The Birdstone                 

SAR          Race #5         1 1/2m             Dirt             Stake

Purse $200.00 (plus up to $30.00 for NY-breds)  For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 — Yansa

Form: Ultra‑consistent grinder with long‑route experience. Recent figures: 97, 95, 92, 94 — always competitive. His FE run on 20 Jul (“:23, :46, 1:10, 1:41”) shows he can sit mid‑pack and keep finding.

Works: Four FNO works, all sharp:

• 7 Jul — 2f :22.1 (1/1)
• 1 Jul — 2f :22.1 (1/2)
• 8 Jun — 1m 1:36.4 (1/1) These are crisp, indicating he’s holding fitness and sharpness.

Verdict: A closer from the inside gate so he will need the race engine on his side before we even talk about his form. Consistency is his calling card and that is a definite bonus and probably his greatest quality in a race like this. He should appreciate the 12 furlongs with his deep closing style but this would have to be a career best performance.

2 — Littiputian

Form: Strong middle‑distance form (94–97 figs). His PRX win on 16 Jul was authoritative, but he’s untested at true staying trips.

Works:

• 10 Aug SAR — 3f :35 (1/4)
• 30 Jul PRX — 5f :58.2 (2/5) Both works are fast and suggest he’s thriving.

Verdict: A lightly raced six year old with plenty of upside. At the start of the year he found himself in a claimer over a sprint trip which he duly won and then found a claim form his current owner. The new owner then sent him over a longer trip which culminated ina  strong win in a competitive allowance at PRX last time. We have seen many of these older horses claimed later in life and then go on to stakes wins and it wouldn’t surprise me to see this one do the same from the perfect gate.

3 — Eisenhower

Form: Sprint/mile specialist. Recent figs: 93, 87, 94 — honest but not improving. Only two long‑route attempts and neither strong.

Works:

• 5 Aug ELP — 6f 1:11 (6/22)
• 29 Jul — 5f :58.1 (2/22) These are genuinely good works, showing speed and fitness.

Verdict: Took a while to break his maiden and has only been fair since so he certainly has a step up to make here. The other factor not in his favor here is he is yet to win over a longer trip and has been racing mainly in sprints recently so this is an interesting switch in trip and may be his biggest hope of winning in a game where wild changes can often see wild improvement.

4 — Crazy Eyes

Form: Honest but inconsistent. Long‑route record weak (0 wins from 5). Recent figs: 98, 93, 95 — competitive but not dominant.

Works:

• 22 Jun PRX — 6f 1:10 (1/53)
• 28 Jul MTH — 1m 1:36.1 (2/8) These are very strong, especially the PRX bullet.

Verdict: Another that hasn’t won over a longer distance so this trip is a question mark however his recent mile works have been very strong and I am thinking this five year old may be moving up his improvement curve. Three solid efforts in stakes races in his last three bode well and his closing style certainly suggests in a normal world that this trip will suit.

5 — Lord Of The Hills

Form: Lightly raced but talented. Only long‑route run was a 98‑figure win at WO. His maiden win was dominant.

Works:

• 1 Aug PEN — 7f 1:23.2 (1/2)
• 24 Jul PEN — 5f :58 (1/19) These are elite works — fast, controlled, and stamina‑building.

Verdict: A four year old with just five races on his record he has been pateinetly handled and with two wins and looks exactly the sort that could make his mark at this level. His midpack running style may work well in this race and he may have found a race that he can take the next step in.

6 — Blackdown

Form: The strongest staying résumé. Two 1½‑mile runs this year: 95 and 102 figs. SAR win at 1⅛ miles was professional.

Works:

• 5 Aug SAR — 6f 1:10.2 (2/20)
• 1 Jul SAR — 6f 1:10.2 (1/11)
• 23 Jun SAR — 1m 1:36.4 (1/2) This is a perfect long‑distance work pattern: stamina + speed + repetition.

Verdict: Another lightly raced one that has found plenty of improvement since his maiden win as a three year old and is one of the few if any that has won over this trip. His first attempt at black type saw him a fairly innocuous fifth last time but he will appreciate these extra three furlongs and will be in it at the end for sure.

7 — Looting And Shooting (3yo)

Form: Inconsistent but talented. His CD run (88 fig) was solid; LAD Derby effort (91 fig) respectable. Still learning.

Works:

• 10 Aug SAR — 5f 1:01 (3/12)
• 6 Aug CD — 1m 1:38.1 (2/3) Good, steady works — not flashy, but fit.

Verdict: The only three year old in this race and whilst he will find it very tough against these seasoned types he does have a touch of class which some do not. A fair effort in the LA Derby but poor in the Pegasus I would be surprised if he can step up today.

8 — Fire From The Sky

Form: Mostly turf. Dirt form weaker (mid‑80s figs). Long‑route turf form decent but doesn’t translate well here.

Works:

• 24 Jul MTH — 5f turf :58 (3/15)
• 3 Jul SAR — 5f turf :57.4 (2/16) Excellent turf works, but no dirt preparation.

Verdict: May need some grass underfoot to be at his best but he is a solid sort who may look to go forward today in a race with very little early speed. If he does that and slips away he could be a chance for some minor money.

9 — Transformer

Form: Reliable stayer with a recent 97‑figure win. Long‑route record solid (3‑3‑4).

Works:

• 6 Jul MTH — 1m 1:36 (2/24)
• 29 Jun PRX — 1m 1:36.4 (3/12) Strong stamina works, consistent pattern.

Verdict: As usual from this stable we see fast works coupled with runs at low level but he showed he is better than that with a solid stakes run last time. The wide gate could see him right on speed which may be a good place to be if it is not challenged. He could be the one at longer odds.

SUMMARY

This is a race full of depth but what we do see are honest types that will be fighting for a good prize. Lord Of The Hills looks a progressive type and he would be my top choice but there isn’t a runner here you couldn’t make a case for. The two Sidley Stud runners are showing talent on the gallops and it may be one or both of these that are the strongest challengers.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded