12/01 The Demoiselle – Grade II [KYO]
AQU Race #2 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Fillies Two Years Old.

1 Dissolve Mb Stables Castellano J J

Its hard to read this fillies form but she clearly has ability and seems to be the sort to relish this trip so with the ace draw you have to take her chance pretty seriously. A narrow winner on her second attempt at CD she was dropped back in track grade to win an allowance at GG before trying her luck in black type races. Running in the wet ground Alcibiades she stayed on well enough to suggest she handled it to be third beaten a couple of lengths, a decent enough effort for a race like this. She was given a go on turf last time when fourth in the ungraded Awad but it probably safe to ignore that run in looking at her chances for this race. Her works are OK so whilst she may not be the best horse in the Mb Stables she certainly has a chance in a small field.

2 Techno Cheryl The Sidley Stud Ortiz I Jr

Won three including the ungraded Lady Finger Stakes before taking on Dissolve in the Alcibiades where she came off worse when finishing fifth two lengths behind that filly. It wasnt the off track that beat her that day as she has come out and gamely won the grade three Tempted on an off track since so whilst she looks to have a decent chance its hard to see her beating Dissolve on any going. She has shown some improvement in works recently so she isnt without a chance and the stable is in very good form.

3 Dali The Viking Smokey Stover Velazquez J R

Its a mystery as to what happened to the BC Juvenile fillies with this one as after her game win in the grade one Chandelier she looked to have a very good chance in that race. In the end she faded to last place but in true HRP style was only beaten four lengths so not exactly thrashed out of sight. I am tempted to ignore that effort as the BC can throw up strange runs and going back to her gritty grade one win before that she must have a major chance in this.

4 Golden Hour D J C Racing Stables Lanerie C J

The stable has had plenty of success with their two year olds this year and throws this one in here to try and carry on the form. She took her maiden on her third attempt after disappointing a little in her first two efforts but stepped up last time into the ungraded Glorious Song Stakes where she was very game in winning by a nose. The biggest question about her today is this trip especially as she has looked an on pace type so far and failed in her only attempt over a mile. Her works are strong enough though so whilst there is a question mark she does have the ability.

5 Call Craze Alydar Stables Bejarano R

On exposed form she looks the best in the race having won the grade two Miss Grillo before running a strong third in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. The question mark around her is not whether she is good enough but whether she can handle this switch to dirt after running all her best race on turf. Her dirt works arent the best but arent too bad either and she will see out this trip well so whilst its tough to have confidence there doesnt seem any reason she can’t run well.

6 Hollywood Short Estero Farms Gallardo A A

An impressive maiden winner on a slushy track over six furlongs she was thrown straight in the deep end after that to take on the grade three Mazarine BC Stakes. Taken well back she ran home very strongly to be sixth beaten just a couple of lengths which was a lot better effort than it looked on paper. She is working the best in the field but has a sticky draw to overcome to live up to those. The stable is in fine form so you have to give her a winning chance if she can overcome the draw.

7 Vamparina Aer Stables Talamo J

An impressive maiden winner on the turf she then drew wide and was beaten by the wide gate speed push when a poor eighth in the Maid Of The Mist. She gets a horrible draw again today so despite some very strong works she may again find herself beaten by the race engine.

SUMMARY

The two best workers in this field occupy the two widest gates so once again we are left scratching our head as to who could win this. I am pretty sure it will be a close finish so its probably down to who gets the best trip. I think Dali The Viking will put her BC effort behind her and it may be between that one and Hollywood Short.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES