Fourie Barometer 386 (updated after racing on 18/07/2024)
Full Field For Gold Cup - Crimson King Absent
Sean Tarry runs two past winners of the race in the Gr 3 R1 milllion World Pool Gold Cup, to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 28, including hot favourite Future Pearl who will once again be ridden by Richard Fourie (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
There will be no Hollywoodbets Durban July/World Pool Gold Cup double winners this year because the Brett Crawford yard’s only entry Crimson King, who was strongly fancied last year before being scratched, has been scratched this year at declaration stage and JP van der Merwe is without a ride.
Sean Tarry has a strong hand in the 15 horse field with the reigning champion and hot favourite Future Pearl and the former winner Nebraas, who are drawn nicely in six and five with Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena aboard respectively. Future Pearl is an impressive specimen and for a big horse has a fine turn of foot. Nebraas is seven years old but has a fine chance on paper at the weights.
Justin Snaith, who will be out to keep Tarry at bay in the trainers championship race, runs the talented One Way Traffic from pole position with Keagan de Melo up and Future Swing with S’Manga Khumalo up from draw eleven. The latter won his only atttempt at a staying trip, in a Listed race over 2500m, and could be anything over this trip.
Mike de Kock runs former SA Derby winner Aragosta, who does not appear to like Hollywoodbets Greyville, from draw ten with Serino Moodley up.
Tony Peter runs another former SA Derby winner Son Of Raj for Durbanite owner Steven Chetty from barrier position four with Calvin Habib up.
Frank Robinson runs the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase winner and runner up Madison Valley and Shoot The Rapids from draw seven and draw 15 with Kaidan Brewer and Muzi Yeni aboard respectively. Shoot The Rapids is weighted to turn the tables on Madison Valley, but at the same time has a tough task at the weights with Gold Vase third-placed Nebraas.
Mike and Adam Azzie’s charge Breeze Over is a big horse who is greatly benefited by a good draw, so draw two will do fine and Rachel Venniker replaces Muzi Yeni, who has jumped ship after the Twice Over gelding’s 4,95 length eighth in the Gold Vase.
The Andre Nel-trained Master Redoute has proven class over long distances as the winner of the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m and he should be a big runner from draw three with Corne Orffer up.
Piet Botha runs Baratheon, who was a fine third in the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, beaten 1,35 lengths by Down To Business, who was unfortunately scratched from the Gold Cup earlier this week. Baratheon’s only attempt beyond 2400m was in last season’s Western Cape Stayers, when a 4,40 length eighth to Salvatore Mundi and well beaten by Nebraas and Master Redoute, although he does now get weight from both of the latter.
Master Fuego ran a fine 1,90 length third in the Gr 3 Splashout 2200 in his first attempt at a trip beyond 2200m, but this is a kilometre further. He has plenty to prove from draw nine, but his trainer Dean Kannemeyer has won this race three times.
Kannemeyer also runs Ponte Pietra, who is drawn 12 and comes off a 3,30 length sixth in the Splashout 2200, which was also his first attempt at a race beyond 2000m. He is by Vercingetorix, who has sired Gold Cup winner Nebraas, and he is out of a Galileo mare so is an interesting runner.
Raiseahallelujah ran a gallant 3,85 length fourth last year from pole position and has the same task, being under sufferance with bottom weight of 54kg, this year but also has to overcome a wide draw of 13.
Zeus has a fine record over staying trips but goes particularly well for Gavin Lerena, who has been aboard for all ten of his wins. However, despite Zeus carrying topweight of 60kg, Lerena is sticking with Nebraas and Grant van Niekerk gets the ride.
The two reserves are Street Art and Indian Ocean.
The full field is shown below:
1st R625000, 2nd R200000, 3rd R100000, 4th R50000, 5th R25000
WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3)
Open
WFA: 3yrs-3.5kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 1 | One Way Traffic | 56.5 | 109 | A | Keagan de Melo | Justin Snaith | |
| 2 | 2 | Breeze Over | 54 | 97 | TBA | #Rachel Venniker | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 3 | 3 | Master Redoute | 58.5 | 115 | T A | Corne Orffer | Andre Nel | |
| 4 | 4 | Son Of Raj | 59.5 | 119 | BA | Calvin Habib | Tony Peter | |
| 5 | 5 | Nebraas | 55.5 | 106 | TBA | Gavin Lerena | Sean Tarry | |
| 6 | 6 | Future Pearl | 59.5 | 118 | T A | Richard Fourie | Sean Tarry | |
| 7 | 7 | Madison Valley | 54 | 94 | BA | Kaidan Brewer | Frank Robinson | |
| 8 | 8 | Baratheon | 54 | 98 | A | Tristan Godden | Piet Botha | |
| 9 | 9 | Master Fuego | 54 | 102 | A | Craig Zackey | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 10 | 10 | Aragosta | 58.5 | 114 | TBA | Serino Moodley | Mike de Kock | |
| 11 | 11 | Future Swing | 56.5 | 110 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Justin Snaith | |
| 12 | 12 | Ponte Pietra | 55.5 | 106 | HAe | Sean Veale | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 13 | 13 | Raiseahallelujah | 54 | 101 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Candice Dawson | |
| 14 | 14 | Zeus | 60 | 119 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Fabian Habib | |
| 15 | 15 | Shoot The Rapids | 54 | 99 | A | Muzi Yeni | Frank Robinson | |
| 16 | 0 | Street Art | 55.5 | 106 | A | Reserve 1 | Tony Peter | |
| 17 | 0 | Indian Ocean | 54 | 95 | T A | Reserve 2 | Lorenzo Karriem | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,11) (4,16) (5,6) (7,15) (9,12) | ||||||||
| Duplicate Horse: Indian Ocean In Race-9 | ||||||||
| Duplicate Draw: 0 | ||||||||
Ten Of The Best For HKJC Champions Cup
The Michael Roberts-trained Twice Over colt See It Again, unlucky in the July, is favourite for the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup and deserves a third career Gr 1 (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Gr 1 R1.5 million HKJC Champions Cup to be run over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on July 28 has attracted a fine field of ten.
The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge winner Dave The King has drawn nine out of ten which Richard Fourie, who rides him for the first time, will not mind because this big horse has a massive stride and likes to use that stride at all times. Being drawn out there will give him a chance to get into a handy position or to the front if the pace is not on. He has been more relaxed as a gelding and when unwinding his massive stride in the straight is not easy to catch if getting first run as he did in the Gold Challenge. He finished a close 1,35 length third last year despite still being an entire who tended to travel a bit hard, so the distance should not detract from his chances.
See It Again, who would have finished third in the July if not hampered late, not to mention being hampered at the halfway mark, is officially the best horse in the race. Piere Strydom has the same problem as last year i.e. overcoming a wide draw. He was just a touch too far back last year through no fault of his own, because he would have otherwise been caught wide on a horse who does not tend to jump well. It is a smaller field this year, but only by one, so hopefully it pans out better for the Twice Over colt. Last year this race was his fourth run of the Champions Season and this time it his third, so he should be a tad fresher.
Three-year-old Flag Man is the third best in at the weights, according to official merit ratings, and he comes off a fine Hollywoodbets Durban July fourth in which he was forced to go handier than usual in a plan to overcome a wide draw. He is now drawn six out of ten and should be able to run to his preferred style of being held up.
Royal Victory should relish this trip as a horse who relaxes well and has a fine turn of foot. He should be relatively fresh despite having run in the July, because this will be his third run after a layoff. He is going for his third Gr 1 win of the season and is the highest earning horse in the country this season. He has a draw of eight but Muzi Yeni is an expert at finding a good position from such a draw. Yeni has stayed loyal to him despite probably having had the option to ride Dave The King, whom he partnered in the Gold Challenge.
Cousin Casey has bounced back to form after a Premier’s Champions Challenge nightmare when eased out of the race. He loves Hollywoodbets Greyville and this trip should be ideal, considering he was only just touched off in the July and finished second in both the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall over 1400m and Gold Challenge over 1600m. He has not won for 20 months but goes well for S’Manga Khumalo and has at last got a good draw in a big race i.e. pole position.
Double Superlative was said to be a gallop short of his best in the July so he should be cherry ripe now. The WSB Met winner has a plum draw of two with the former champion jockey Keagan de Melo up so he has a definite winning chance.
Last year’s July winner Winchester Mansion was only beaten half-a-length by Royal Victory in the Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at level weights and might have needed his July run, considering it was his first run since the Premier’s, which was three months earlier. He has to prove he has the class to win at this level of weight for age, considering Royal Victory did not get the run of the race in the Premier’s and still beat him. However, he does have a nice draw of four.
Barbaresco did not produce as strong a finish in the July as he had in the Daily News 2000 and was considered by the connections to have had a stamina doubt for the 2200m trip. Therefore, he could well be a lively contender over what should be an ideal trip from a nice middle draw of five and he is the dark horse.
Hluhluwe has always been well regarded and was thought to be looking for this sort of trip. He gets another chance to prove himself, having flattered to deceive in all of his middle distance efforts to date, although he did suffer some interference in the July.
Purple Pitcher was off the bit some way out in the July and is more suited to a galloping track like Turffontein Standside. However, he does have a lot of courage and is not easy to overtake if getting to the front. He might try to lead from a good draw of three and is ridden for the first time by Calvin Habib.
The full field with details is shown below:
1st R937500, 2nd R300000, 3rd R150000, 4th R75000, 5th R37500
THE HKJC CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)
Horses at Weight-For-Age
WFA: 2yrs-10.5kgs 3yrs-1.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Cousin Casey | 60 | 125 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Sean Tarry | |
| 2 | 2 | Double Superlative | 60 | 124 | A | Keagan de Melo | Justin Snaith | |
| 3 | 3 | Purple Pitcher | 58.5 | 120 | A | Calvin Habib | Robyn Klaasen | |
| 4 | 4 | Winchester Mansion | 60 | 124 | CA | Kabelo Matsunyane | Brett Crawford | |
| 5 | 5 | Barbaresco | 58.5 | 122 | Ae | Gavin Lerena | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 6 | 6 | Flag Man | 58.5 | 126 | A | Serino Moodley | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 7 | 7 | Hluhluwe | 58.5 | 116 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Justin Snaith | |
| 8 | 8 | Royal Victory | 60 | 125 | A | Muzi Yeni | Nathan Kotzen | |
| 9 | 9 | Dave The King | 60 | 127 | A | Richard Fourie | Mike de Kock | |
| 10 | 10 | See It Again | 60 | 131 | BA | Piere Strydom | Michael Roberts | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,7) | ||||||||
Emperor's Palace June Ride Of The Month Noms, Win Golf Stay
Choose one of the five rides below as the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month for June and email your vote to editor@turftalk.co.za and you can win the below fantastic prize:
1 x Night stay at Graceland for 2 including breakfast
1 x round of golf for 2
1 x Dinner Voucher
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE ABOUT GRACELAND’S STAY AND PLAY GOLF PACKAGES
Previous winner comments:
Don was a previous winner of the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month competition and had this to say: “Thank you very much for the excellent and professional arrangement for our stay at Graceland . The cold weather and nippy wind did not stop us from having an awesome round of golf and we thoroughly enjoyed and supported all the inhouse facilities.”
Nominees for the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month for June:
Lucky Lad's Chance To Land Champion Sprinter Title
Will Lucky Lad bring the crowd to their feet with another exhilarating flying finish? (JC Photos)
Lucky Lad can become the only horse to win two Gr 1 sprints this season.
The Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship winner Dyce was scratched from the weight for age Mercury Sprint at declaration stage today.
Lucky Lad will likely have to win the Mercury to be named Equus Champion Sprinter, because his now retired stablemate Thunderstruck would otherwise oust him.
Thunderstruck won the Gr 1 weight for age Computaform Sprint, as opposed to Lucky Lad’s win in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint, which is a handicap. Both horses have also won Gr 2 sprints, but Thunderstruck also had a close second in the Gr 1 weight for age Cape Flying Championship.
Lucky Lad will not have an easy task from the widest draw of all in the 13 horse field in the Mercury and will have to rely on his devastating finish again. He is sure to get the crowd buzzing though when he starts unwinding.
The only other Gr 1 winner in the field is the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot.
This horse has early pace over 1400m and 1600m.
It is a different ball game over 1200m but an eyecatching early bit of form to his name is a 0,40 length third to the talented sprinter Future Variety over this 1200m trip.
The full field is shown below:
MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1)(Horses at Weight-For-Age) R1,000,000 1200m
1 – 1 GOLDEN SICKLE (A P Peter) C Habib 57.0 – 122
2 – 2 SURJAY (B Crawford) L Mxothwa 60.0 – 119
3 – 3 I AM GIANT (B Crawford) K Matsunyane 60.0 – 118
4 – 4 ROYAL AUSSIE (J S Snaith) K de Melo 60.0 – 124
5 – 5 AT MY COMMAND (B Crawford) C Zackey 60.0 – 119
6 – 6 SNOW PILOT (J S Snaith) G van Niekerk 59.5 – 120
7 – 7 SUN BLUSHED (M L Roberts) R A Venniker 60.0 – 116
8 – 8 JUST BE LEKKER (C Dawson) S Khumalo 57.0 – 103
9 – 9 QUASIFORSURE (P B Muscutt) T Godden 60.0 – 115
10 – 10 MRS BROWNING (S G Tarry) G Lerena 57.5 – 118
11 – 11 GLADATORIAN (S H Ferrie) S Veale 60.0 – 120
12 – 12 CRUISE CONTROL (D C Howells) M Yeni 60.0 – 118
13 – 13 LUCKY LAD (S G Tarry) R Fourie 59.5 – 125
Same Trainer: (2,3,5) (4,6) (10,13)
Supporting Feature Fields On World Pool Gold Cup Day
Fairytale filly Quid Pro Quo will be out to land a rare Gr 1 Allan Robertson, Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper and Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes treble (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
All the fields of the supporting races on World Pool Gold Cup day are shown below:
WORLD POOL MOMENT OF THE DAY CHAMPION STAKES (Grade 1) R1,000,000 1600m
1 – 1 FAMILY LAW (G D Smith) L Mxothwa 60.0 – 101
2 – 2 THE SPECIALIST (M J Odendaal) S Khumalo 60.0 – 110
3 – 3 VJ’S ANGEL (A P Peter) C Habib 57.5 – 104
4 – 4 GREAT PLAINS (J S Snaith) K de Melo 60.0 – 106
5 – 5 CHINABERRY (W Whitehead) K A Brewer 60.0 – 100
6 – 6 FRENCH FLAME (D Kannemeyer) C Zackey 60.0 – 94
7 – 7 KAMENSKY (R R Magner) R Danielson 60.0 – 93
8 – 8 PROCEED (S G Tarry) K Matsunyane 60.0 – 112
9 – 9 COSMIC SPEED (S G Tarry) G van Niekerk 60.0 – 116
10 – 10 GRAND CRESCENDO (C Dawson) M Yeni 60.0 – 97
11 – 11 WAHEED (M F De Kock) P Strydom 60.0 – 105
12 – 12 MOUNT PINATUBO (J J van Vuuren) G Lerena 60.0 – 106
13 – 13 LEGEND OF ARTHUR (S G Tarry) R Fourie 60.0 – 112
14 – 14 TRUTH (C Dawson) S Moodley 60.0 – 112
15 – 0 PARISIAN WALKWAY (A G Laird) Reserve 1 60.0 – 92
16 – 0 FIELD MARSHAL (F Robinson) Reserve 2 60.0 – 90
17 – 0 DONT JUDGE (P V Lafferty) Reserve 3 60.0 – 88
Same Trainer: (8,9,13) (10,14)
DOUGLAS WHYTE STAKES (Grade 1) R1,000,000 1600m
1 – 1 FROZEN FANTASY (R Klaasen) R A Venniker 60.0 – 92
2 – 2 WORLD OF ALICE (S G Tarry) C Zackey 60.0 – 94
3 – 3 SORCERESS SUPREME (H/M Crawford/Rix) S Moodley 60.0 – 100
4 – 4 WHISTLE THE TUNE (G S Kotzen) R Fourie 60.0 – 103
5 – 5 SCARS OF WAR (A P Peter) C Habib 60.0 – 93
6 – 6 VISIONOFPEACE (R R Magner) R Danielson 60.0 – 92
7 – 7 FATAL FLAW (B Crawford) P Strydom 60.0 – 105
8 – 8 VARVARA (S G Tarry) C Orffer 60.0 – 100
9 – 9 SPIRIT OF LEVANA (G S Kotzen) G Lerena 60.0 – 90
10 – 10 HONORABLE MEMBER (F Bronkhorst) C Maujean 60.0 – 83
11 – 11 FORWARD MOTION (P V Lafferty) M Yeni 60.0 – 88
12 – 12 QUID PRO QUO (B D Botes) S Khumalo 60.0 – 110
13 – 13 LOCK AND KEY (G S Kotzen) K de Melo 60.0 – 100
Same Trainer: (2,8) (4,9,13)
RIDING HIGH TOGETHER GOLD BRACELET (Grade 2)(F&M) R500,000 2000m
1 – 1 FUTURE GIRL (B Crawford) L Mxothwa 58.5 – 97
2 – 2 SPECIAL CHARM (P F Matchett) R A Venniker 58.5 – 104
3 – 3 LADY OF POWER (M/A Azzie) S Moodley 58.5 – 101
4 – 4 GILDED BUTTERFLY (S T Pettigrew) G Lerena 58.5 – 108
5 – 5 NONE OTHER (M N Houdalakis) M V’Rensburg 60.0 – 108
6 – 6 BEATING WINGS (S T Pettigrew) C Habib 58.5 – 114
7 – 7 IVY LEAGUE (B D Botes) S Khumalo 57.0 – 98
8 – 8 PERFECT WITNESS (C Dawson) P Strydom 58.5 – 105
9 – 9 RED PALACE (C Bass-Robinson) A Domeyer 57.0 – 111
10 – 10 HAPPY CHANCE (B Crawford) K Matsunyane 58.5 – 118
11 – 11 BELLEVARDE (J A Soma) M Yeni 58.5 – 110
12 – 12 RED MAPLE (S G Tarry) C Zackey 60.0 – 108
13 – 13 RASCOVA (G S Kotzen) K de Melo 58.5 – 119
14 – 14 HOLD MY HAND (G S Kotzen) R Fourie 58.5 – 114
15 – 15 SAARTJIE (W A Nel) C Orffer 58.5 – 110
16 – 0 VIRGINIA SWEET (G S Kotzen) Reserve 1 58.5 – 96
17 – 0 INDIAN OCEAN (L Karriem) Reserve 2 58.5 – 95
Same Trainer: (1,10) (4,6) (13,14,16)
@WORLDPOOL TWITTER STAKES (Grade 2) R500,000 1200m
1 – 1 LEAD THE CHARGE (M/A Azzie) S Khumalo 60.0 – 88
2 – 2 CHOCOLATE SOLDIER (C Spies) M V’Rensburg 60.0 – 104
3 – 3 BUFFALO STORM CODY (A P Peter) C Habib 60.0 – 94
4 – 4 SILVONIAN (G D Smith) L Mxothwa 60.0 – 91
5 – 5 CATS PAJAMAS (F Robinson) S Veale 60.0 – 110
6 – 6 BJORN IRONSIDE (J J van Vuuren) G Lerena 60.0 – 99
7 – 7 DANTONFROMSANDTON (S G Tarry) R Fourie 60.0 – 106
8 – 8 BOURBON WARRIOR (Y Govender) T Godden 60.0 – 93
9 – 9 IMPACT INVESTOR (J S Snaith) K de Melo 60.0 – 94
10 – 10 DARING DASH (W H Marwing) D De Gouveia 60.0 – 92
WORLD POOL WITH GOLD CIRCLE DEBUTANTE (Grade 2) R500,000 1200m
1 – 1 SIMPLY MAJESTIC (J J van Vuuren) G Lerena 58.5 – 102
2 – 2 RODEO DRIVE (S G Tarry) R Fourie 58.5 – 105
3 – 3 HAPPY HOLLY (G D Smith) C Habib 58.5 – 97
4 – 4 LITTLE BALLERINA (C Dawson) S Moodley 60.0 – 104
5 – 5 KINDRED HEART (B Crawford) P Strydom 58.5 – 94
6 – 6 STARS AND BRA’S (F Bronkhorst) S Khumalo 58.5 – 86
7 – 7 JUST RECKLESS (M D Miller) T Godden 58.5 – 104
8 – 8 DARK WINTER (J S Snaith) K de Melo 58.5 – 94
9 – 9 VALIEVA (F Bronkhorst) M Yeni 58.5 – 84
10 – 10 YOU BRING ME JOY (W H Marwing) K J Lihaba 58.5 – 95
Same Trainer: (6,9)
Ryan Munger Rides In Prestigious Woodbine Oaks
Ryan Munger rides a filly called Holiday In Jail, trained by Robert Tiller, trainer of now retired sprint legend Pink Lloyd
Woodbine Oaks: Kevin Attard has 5 in oversubscribed field
Horse Racing Nation
Inaugurated in 1956, the filly classic, which has attracted 14 Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies carrying 121 pounds over 1 1/8 miles on the all-weather track, will go postward at 5:33 p.m. EDT.
Saturday’s card also features the Plate Trial Stakes, a key race ahead of The King’s Plate on Aug. 17, the Connaught Cup (G2) and Trillium Stakes (G3).
After winning the 2021 Oaks with eventual Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Munnyfor Ro and the following year’s edition with King’s Plate winner and Canada’s 2022 horse of the year Moira, Attard will send out the quintet of Caitlinhergrtness, Inudation, My Girl Della, Vucchella, and War Painter in this year’s running.
“It’s a race you hope to win once, and we have been fortunate to have done it twice,” Attard said. “When you look back at the great fillies and horse people who have won the Oaks, it makes the achievement even more special.”
Caitlinhergrtness, a daughter of Omaha Beach-Belatrix, brings a record of 5: 2-0-1 into her biggest test to date. The chestnut filly last raced two weeks ago, a 2 3/4-length score at 7 1/2 panels over the inner turf.
In her rookie campaign, she won a one-mile dirt race at Aqueduct and finished fourth in the Tempted Stakes in November.
“She is extremely versatile in her ability to run well on different surfaces and distances,” Attard said. “She ran a great one last time out and even though it’s a short time between races, she has given us every indication she can step up once again.”
Inudation broke her maiden in last year’s Princess Elizabeth Stakes. The daughter of Collected-Tidal Surge, sent off at 12-1, rallied to win the 1 1/16-mile main track event by a head.
The bay filly was seventh in her 3-year-old debut, a 1 1/16-mile engagement contested over the Woodbine main track June 22.
“We were hoping to build off her great rookie season and it hasn’t gone as we anticipated,” Attard said.
“That said, we did lose some time with her. She has the ability and the skills to come up with a big one on Saturday.”
Inudation has a record of 5: 1-2-0.
My Girl Della, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro-Katie Baby, broke her maiden in the first start of her sophomore season June 1 and has a record of 5: 1-1-1.
Owned by John Fielding, the bay filly arrives at the Oaks off a fourth at 1 1/16 miles on the Toronto oval main track.
“We like her a lot too,” Attard said. “I thought her maiden win was very professional. Her latest race was OK, and we think she can definitely improve off that one.
“There is a lot to like about her and we are expecting a strong showing on Saturday.”
Vucchella has yet to reach the winner’s circle in six starts but has a pair of seconds and two thirds to her name.
The dark bay debuted last August at Woodbine and finished fourth.
The daughter of Bernardini-Heartofthematter has reeled off three straight top-three finishes.
“She’s a maiden, but her last race, her first 3-year-old start, was encouraging,” said Attard. “She has reached the podium in four of her six starts, so she has been very consistent.
“It would not be a surprise at all to see her come up big in the Oaks. She looks like she could have a bright future.”
War Painter has assembled a 7: 2-3-1 record.
The consistent daughter of Danish Dynaformer-Morning Tale contested five races, three of them stakes, in her 2-year-old season. Her biggest win came in the 2023 Victoria Queen Stakes last September.
War Painter missed by a nose in her 3-year-old debut, but came back to win her next start, a 1 1/16-mile trek on the Woodbine main track on June 6.
“We like her a lot,” Attard said. “We always have. She has been a bit frustrating, but she had a very nice work with (2022 Woodbine Oaks and King’s Plate winner) Moira, which obviously was extremely encouraging.
“She definitely has the talent, and the distance is absolutely in her wheelhouse.”
A Little Frisky, trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, has compiled a 4: 1-1-1 record.
Trained by Tom Amoss, Ba Dee Yah brings a 7: 2-0-2 mark into the Oaks. The daughter of Uncle Mo-Pearl Turn will make her first start outside of the U.S.
Bravo Kate has a line of 6: 1-1-1. The daughter of Congrats-Katie O. is trained by Sid Attard, who was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2013.
“She is a very nice filly who always tries hard,” said Attard, who won the 2002 Oaks with Ginger Gold. “She is coming into the race in good order.”
Holiday in Jail, trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Bob Tiller, has a record of 4: 1-1-1. The daughter of Catholic Boy-In Jail will make her first stakes appearance on Saturday and will be ridden by Ryan Munger.
Hurricane Clair has a record of 7: 2-2-1. Trained by Martin Drexler, the daughter of Silent Name-Hurricane Lorraine broke her maiden in last year’s Muskoka Stakes.
“We liked her from the start,” said Drexler, who won a career-best 104 races in 2023 and was a finalist for the champion trainer Sovereign Award. “She is a nice, honest, straightforward 3-year-old filly, who is doing everything right. She belongs here.”
Hurricane Clair heads into the Oaks in winning form.
On June 23, the bay drew off for a 3 1/4-length victory at 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine inner turf.
Drexler, who is closing in on 750 career wins, expects another big effort on Saturday.
Jockey Civaci “Sahin is sticking with her, which is reassuring, and I think the distance and all-weather track won’t be issues at all,” Drexler said. “She ran a very strong race on it in the Princess Elizabeth last year, she finished fourth but was disqualified, and she is a much better horse right now.
“My biggest thing with her is that she is very professional. You can lead her over on the big day and she will be calm. She can handle everything that comes on race day. Some of the young fillies can lose the race in the paddock and on the way over. She holds it all together and runs her race every time.”
Kin’s Concerto, 4: 1-2-1 and trained by Josie Carroll, won at first asking last November at Woodbine. The chestnut filly by Mendelssohn out of Kincardine was second in her latest start.
“I’m excited to ride Kin’s Concerto,” said jockey Sofia Vives, the 2023 Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s champion apprentice. “Her athletic ability has always shined. I am grateful to the connections for this amazing opportunity. Hopefully, we can work out a trip because the distance shouldn’t be an issue.”
A daughter of Lookin At Lucky-Regal Conqueror, Lookin to Conquer, trained by Martin Hinckson, is 3: 1-0-1The bay broke her maiden in her second start, and 3-year-old debut, on May 31.
Lunch With Bernie was third in her first stakes affair, the Fury, on June 8. The daughter of Bernardini-Lunch Hour won her first race in the final start of her 2-year-old campaign. Trained by dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, the dark bay is 8: 1-1-2.
Trained by Harold Ladouceur, Shamans Girl won her debut, the Shady Well Stakes, last December at Woodbine. The daughter of Shaman Ghost-Ginger Brew is 4: 1-0-0, with three starts at the Toronto oval and the other at Laurel Park this February.
Beautiful Sky, on the also-eligible list, is trained by Mike De Paulo. The daughter of Sky Mesa-Another Flashback has a record of 4: 0-1-1.
The Woodbine Oaks is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, which continues at the Toronto oval with the 1 1/16-mile Bison City Stakes on Aug. 10 and concludes with the Wonder Where Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf Sept. 8.
Fairview Poly Friday Formguides And Selections
Joe Soma Treble, Two Ridden By Muzi Yeni
Back In Business (William Longsword) outclasses them in a 1450m Middle Stakes event to complete a double for Muzi Yeni and clinch the second leg of a treble for Joe Soma (JC Photos)
Joe Soma had a treble at Turffontein Inside today and two of them were ridden by Muzi Yeni.
Yeni is now on 179 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 12.55%.
Soma goes to 15 wins for the season at 11.28%.
Today’s Question
The picture above gives a clue to the answer (Picture: Racing Post)
Which 1980s horse won the Gr 1 Nunthorpe run at York three times in succession?
MidWeek FIELDS
Fairview Poly, Friday
Today’s Question Answer
Sharpo is one of two horses to have won the Nunthorpe three times (1980-1982).
The other three time winner was Tag End (1928-1930)