Lewis Stakes – Grade III [KYD]
SA   Race #6   1 1/16m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $150.000  For Three Year Olds.

1 Widows Son, trained by Paradise Stable
A maiden win followed by an ungraded stakes win set this one on the path to
the KYD and he certainly ran some good races as a two year old suggesting it wasnt
out of the question. His final start as a two year old was in the LA Futurity where
he ran on late to be a great third. It will be tough from this inside draw to employ
the same tactics here but given a path through the field he could pose a threat to
the leading fancies. His works have been pretty good and his mile work in mid January
puts him in with every chance.

2 Padre Time, trained by Scorpion Stables
A consistent colt he takes a huge step up in class today after a win in a lowly one
win Allowance at TUP in his last start as a two year old. Form however can mean nothing and
he has been working as well as a good few of these so he takes his chance today in what may
turn into a lottery.

3 Sportsman, trained by Red Barn Stables
A winner of three from four he looks ready to step up after plying his trade in overnights up to today.
His last start win at RP was nice but with only average works showing up you must take on trust that his racecourse ability can get in him into the mix today.

4 Twisted Diademe, trained by Drabfantasy
You know when a horse is highly thought of when they avoid maidens and go straight for black type races.
This colt debuted in The Swynford Stakes where he ran pretty well to be fourth and then opened his account in the CUP and Saucer Stakes. That was on the turf but he proved that wasnt the only string to his bow when running a very close third in The Coronation Futurity next up on the dirt. He capped his season off with a good third in the DED Jackpot and has been working well enough to suggest he is still improving. His trainer and jokey have been operating at over 25% this season so there are
plenty of positives for his chances.

5 The Rook, trained by D J C Racing Stables
Another that contested black type for a vast majority of his career he has managed one win since his maiden that being in the Clever Trevor Stakes last November.His works have been very good but his two route races including her seasonal debut have seen him tiring at the end and that would be my main concern today.

6 Spring Lover, trained by Mb Stables
A winner of four in a row including the grade two Futurity he surprisingly also won at lowly BOI at his second start. He was a little dissapointing in his first route in the DED Jackpot when he never really got in the race when sixth but his works since suggest different tactics will see a much better effort today.

7 Raj Fifa Star, trained by Night Rider Stables
Successful in overnights but less so when stepped up suggest that whilst this gelding clearly has ability he may lack the class code that would see him winning today. He wasnt too far away when last in the Grade One Front Runner so deserves a shot but i think this may be his one and only if he deosnt run well in this.

8 Hollywood Ballet, trained by Alydar Stables
Another that has done well in overnights but failed in black type, the difefrence being with him is that his works suggest a fair bit of improvement. He tried to make all in The Jerome on seasonal debut but faded into seventh but in only being beaten a length you would have to say it was a fair effort.
On form he may have a length to find but on works he is right in it and with a race under his belt this year may be ready for a big effort.

9 Air Show, trained by Our Athletes
Again his works are in the ball park but he has failed to break thorugh at this level. He ran pretty well in the muddy KY Jockey Club ending up fifth at the end of last year and his seasonal debut in the Smarty Jones wasn’t too bad. If he overcomes the draw and gets some luck he may get into this race at some point.

10 Folk Fire, trained by Downwind Stables
He has had four starts for four money finishes but does look a tick off these. A tough draw wont help his chances
but he gets a hope in his first go over ground and in these races anything can happen.

11 Mission To Tuglea, trained by Allinthegate
A winner of his last three sprint races, two at TUP he is here on a wing and a prayer but stranger things have happened. He looks to have improved from two to three and his last work was OK so he gets a shot at glory in the sort of race where it may come off.

12 Th Watcher, trained by South Beach Racing
Bought for $100 from Running Frams he has some nice form to his name but may find this draw against him. His seasonal debut when running on to be beaten under a length in The Jerome was an eye catching effort and he has enough two year old form to suggest he is well up to this grade. I like him a lot but would like him more with a better
draw as he will need luck or a helicopter to get over this field at the end.

13 Marvin, trained by Adgar
Gets in on the AE list but may be better off missing the race.

14 Xmas Grey, trained by Blushing Meadows
Another on the list who is unlikely to make the field. Would have chances should he get in after a fair effort in the RP Springboard Mile and a very nice mile work a couple of weeks ago.

SUMMARY

This is a bit of a stick the pin type of race as these early season KYD qualifiers tend to be. Twisted Diademe, Spring Lover and Widows Son stand out for me.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES