Connaught Cup Stakes – Grade II
WO Race #6 7f Turf Graded Stake
Purse $175.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
1 Marx On The Moon Court Jester Racing Da Silva E R
A solid five year old stakes runner and like most good horses here at HRP has run just about every distance and surface to arrive here for this race. He hasn’t won in is four efforts on the grass but in his last two starts on this surface very nearly won the San Simeon and was a close second again in the Shakertown last time out. This trip should suit and as long as he doesn’t get buried ear;y from this draw he could have a winning chance.
2 World In Changes TwinTowersRacing Fukumoto D
I have said it before and i will say it again, you can never overlook a horse from this stable regardless of form. A lightly raced four year old he has won 4 times but is yet to trouble the judge beyond ungraded stakes class. His recent works have been signalling some improvement though so with the perfect draw i suspect we will see a very competitive performance.
3 Aggravating Arindel Lermyte J
Taken out of a claimer he ran an enormous race in his first effort for the new trainer when a close fifth in the San Francisco Mile. The trainer s on fire so throws the five year old back in the deep end but he would have to improve again to get into this finish.
4 Blameitonthewhisky Fractious Kimura K
This five year old has really hit his straps in his last five runs winning four of them including the Dangers Hour last time out. This is a natural step for a horse going through the grades and this trip looks perfect for him, a definite contender.
5 Invercargill Gdp Inc Wilson E J
Another five year old who has been around the block a few times but the big question for him is this is only his third turf start and he has yet to place on this surface. His dirt works are very sharp and his turf runs have been over longer trips so just maybe he may be the bolter.
6 Bajan Mask Spankys Barn Stein J
A real consistent type he wasn’t far off in the Woodford and The Mathews Brothers Mile suggesting he is on the cusp of this grade. He ran well enough over this trip when a close second in the Elusive Quality last time to suggest that he can run a big race.
7 Gordon Drive Estero Farms Moran D
The four year old has some good runs under his belt and comes into this as one of the horses with proven stakes form. He has suffered from poor draws for a while now and this is only a little better but a reproduction of his best form may see home gain some compensation. Beaten just three lengths in the BC Mile last year he was only two lengths behind in the Makers Mark last time so isn’t far off being very good. With luck he is a big chance.
8 Tiger Beach Nakamura Stables Hernandez R M
Claimed when well beaten three races ago he has struggled since to live up to his work times and looks a frustrating sort. A win last time may have helped his confidence but he is tough to pick if you ignore those good works.
9 Through The World La Canada Racehorses Ryan S
Won the Saranac last year but wasn’t pushed in stakes races after a failure next out in the Shadwell Turf Mile. Very consistent in top track optional Claimers he followed up a gutsy win over a mile with a strong performance in the Elusive Quality last time over this trip. An out and out turfer, his last work suggests he is ready to win this if he can overcome the draw.
10 Butter Ball Angelos Stable Contreras L
This six year old has won 13 races in a long career and seems to retain the ability that has seen him win two grade three stakes before this. Though he hasn’t been overly campaigned at stakes level his fourth beaten a neck in the San Simeon put him right in this as long as he can find his way home from this draw.
11 House Party Martyparty Husbands P
A solid sprinter he has won nine races over a 23 race career. I feel with his speed his best chance may come from some wide gate speed push and then trying to last home because as yet though consistent, he hasn’t reached the heights of a race like this.
12 Mojave Rattler John Henry Bahen S R
Out in the car park we find this five year old who has out earned everything in the field by at the least twice. In 2019 he won the Shadwell Turf Mile and the BC Mile and looked like he was going to become a top turf router for the rest of his career. For some reason though after those two wonderful wins he has struggled to recapture the glory and though he has won a couple of grade three’s he hasn’t looked like the same horse. I think he will like being back on turf but having been shot in the heart with this draw he may find it too tough today.
SUMMARY
Well Mojave Rattler and Marx To The Moon looks the most accomplished in this field but with one written off with the draw it may be Marx To The Moon who prevails. Of the rest, well there are plenty f chances but i would be putting in World In Changes and Through To The World to spice up the exotic bets.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
