Isivunguvungu To Release The Storm But Faces Strong Field
Isivunguvungu with trainer Graham Motion after winning the Da Hoss Stakes on his USA debut.
Isivunguvungu has had a rousing video made in support of his bid in Saturday’s Gr 1 $1 million Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, while meanwhile a browse through the field he faces shows it to be a race that could set up well for him, depending on the draw he receives in the Draw Ceremony today (29 October).
The Hollywood Syndicate-owned Narrow Creek Stud-bred What A Winter gelding is a best-priced 25/1 for the US$1 million Gr 1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint over five furlongs at Del Mar racourse on Saturday.
Devin Heffer of the Hollywood Syndicate is well aware of the strength of the field but added, “Anthony (Delpech) said at the racecourse yesterday, ‘There’s nothing wrong with taking on the world’s best. I’ve done it before and we always have a chance.’”
One important factor in the Graham Motion-trained gelding’s favour on Saturday is that at Del Mar the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint is over five furlongs (1000m), which is his optimum trip as he has tremendous speed, but tends to take a bit of a hold.
Twelve of the world’s best sprinters line up and after researching the credentials of the best of them it woud be ideal for Isivunguvngu to be drawn next to the favourite Cogburn. Isivunguvungu is at his best when able to sit just off a strong pace and Cogburn is ultra quick.
The five-year-old Steve Asmussen-trained entire Cogburn has had 15 starts for nine wins and two seconds. He has only had three starts ths year, but is in devastating form. he started off in May by winning a Gr 2 at Churchill Downs over five-and-a-half furlongs from start to finish by 2,25 lengths. In his next start in the Gr 1 Jaipur Stakes over five-and-a-half furlongs at Saratoga he soon led and won by 3,5 lengths in a phenomenal course record time of 59,8 seconds. In his last start in a Gr 2 at Kentucky Downs over six furlongs he led from start to finish again and won by 3,25 lengths.
The second favourite is Europe’s best sprinter, the Archie Watson-trained Bradsell. This Tasleet four-year-old colt is out of a mare by Archipenko, who won the Gr 1 QE II Cup in Hong Kong for Mike de Kock. Bradsell has won three Gr 1s, all over five furlongs, the Kings Stand Stakes (Royal Ascot) last year and the Nunthorpe (York) and Flying Five Stakes (The Curragh) this year.
Next in the betting at a best-priced 10/1 apiece are two more England-based sprinters, the George Boughey-trained Believing (Mehmas) and the Michael Appleby-trained Big Evs (Blue Point).
Believing has won six out of 24 starts, including a Gr 2 over five furlongs, and was second to Bradsell in both the Nunthorpe and Flying Five.
Three-year-old Big Evs won a Gr 2 as a two-year-old and also won the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. This season his two wins include a Gr 2 over five furlongs at Goodwood and he was also third in the Gr 1 King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot. He beat Believing at both Ascot and Goodwood, but was well beaten in the Nunthorpe.
At 14/1 is Star Of Mystery, an Appleby-trained three-year-old Godolphin-owned Kodiac filly. Her five wins in 12 starts include a Gr 2 over five furlongs on the Meydan turf. She was also second in the Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint and a 3,75 length third to Cogburn when he broke the course record at Saratoga. She also won a Gr 3 at Saratoga.
Those are the chief contenders and show just what a hard task Isivunguvungu has.
Meanwhile, the Drakenstein Stud-bred Lancaster Bomber filly Beach Bomb, who has finished second and third in two starts in the USA respectively for Graham Motion, is a best-priced 50/1 for the Gr 1 $2 million Breeders Cup Filly And Mare Turf over a mile and three-eighths (2200m) She is up against the like of the Godolphin owned Gr 1 Belmont Oaks winner Cinderella’s Dream (Shamardal), the Aidan O’Brien-trained Gr 1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Content (Galileo) and the John and Thady Gosden-trained dual Gr 1 winner Emily Upjohn (Sea The Stars).