Danzig
14 runs 6 wins 3 seconds 1 third $596130

This horse is an oddity, although a very talented oddity. The whole of his 2 yo career was spent entirely on dirt and very successful it was too. He was already a winner in stakes class before he went on to win the grade 1 Movieland Futurity in California over 8.5 furlongs with an hugely impressive 97. However the wheels fell off after that and after 1 more disappointing run on the dirt as a 2 yo, his start to life as a 3 yo was a dire one, getting well beaten in the grade 1 virginia is 4 lovers on the dirt. He did pick up another ungraded stakes win in the wet in Argentina before once again disappointing over 9 furlongs in Carlifornias Derby prep lock. Then back in May came the move that revitalised this classy performers career when 3 runs back he made the switch to turf. A 2nd place in a Grade 3 on turf over a mile in California produced a lifetime best speed of 102. This was followed by a 3 rd in a Grade 2 over 8.5 furlongs at Ostend which again saw a pb of 103 before once again tasting graded success with a huge win over a mile in Sweden in the grade 2 Tete mile Classic. This time he obliterated his old mark with a speed of 110 and a repeat here will see him go very close. He looks a big danger to the favorite.

10) OHIO BOOM GATE TheGeneral 140130 T Small 16/1

3 yo colt
Rainbow Quest x Theatrical x Danehill
12 runs 5 wins 1 second 2 thirds $437080

16/1 is a big price for a horse that is a recent Grade 3 winner and an even more recent 2000 Guineas placed horse. A double stakes winning 2yo, he hardly set the world on fire in his first 2 runs as a 3yo, running on but finishing out of the first 3 in a Grade 1 Six furlongs turf race in Maryland before being well beaten in the Grade 1 Eight furlongs Vermont is 4 lovers turf race won by Credit Castle. He had a fair break after that and on his return he found significant improvement to win the Grade 3 Dracula stakes over a mile at Kentucky, his 104 is still his lifetime best. Onto the 2000 Guineas and he snatched 3rd with a respectable 102. Last month saw another poor performance when stuffed in the Grade 1 St James Tavern at Newmarket. To figure here he need to ramp up what he has done in his career to date to a new level. Improvement is not enough, it has to be big improvement.

11) GREAT PLAINS INSIDE THE LINES Redturkey 1131 T C Russell 44/1

3 yo colt
Sadler`s Wells x Roberto x Ribot
4 runs 3 wins 1 third $69932

Big outsider, but a lovely horse with bags of potential. A winner of a MSW and 2 restricted allowances, his speed figures leave him with virtually no chance here, even taking improvement into account. Its a shame but this race has just come far too early in his racing career, but i firmly believe he will be a decent horse one day with a little more experience. Perhaps we will see him in the next Equinics with a much better chance, who knows.

12) BLAZING SADDLES SILENT AND SMOOTH Finalfix2 222211 P Harzeim 12/1

3 yo colt
Sharmadal x Seattle Slew x Nureyev
9 runs 4 wins 5 seconds $122560

Here is another that could be a dark horse although for him its crunch time Unexposed and improving he has his first ever taste of stakes action here, and he wouldnt have much further to improve to be considered a threat so long as the class hike doesnt make him shrink into his shell. He has been in the first 2 in every race he has competed in, whch apart form his debut win in a MSW, has all been in restricted allowances. He has raced at distances ranging from 6 furlongs on his debut to ten furlongs, but is back here to what I would consider his optimum trip to be. He has shown steady improvement in his racing up until 2 races ago, when he showed more considerable improvement and repeated it lto. These last 2 races resulted in wins with both the same speed figure, a lifetime best 105 on each occasion., although the former was over a mile while the latter was over 8.5 furlongs. How will he get on here? Hell knows he could be anything.

13) IRELAND YASUTORA Daedalus 212111 K Ledwith 7/1

3 yo colt
Eckleson x Septieme Ciel x Mr Prospector
11 runs 6 wins 4 seconds 1 third $758054

I wouldnt be at all surprised if this one has the Ireland residency invading a bar and emptying it of Guiness to the strains of Danny Boy come Saturday night. Far from being the most stoutly bred colt in this line up he has the most consistantly classy form. Although a very good stakes winner over a mile as a 2 year old, even that gave no clue to what he was going to achieve as a 3 yo. He started off his 3 yo career with a narrow defeat in the 9 furlong EAAA inter residency challenge, although in hindsight the trip was wrong. Down in trip to a mile since then he has racked up a fourtimer comprising os an ungraded stakes, a grade 3 and his last 2 runs which has resulted in 2 grade 1 wins, the former he became a classic winner when winning the 2000 Guineas with a lifetime best speed of 109 before winning the grade 1 St James Tavern at Ascot with a 108. He goes here with a respected chance as the number 1 ranked horse in his division and if I was a betting man this is the one I would be backing.

14) EAAA RACING GLYRACE Gwhisper 150122 T Loesch 18/1

3 yo colt
Hennessey x Mr Prospector x Irish Tower
10 runs 4 wins 1 second 2 thirds $146110

Owned by my friend at EAAA, Glyrace looked a run of the mill allowance type till tried over turf 3 runs back. His first run on the lawn was a win in a restricted allowance over 8.5 furlongs in Florida. He then followed that up with another win, this time an open allowance over the mile at New York. Both wins were achieved with a speed figure of 98. He was then upped in class to stakes level next time out, and he produced a lifetime best performance. again in New York over 9 furlongs. He led early but was overtaken just after halfway and outstayed. He plugged on for second and his speed of 104 was a lifetimes best. He is running over a more suitable trip today and may sneak a place if he can find another lifetimes best, but it is going to be extremely tough.

15) G R SIMSTERS STORMING BLUES Desperado2 136213 P Bangs 8/1

3 yo colt
Bernadini x Storm Cat x Forty Niner
12 runs 4 wins 2 seconds 3 thirds $203436

Big improver from his 2yo days,this one is confirmed stakes class yet in the big graded races this season has been the bridesmaid but never the bride and what is more is it has usually been one of todays runners that has denied him his moment of fame. He was beaten into 3rd place by Credit Castle and Sonebridge Knight in the Grade 2 Vermont is 4 lovers mile turf race back in March, before a rather disappointing effort next time out over 9 furlongs in the Grade 1 All your base Belongs to us over Victorias turf course. He then dropped back to a mile for the Grade 3 Craven Stakes, in which he was beaten just under a length by another of todays rivals, Alberta Tornado. Since then he has competed in 2 ungraded stakes, the first one over 9 furlongs on Longchamps good turf course which he won with a 103 before heading off to the smackdown meeting where despite running a lifetime best of 108, he could only finish 3rd behind todays favorite Banner. He should be there or thereabouts today but he just needs that little extra to finally get his head in front in a graded stakes. A win here would be more than ample revenge for every one of todays rivals who have touched him off all season long.

16) VERMONT BLASPHEMY Leesnyder 561111 T Nugent 27/1

3 yo colt
Giant`s Causeay x Mr Prospector x Secretariat
9 runs 5 wins $99635

Another true blueblood, Blasphemy won his maiden on dirt but was switched to turf after another 4 average runs as a 2 yo. Since that switch 4 runs back he has improved substantially, running up 3 wins in rstricted allowances before bagging his first stakes in the 7.5 furlongs The Ojai for Kyle stakes in Louisiana. He won pretty easily that day and his speed of 102 was a lifetimes best so he is still clearly improving. Still its a massive ask for him to get competitive in this, but there again if he finds more improvement you just never know, he may sneak an unlikely looking place.

17) BENELUX SPOOKY SPINNING Karl 122234 M Day 13/1

3 yo colt
Spinning World x Sadler`s Wells x Polish Numbers
12 runs 4 wins 3 seconds 3 thirds $168151

Only 1 run as a 2yo, in which he won his MSW over 6.5 furlongs. In his runs as a 3yo, he has improved since April. His finest run came in the Grade 2 Bean Sprout Turf Cup ran over 8.5 furlongs in Ostend. he produced his usual front running tactics and very nearly succeeded in stealing the race before going down by 1/2 a length in runners up spot. His 103 speed was and is his lifetime best. Since then he has finished 3rd in a ungraded stakes oner 7.5 furlongs, running a 102 before disappointing somewhat in his last race, a 7 furlong allowance when despite being a short priced favorite could only trail home in 4th. He may well give his owner the thrill of leading the first half of the race, but I doubt he will be good enough to stay there come the finish.

So there we have our complete field of runners. May i wish each and every competing residency the best of luck.

GO EAAA


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