RUN MISSY RUN TO STAKE ANOTHER CLAIM FOR HORSE IN THE YEAR IN HONG KONG TODAY.

Run Missy Run may be the best sprinter of all time in Photo Finish. Even Finlay from FDL Lodge, the owner of superstar Silver Arrow winners All For Camena and Blushing Allanna has commented that RMR is the best. I'd have to agree with him.

For starters, Run Missy Run is my favourite horse, having done the Silver Arrow Series website and having spoken with Steven the maestro behind Golden Acres, I admire this sprinting machine. Run Missy Run started off his Silver Arrow Series with a remarkable win over Rocket, the superstar 2yo. And by doing that, he recorded the highest Power Speed Rating this year, with a remarkable 127. He backed up and showed his immeasurable class again, by winning the Oakleigh Plate over classy rival bro'Town & Bellfast Lad. Backing up again for the third week in a row, Run Missy Run lead all the way down the straight but was just beaten by Life On Mars, ironically from FDL Lodge. Life On Mars was carrying an amazing 12 less kilos than Run Missy Run, yet she only prevailed by a neck. Life On Mars is the 2nd best performed 2yo in my opinion. That was the bravest performance I've seen on this game so far, and he injured him self for around 20 days after that run.

That run reminded me of my favourite horse Mummify's last run. He was attempting to win his 2nd Caulfield Cup and he led at a frantic pace and looked a sitting duck on the home turn. The Japanese raider Eye Popper ran straight past him, but Mummify fought back and was going to win at the 150m before he smashed his leg into the rail out of exhaustion. Despite fracturing his sesamoid bone in his near foreleg he finished 3rd, just getting run over the top of at the last 20m. Poor Mummify died after that run, and I was distraught.

Of course RMR's performance wasn't as great as Mummify's, but RMR was a brave frontrunner as well with unlimited speed, so I took a following in the speedy sprinter from Golden Acres. Run Missy Run came back in the Prix De L'Abbaye, beating Attack At Dawn (a past Silver Arrow Series winner), Poetic Justice, Rain Man & Bellfast Cat. He then went to the Breeders Cup Sprint and won again proving his class. This is a brilliant field, but I think RMR holds all the aces this year.

PAST RESULTS:

2004- Tribal Luck

2005- All For Camena

2006- All For Camena

2007- Victory Dance

2008- Moet

2009- Returnofthedancer

2010- ?????????????????

5- Hong Kong Sprint 2.40
1000m $1,025,000 and trophy. 3yo & up. G1. No claims.
1 17160 BLAZING RISK, 4 FDL Lodge 59 13.00
2 22141 ALL FOR DANSILVER, 1 FDL Lodge 59 9.00
3 13124 ATTACK AT DAWN, 2 Chiquita Lodge 56 4.50
4 11211 RUN MISSY RUN, 9 Golden Acres 56 2.40f
5 51311 PEOPLE’S CHAMP, 8 Pointgiven Stables 56 6.00
6 00112 DRUNKEN SMART, 6 Zippy Chippy Stables 56 21.00
7 36043 BELLFAST LAD, 3 Elite Thoroughbreds 56 26.00
8 21171 FLAWLESS TOWER, 7 Olmo Dorato 54 8.00
9 13400 CHARMING LIL, 5 Elite Thoroughbreds 54 51.00
Run Missy Run 1, Attack At Dawn 2, Flawless Tower 3, People’s Champ 4

It’s great to see the Silver Arrow Series form coming back for this magnificent race. 4-RUN MISSY RUN is going as well as ever and I can’t see him losing. 3-ATTACK AT DAWN would be a short favourite if RUN MISSY RUN wasn’t running. 8-FLAWLESS TOWER is as fast as they come and the straight track should suit. 5-PEOPLE’S CHAMP is in impeccable form. 1-BLAZING RISK should bounce back and he’s back to turf. It’s hard to believe 7-BELLFAST LAD is still a maiden. If he puts his best foot forward he’d be hard to beat. 2-ALL FOR DANSILVER is going along nicely. 6-DRUNKEN SMART is in good form but I don’t think he is up to this standard. 9-CHARMING LIL is a nicely-performed mare but I don’t think she is up to this.

IS THE HONG KONG CUP GOING TO A NOBLE NEWCOMER?

Noble Farms has been an immediate success this year, with all his runners at least running a place. He has four horses. Arctic Memories, a Cox Plate winner who has won 2 from 3 for Noble so far. Quick Step, an up and coming horse who has had 3 starts for Noble Farms for a Gr.2 win, a nose second in the Cigar Mile and a Gr.3 placing. He also has Pulp Fiction, who has had a Gr 2 win and a Gr 3 fifth from two starts and Papillion who has had two starts from a second and a third. Now that is a brilliant start, and has got him well prepared for a long career as a trainer on this magnificent racing game.

But now lets get to the Hong Kong Cup. He has the top-weight Arctic Memories, who is primed for a top performance on the back of a great win over SCENIC SHEBA and TAJ MAHAL at his last start. I was fairly surprised but then I thought that Arctic Memories will be even better over 2000m. So Arctic Memories is the current favourite for the cup but it would be an intriguing prospect if Color Of Fame or Malvern Hill lines up today. Also flying the flag for the new comers is Eminem, who has raced with distinction for Royal Flush Farms.

Past winners:
2004- Thunder Arctic
2005- Alytrain
2006- Smart Money
2007- A Bus
2008- Broken Dream
2009- Jenny's My Gal
2010- ??????????????


7- Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup 4.00
2000m $2,300,000 and trophy. 3yo & up. G1. No claims.
1 33043 HOLD THAT TRAIN, 7 Pointgiven Stables 59 10.00
2 54311 ARCTIC MEMORIES, 1 Noble Farms 59 2.40f
3 21341 FALDO, 6 Olmo Dorato 56 6.00
4 43013 CAMENA’S THUNDER. 2 FDL Lodge 56 15.00
5 11121 TRIGUN, 9 Rivendell Stables 56 3.20
6 33240 ELEGENT TOWER, 4 Goforwand Stables 56 31.00
7 12333 EMINEM, 5 Royal Flush Farms 56 14.00
8 13532 DALATOMBE, 3 Spartan Racing Stables 56 16.00
9 61111 TRAIL FINDER, 8 Rainbow 56 21.00
Arctic Memories 1, Trigun 2, Eminem 3, Camena’s Thunder 4

2-ARCTIC MEMORIES is a Cox Plate winner who showed great class in beating SCENIC SHEBA and TAJ MAHAL last start. He is going along great and gets his ideal distance here. 5-TRIGUN beat a top class field last start in the Doomben Cup. Is lightly raced and is placed to perfection here. 7-EMINEM is on the way up and he looks ready to strike here. Very consistent. 4-CAMENA’S THUNDER is going as well as anything and has been close up behind the likes of Malvern Hill, Jenny’s My Gal and Color Of Fame lately. 3-FALDO beat the highly rated ARCTIC SLICKER four starts ago in the Group 1 Man O’ War Stakes. Should enjoy a nice pace here. 1-HOLD THAT TRAIN is a Breeders Cup Classic winner who will be over the odds today. Forgive 6-ELEGENT TOWER on his last run. 9-TRAIL FINDER is in great form. 8-DALATOMBE is a chance in what ever he runs in.

ANOTHER HONG KONG MILE WINNER FOR SCENIC SHEBA?

This years Hong Kong Mile is a top-class race, with a typically open field. Favourite to win here is Scenic Sheba, winner of this race the last two years. But there are several challengers that could take Scenic Sheba's crown. The Breeders Cup Mile winner, Mr Purler slayed the likes of Perfect Picture and Bold N'Honorable to win it. Bold N' Honorable skipped this race in preference for the Tattersalls Mile, in which he's up against horses such as Tsunami and C.T.'s Pizza. I think FDL Lodge wanted to avoid racing against Mr Purler who is going brilliantly.

Another contender must be the retiring Taj Mahal. Who would surely want a win to further improve his stud prospects, and he is currently standing at Elite Thoroughbreds for $10,000. Castle Rock is an Emirates Stakes winner, and he should bounce back from his disappointing run last start in the Stradbroke. Wanna Be A Fox and Believe In Magic were good runs in the Breeders Cup Mile, and they must be considered. Devil His Brew and Thunderdome are honorable entries into this top class field.

PAST WINNERS:
2004- Dansilver
2005- Dubai Gold
2006- Palm Island
2007- Memorabilia
2008- Scenic Sheba
2009- Scenic Sheba
2010- ???????????


6- Hong Kong Mile 3.20
1600m $1,800,000 and trophy. 3yo & up. G1. No claims.
1 11131 MR PURLER, 4 Olmo Dorato 59 5.00
2 24263 TAJ MAHAL, 6 Elite Thoroughbreds 59 8.00
3 42423 THUNDERDOME, 7 Oak Tree Stable 59 26.00
4 11112 SCENIC SHEBA, 5 Foxies Lodge 56 2.60f
5 13219 CASTLE ROCK, 2 Olmo Dorato 56 10.00
6 24543 DEVIL HIS BREW, 3 FDL Lodge 56 14.00
7 66224 BELIEVE IN MAGIC, 1 Establos Del Castillo 56 16.00
8 14403 WANNA BE A FOX, 8 FDL Lodge 56 21.00
Scenic Sheba 1, Mr Purler 2, Wanna Be A Fox 3, Taj Mahal 4


It’s great to see 3-SCENIC SHEBA going for three-in-a-row here. She was beaten by a rejuvenated Arctic Memories but he’s going around in the Cup here and she will be hard to beat. 1-MR PURLER is going brilliantly and he should be breathing down SCENIC SHEBA’s back near the finish. 7-WANNA BE A FOX is primed for a great performance on the back of his Breeders Cup Mile run. 2-TAJ MAHAL is racing well but he’d have to race 110% to win this. 6-BELIEVE IN MAGIC was another great run from the BC Mile. 4-CASTLE ROCK was an Emirates Mile winner in the spring. 5-DEVIL HIS BREW is a good mare who won’t be out of place in this field. 3-THUNDERDOME is a nice each-way chance at odds.

HONG KONG VASE ACTION

The Hong Kong Vase has been a great race in recent years with many champs running. This year is no exception. Jenny's My Gal has been brave and honest lately and I don't think he will get beaten again today. He should add the vase to his Cup win last year.



Here are some past winners and the results.



2004- In the inaugural Photo Finish Hong Kong Vase, Chatterbox won from a desperately unlucky Memcay. Blushing Approval wasn't far away in third. Among the beaten brigade was Nightwing, who was a star racehorse who is now standing at Otsego Farms. Chatterbox was impeccably bred, by Victory Speech and Sunline. Sunline herself won a Hong Kong Mile once. Chatterbox was the winner of $7,975,000 and she had 20 starts for 11 wins. Among her other wins was two Breeders Cup Turf's. One of Chatterbox's main rivals was Memcay, and in 6 starts Memcay beat Chatterbox home 5 times. Amazingly, this race was the only time that Chatterbox beat Memcay home in a race. Chatterbox has been owned by Rainbow and Stonewall Stables.

NOTE: Sunday Rose was scratched. She is the dam of my 2yo Crowley Magic, who is racing in the Dermody Stakes this week.



2005- Memcay made up for last years defeat with a great win in the Vase. At the short odds of 4/5, Memcay narrowly defeated the outsider Maxwell. Memcay was one of the first champions of the game, winning the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, Sydney Cup, Breeders Cup Endurance and the BMW Stakes among others. He won a magnificent $13,161,000 and he is also proving a sensation at stud, breeding the Arc winner Malvern Hill, the classy Confederation and Eminem and Yatterbox, by his racing companion Chatterbox.

2006- Star Studded showed great class by holding off the top performer Madam De Francais. Star Studded was a top class winner, having won in excess of $10 million dollars. He was consistent horse, racing to 5yo but having 52 starts. He later raced to 2nd and 9th in his other runs in the HK Vase. Star Studded's first foals go to the racetrack next year.

2007- The consistent Flow Diagram won the Hong Kong Vase, beating the unlucky Star Studded. Flow Diagram has been around for years, and has never disappointed her connections. She has won over $9 million, and at her last start she won the PJ O'shea Stakes, braking another track record in the process. Flow Diagram is currently owned by Eureka Racing Stables,

2008- Flow Diagram made it back-to-back wins in the Hong Kong Vase with a stunning performance to beat Braveheart by a head. A Bus finished fifth, proving the class of the race. Flow Diagram is still racing at the top level and whether she races at Hong Kong this year remains to be seen.

2009- Perfect Bell put an end to Flow Diagram's magnificent run with a 1- 1/4 len win. Perfect Bell is no slouch, having won over 10.5 million bucks. She had also won an Australian Derby and a Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe. Perfect Bell has had one foal so far, by Memcay. He is called Gradient. It will be interesting to see how that foal turns out!

8- Hong Kong Vase 4.40
2400m $1,800,000 and trophy. 3yo & up. G1. No claims.
1 11132 JENNY’S MY GAL, 2 Foxies Lodge 59 2.00f
2 31324 RETRIBUTION, 6 Spartan Racing Stables 59 7.00
3 65056 DOUBLE DOME, 1 FDL Lodge 59 21.00
4 23115 NARSIL, 5 Rivendell Stables 56 10.00
5 72815 TOWER COUP, 7 Goforwand Stables 56 15.00
6 53111 MELKOR, 3 Rivendell Stables 56 18.00
7 50241 MEMZERI, 4 Chiquita Lodge 54 26.00
Jenny’s My Gal 1, Retribution 2, Narsil 3, Double Dome 4

1-JENNY’S MY GAL is the champion here and he should bounce back with a flogging today. 2-RETRIBUTION is always around the mark and he should improve on his 3rd and 4th in past Vases here. 4-NARSIL is in great form, don’t dismiss him on his Breeders Cup Classic run. 3-DOUBLE DOME is a nice chance at odds. 6-MELKOR is another of Rivendell’s super horses. 5-TOWER COUP ran a great race in the Breeders Cup Classic. 7-MEMZERI is going great but I’m not sure if she’s up to this class but you’d love to own her.

DELIRIUM TREMENS AND C.T.'S PIZZA LOOK TO STORM ALL THE JOHN D LEE STAKES

Why is there two John D Lee Stakes?

I think it comes down to a number of reasons. In 1998, the John D Lee Stakes was ran at it’s usual home, Cheltenham over 1800m. The next year for one reason or another it was transferred to Victoria Park over the same distance. So when Laurie looked at the stakes races in Australia for races to put on the game, she probably saw the same two races with the same name. It was perfectly logical to put them in.

Past winners of this race include Roman Arch (an Australian Cup winner) and Mr. Barts who won the race by 8 lengths. It is a good mid-season Adelaide race and it was actually ran today at a new distance. It was over 1400 metres and leading chances were Stillme, who had ran well in Melbourne at Group 1 level behind the likes of Niconero & Miss Finland and there was also the local Peacemaker who was in great form lately. Peacemaker won for Leon MacDonald and Clare Lindop. Stillme ran second.

As for the Photo Finish races I have got a runner in one of those races in C.T.’s Pizza. I think he will enjoy the drop in distance as I think 2400m stretches him. For the 1st Division I think Delirium Tremens will produce the goods.

(1) John D Lee Stakes 4.00
1800m $30000 and trophy. 3yo & up. Handicap.
1 50141 DELIRIUM TREMENS, 3 Starfish Stables 58 6.50
2 43312 DIASCAY’S SHADOW, 4 Caledonia Stables 56 4.00
3 53112 CASHEW, 1 Port Pirie Racing 55.5 2.60f
4 12540 DO THE MATH, 5 Northern Lights 55 10.00
5 03002 ONE LAST DANCE, 6 Olmo Dorato 52 9.00
6 06094 CRUEL INTENTIONS, 2 Thunder Lodge 52 16.00
Delirium Tremens 1, Cashew 2, Diascay’s Shadow 3, One Last Dance 4

I think 1- DELIRIUM TREMENS is going to win this well today. He has been rejuvenated since joining Starfish Stables and he could win again today. 3-CASHEW is also going great and deserves favouritism. 2-DIASCAY’S SHADOW is never far away. 5-ONE LAST DANCE should run well for Olmo Dorato. 4-DO THE MATH will bounce back from his last run and watch out for 6-CRUEL INTENTIONS who ran his best race last start.

(2) John D Lee Stakes 4.40
1800m $40000 and trophy. 3yo & up. Handicap.
1 30132 C.T.’S PIZZA, 1 JD Kayll Race Club 60 2.40f
2 03175 DANIO, 2 4th Alarm Racing Stable 58 5.00
3 0s071 MUJA MONARCH, 3 Firstholme Racing 56 4.00
4 72233 STORM BUSTER, 5 Olmo Dorato 52 8.50
5 06054 ZABLIME, 6 Hannah’s Stables 52 12.00
6 24302 PIKE’S PEAK, 4 Olmo Dorato 52 10.00
C.T.’s Pizza 1, Muja Monarch 2, Danio 3, Storm Buster 4

My bloke 1-C.T.’S PIZZA will enjoy the slight class drop and he is going to love the drop in distance. He hasn’t ran a bad race for me yet. 3-MUJA MONARCH won his first race at Group 3 level last start and should be hard to beat. 2-DANIO is has very good credentials for a race like this. The Olmo Dorato pair 4-STORM BUSTER and 6-PIKE’S PEAK look well placed as is 5-ZABLIME.

CAN DALAL WIN HIS SECOND BRISBANE CUP?

7- Carlton Draught Brisbane Cup 4.30
3200m $400,000 and trophy. G1. 3yo & up. HCP. No claims.
1 51310 TAGO LAD, 10 Olmo Dorato 58 5.50
2 44014 UNION JACK, 11 Otsego Farms 58 3.00f
3 22452 DALAL, 2 Victorian Racing Stables 57 10.00
4 13436 COINS, 1 Firstholme Racing 56 4.20
5 73434 DONOSTI, 4 Spartan Racing Stables 56 13.00
6 33352 MAR DE HIELO, 7 Olmo Dorato 55 8.00
7 13354 RIDE THE SUN, 8 Godolphin17 55 8.00
8 59164 EREBUS, 5 Rainbow 52 11.00
9 04020 EXCELLENT SON, 6 FDL Lodge 52 51.00
10 22534 DANGEROUS EVIDENCE, 3 Caledonia Stakes 52 26.00
11 07000 STABLE’S HOPE, 9 Helloyankees 52 151.00
Dalal 1, Union Jack 2, Ride The Sun 3, Tago Lad 4

1 TAGO LAD (Olmo Dorato) 4c By Octagonal- Republic Lass (27:3-3-8): Group 1 winner who ran one of his best races when a 3-½ win (124) Roundabout, Donosti 3200m $4.00 Longchamp Prix Du Cadran firm trk October 3, disappointing 38 len tenth (124) Lovely To See You 3200m $10.00 Churchill Downs Breeders Cup Endurance fast trk November 6. Is a genuine two-miler who should back up from his last run. Go well.

2 UNION JACK (Otsego Farms) 5c By Portsmouth- Dragon Flyer (38:14-7-7): Grand old horse who absolutely smashed em’ in a great PSR of 124 when 10- ½ len win (125) Thunder Heart, Coins 2800m $1.60fav. Royal Randwick St. Leger Stakes firm trk September 12, then ran a great race against a much stronger field 9- ½ len fourth (123) Domitila, Kingston Dawn, Dulce Sunido 3200m $2.60 Morphettville Independent Cranes Adelaide Cup firm trk October 10. Is a genuine Group 1 performer and he’s fresher than most of his rivals. Should test this field.

3 DALAL (Victorian Racing Stables) 5c By Bellbuster- Regal Kiss (51: 9-12-4): Tough-as-nails stayer who won this two years ago (from Brave heart & Dulce Sunido). He ran a nice race when 14 len fifth (112) Domitila 3200m $21.00 Morphettville Independent Cranes Adelaide Cup firm trk October 10, then backed up quickly and showed his class off the minimum recommended back-up range 3- ½ len second (122) Estrecho, Coins 2400m $4.50 Santa Anita Carleton F. Burke Handicap firm trk October 24. Is going along great, gets some break and is a great two-miler. Should run well.

4 COINS (Firstholme Racing) 4c By Dansilver- Mrs Bently (29:4-4-9): Consistent stayer who ran a nice race 4 len third (125) Estrecho, Dalal 2400m $3.20fav. Santa Anita Carleton F. Burke Handicap firm trk October 24, then he ran another top-class race when 30 len sixth (124) Lovely To See You 3200m $26.00 Churchill Downs Breeders Cup Endurance fast trk November 6. Looks like he’s going to run a good race despite the quick back-up.

5 DONOSTI (Spartan Racing Stables) 5c By High Chaparral- Sailor’s Valentine (36:2-7-7): Good two-miler and note that he ran third behind Tago Lad and Dalal in the Andrew Ramsden (Duke Of Norfolk) four starts ago. Ran a good race in a close up finish 3- ¾ len third (124) Tago Lad, Roundabout 3200m $2.60 Longchamp Prix Du Cadran firm trk October 3, then a tad disappointing 15- ¼ len fourth (126) Flow Diagram, Tension, The Foggy One 2400m $8.00 Eagle Farm O’Shea Stakes hard trk October 31. Is going along well. Roughie.

6 MAR DE HIELO (Olmo Dorato) 3c By Ocean Tide- Fraulein (23:4-4-4): Top class three-year-old who ran an even race behind the Breeders Cup Endurance winner Lovely To See You when a 31 len fifth (122) Lovely To See You 2500m $6.00 Morphettville South Australian Derby firm trk September 27, then a better effort 4- ¾ len second (119) Wall Street, Unbridled Cat 2800m $2.20fav. Longchamp Prix Royal Oak yielding trk October 22. Is going along well and 3yo’s can get a weight advantage.

7 RIDE THE SUN (Godolphin17) 3f By Majestic Son- Victory Ride (17:3-1-2): Very good 3yo filly who wasn’t too bad when 9- ¾ len fifth (123) Fafabell 1800m $6.00 Keeneland Q.E. li Challenge Cup firm trk October 2, then a really good performance when 22- ½ len fourth (117) Lovely To See You, Islegetrevenge, Domitila 3200m $21.00 Churchill Downs Breeders Cup Endurance fast trk November 6. Provided she backs up she’ll be in the firing line at one point.

8 EREBUS (Rainbow) 3c By Thunder Arctic- Succubus (12:2-2-0): Capable galloper from Rainbow stables who tried hard when 33 len sixth (122) Lovely To See You 2500m $11.00 Morphettville South Australian Derby firm trk September 27, then 4- ¾ len fourth (123) Estrecho, Dalal, Coins 2400m $3.00 Santa Anita Carleton F. Burke Handicap firm trk October 24. Should run well.

9 EXCELLENT SON (FDL Lodge) 3c By Majestic Son- Excellent Meeting (15:2-1-0): Group 3 winner who done a good job when 1- ¼ len second (115) Bayonet, Blank Town 1800m $4.00 Remington Park Derby fast trk August 29, then was out-classed 14- ¾ len eleventh (122) Regal Son 2000m $41.00 Churchill Downs Breeders Cup Classic fast trk November 6. I would prefer him on dirt to be honest.

10 DANGEROUS EVIDENCE (Caledonia Stables) 4c By Dangerous- New Evidence (29:1-8-6): Ever-so-consistent stayer who ran well 8- ¾ len third (121) Erebus, Gorad Gomel 2200m $8.00Remington Park Debartolo Memorial Cup firm trk September 4, then he ran pretty good again 14 len fourth (117) Roll Of Thunder 2000m $6.00 Doomben Chairman’s Handicap firm trk October 10. He is not the worst with good results lately.

11 STABLE’S HOPE (Helloyankees) 4c By Memcay- In flury (18:0-1-1): A late-maturing horse who tried hard behind some top-liners when a 72-½ len last (119) Faldo 2200m $81.00 Belmont Park Man O’ War Stakes hard trk September 11, then horrible 20 len last (130) Rebel 1200m $15.00 Belmont Hungry Jacks Roma Cup good trk October 10. Can’t see him threatening.


This is a good field for the Brisbane Cup. I am tipping 3-DALAL. Won this two years ago and meets an easier field today. Has been rejuvenated since joining Victorian Racing Stables and he handles the two miles. 2-UNION JACK has been going along great and he beat 1-DALAL in the Adelaide Cup. 7-RIDE THE SUN ran a great race in the Breeders Cup Endurance. 1-TAGO LAD was disappointing in the Breeders Cup Endurance but he won a Group 1 on this surface/distance two starts ago. 6-MAR DE HIELO can’t be dismissed on his last run. 5-DONOSTI’s always on the mark. 4-COINS ran a great race in the Breeders Cup Endurance as well. 8-EREBUS, 9-EXCELLENT SON & 10-DANGEROUS EVIDENCE are genuine place hopes.

QTC Classic Action

6- TJ Smith QTC Classic 3.50
1600m $400,000 and trophy. 2yo. G1. SW. No claims.
1 11113 ROCKET, 6 Thunder Lodge 56 2.20f
2 20223 KETONURIA, 3 Tree Top Farms 56 9.00
3 61561 SUSPENDED SETENCE, 7 Smokey’s Stable 56 7.50
4 76547 WHIPLASH, 8 Hutton’s Horse Haven 56 21.00
5 32054 BOLD BARD, 1 Watch This Space 56 31.00
6 0312 NEW MOON ON MONDAY, 5 Bally Doyle 56 12.00
7 63964 CROWLEY MAGIC, 2 JD Kayll Race Club 56 15.00
8 31121 LIFE ON MARS, 4 FDL Lodge 54 5.50
Rocket 1, Suspended Sentence 2, Life On Mars 3, New Moon On Monday 4

1 ROCKET (Thunder Lodge) 2c By Mars- Sing A Song (16:9-3-4): Superstar 2yo who showed immeasurable class and determination to win ½ len 1st (122) Life On Mars, Bonjansky 1400m $2.80fav. Newmarket Dewhurst Stakes firm trk October 14, again found dirt above him 3-¼ len 3rd (122) Big N’ Tough, Ditko 1700m $4.50 Churchill Downs Breeders Cup Juvenile fast trk November 6. Is a legend of the game, gets back to turf and should bounce back today.

2 KETONURIA (Tree Top Farms) 2c By The River Wild- Victory Vein (6:1-3-1): Top class 2yo just a tad behind the A-Graders, showed grit when a close 2- ¾ len 2nd (117) Suspended Sentence, Nite Patrol 1600m $3.00 Longchamp Grand Criterium firm trk October 4, found the top two too good 10- ¾ len 3rd (122) Life On Mars, Daredevil 1400m $8.00 Eagle Farm Sires Produce Stakes firm trk October 31. Provided he backs up he will be among the main hopes.

3 SUSPENDED SENTENCE (Smokey’s Stable) 2c By Dawn Patrol- Wandering Aimlessly (6:2-0-0): Consistent 2yo who ran a honest race when a 10- ½ len 6th (122) Rocket 1600m $26.00 Royal Randwick Champagne Stakes firm trk September 12, surprised some people 2- ¾ len 1st (117) Ketonuria, Nite Patrol 1600m $10.00 Longchamp Grand Criterium firm trk October 4. Is living up to his promise. Should go close.

4 WHIPLASH (Hutton’s Horse Haven) 2c By Park Lane- Lashed (12:1-0-1): Honest 2yo who wasn’t far away 7- ½ 4th (115) Rocket 1700m $6.00 Keeneland Breeders Futurity fast trk October 3, ran well at huge odds 20- ½ len 7th (122) Big N’ Tough 1700m $41.00 Churchill Downs Breeders Cup Juvenile fast trk November 6. Is racing well but he’d have to improve a fair bit to beat the likes of Rocket & Life On Mars but is promising.

5 BOLD BARD (Watch This Space) 2c By Bold N’ Free- Bardego (7:1-1-2): Staying type who tried hard 12-½ len 5th (117) Rocket 1700m $7.00 Keeneland Breeders Futurity fast trk October 3, beat most home in a mammoth field 6- ½ len 4th (117) Regal Lad, Grimau, Bando alle Chance 1900m $4.00 Shenandoah Downs Allowance fast trk November 13. I doubt seeing him back up to win a Group 1 two days after his last race.

6 NEW MOON ON MONDAY (Bally Doyle) 2c By Lonhro- Moon Dragon (4:1-1-1): Emerging 2yo who has breeding Australians would die for. Won his maiden head 1st (115) Dynamite, Imperial Champ 1800m $4.00fav. Shenandoah Downs Maiden hard trk October 2, then handled the step up to Group 1 level when a 3 len 2nd (117) Garson De Garcia, Brusco Risveglio 1600m $6.00 Epsom Racing Post Trophy firm trk October 21. Is racing very well. Good chance.

7 CROWLEY MAGIC (JD Kayll Race Club) 2c By Medaglia D’oro- Sunday Rose (5:0-0-1): Promising 2yo who looks a nice miler in the making. Disappointing but I think he didn’t handle the back up when a 36 len 6th (122) Big N’ Tough 1700m $18.00 Turfway Park KY Cup Juvenile fast trk September 25. Then ran a good race when 4- ¾ len 4th (115) Garson De Garcia, New Moon On Monday, Brusco Risveglio 1600m $6.00 Epsom Racing Post Trophy firm trk October 21. Looks like a nice roughie with many runners having quick back-ups. Knockout hope.

8 LIFE ON MARS (FDL Lodge) 2f By Mars- Scandalous (12:6-4-2): Newmarket Handicap winning superhorse who was only beaten by a champ when ½ len 2nd (119) Rocket, Bonjansky 1400m $3.00 Newmarket Dewhurst Stakes firm trk October 14, good win 6- ¼ len 1st (117) Daredevil, Ketonuria 1400m $2.80fav. Eagle Farm Sires Produce Stakes firm trk October 31. Is a good as horse. Should put her best hoof forward today.

This is a great race. I fancy 1-ROCKET because he is a champion and he should bounce back after his last run. 3- SUSPENDED SENTENCE is the fresh horse on the scene. 8-LIFE ON MARS is a geniune Group 1 performer, 6-NEW MOON ON MONDAY is stepping up to the plate every time he runs. 2-KETONURIA is consistent and is looking to add a Group 1 to his record here today. 7-CROWLEY MAGIC is very promising. 4-WHIPLASH will run his honest race. 5-BOLD BARD would have to be good if he backs up from a two day break.

Check out the Global Mail for Zoe's form and comments on this leg of the Global Classic Challenge.

Changing Of The Guard?

There was a surprise in Photo Finish racing world this week in Jenny’s My Gal suffering her first defeat since her Kingston Town Stakes second behind American Man as a spring 3yo. It was an enthralling contest, and this is how the Prix De L’arc De Triomphe panned out. JMG led from the outset, setting a frantic pace for such a small field. Malvern Hill and Color Of Fame were second and third throughout the whole race, and Camena’s Thunder settled last.

In the straight, Malvern Hill and Color Of Fame were fighting JMG down the entire straight but JMG was fighting back like the likes of Mummify & Desert War and he fought back and just as it looked as if he’d win the race Malvern Hill and Color Of Fame put in the big bounds and vanquished the great champ at last.

Will this mark a new era in Photo Finish Racing? Yes and No I say, many things were against JMG that day. JMG set a hot pace and he had to run into the wind for the whole gruelling 2400m of the Prix De L’arc De Triomphe and the long straight but still he was only 1- ¼ lengths away. But Malvern Hill is a champion in the making and will make JMG work even more harder for his wins from now on. Color Of Fame was not disgraced either and he was my tip.

But, a few horses are retiring that have dominated the last few years. Scenic Sheba will be retiring, Foxies Lodge’s other champion and a lot of mile races will be up for grabs. Will it be Perfect Picture, who ran his worst race the other week? Or Maroon Lodge who is starting to reach his peak? Or may it be Mr Purler who has been ever so consistent this season? It is remain to be seen. But a horse from leftfield may be Rocket, which wouldn’t be surprising if he maintains his amazing form.

As for the Sprinters, we have a ready made horse to take Attack At Dawn’s crown. Run Missy Run or RMR has excelled at the sprint trips this season. He is still very young and he’s got heart, all you have to do is look at his second in the Newmarket Handicap behind Life On Mars. He tried his big heart out in that. Bro’Town is probably a better dirt sprinter and she will bounce back in the BC Sprint.

But for the middle-distance horses on turf, I still think JMG will dominate this and next year. Malvern Hill and Color Of Fame will be ready to take JMG’s crown once he retires, but a horse that I think will be the Cox Plate winner next season is Arctic Slicker. He’s showing signs of his ability and I think he will win his next start. Narsil is not bad either.

In the distance races Domitila will keep winning till she retires but Kingston Dawn showed signs of his maturity in running Domitila to 2 lengths in the Adelaide Cup. Dulce Sunido looks as if she will be around for another season as will Union Jack and Dalal. Tago Lad looks a top class stayer as well.

In conclusion though, I think JMG will bounce back to win the Breeders Cup Turf, and he space them!