The Queens Plate Stakes
WO Race #11 1 1/4m Dirt Stake
statebred.gif Purse $1,000.000 For Three Year Olds Foaled In Canada.
1 Copper Opus, trained by Big Guns Stable
Took a low level allowance before running a head second in the AR Derby and setting up a
tilt at the KYD. That didnt work out so well as he started slowly and only improved a few
places from the last place he was in for most of the race. After his very strong run from
a wide gate in the AR Derby that performance was very disappointing and he didn’t fare much
better when competing in The Plate Trail Stakes ending up fifth after running a close stalk.
If he can bounce back to that AR Derby run he has a fair chance from the inside gate but i
think there are a few stronger in this race and his best hope may be a place.
2 Dorky Stripes, trained by Glorify Stables
As is the norm here at HRP you can be working like a KYD winner and still struggle to win an
overnight race. That is very much the case with this one who has some very equitable and decent
works times to his name but has yet to really string the performances together. A staying on fourth
in The Queenston Stakes last time suggested he may appreciate this trip but he would have to put
his best foot forward to even get a look in. On works he is a dark horse and with a decent draw you
could do worse than an each way bet at big odds.
3 Cliffs Of Moher, trained by Mb Stables
Came with a huge late run to take the LA Derby by a half length and became the self promoted best hope
for the KYD by his prolific winning owner. Starting from the nightmare 20 gate in the big race he ran
a brilliant closers race going down by just a length after weaving his way through and round the entire
field. After that run and considering his handy draw in the BEL he looked to have a big chance of some
compensation but ran a terrible race to be 13th beaten ten lengths. His work times havent dropped off so
if you ignore that BEL run he would be in with a great chance of this big win.
4 Scott The Great, trained by Night Mare Racing
You wouldnt have even looked at this one in April. A maiden win at low level and then a ten length last
in his next start in an overnight he was looking very much like a morning glory. His last start however
throws him right into the mix as he ran on very strongly to be a nose second in the Queens Stakes on this
track. His work times arent bad although a little off the best of them so whilst he is clearly better than
what he has shown so far i am not sure he can win today.
5 Capo Di Tutti Capi, trained by Team 7 Illusions
This one has been pretty busy in his short career but has yet to really break through at any level. His
best form for this race was probably when fourth in the Davis Stakes but that coupled with just average
work times in this class will make him a shock winner.
6 Wicked Heat, trained by EasyMoney Stables
This daughter of Commanding is a very interesting prospect as not only is she the KYO winner and best
three year old filly on the site but she is getting 5 Lbs from the boys. Third in the BC juvenile and
the winner of both the FG and KY Oaks she is clearly very very good and with works comparable to most
of the field the five pounds she is getting may be an important difference. The only real blemish on
her recent record came in The Acorn last time out when she failed to cope with the wide draw and weakened
to be sixth. She is a lot better coming from behind and this draw will aid that so she may be the one to
give most trouble to the big hopes.
7 Connectivity, trained by BigKing
Bought from Mb Stables for $250 he hasnt done too much wrong for his new stable with a win and a grade one
money finish. In his last start he won the Steady Growth Stakes on this track by a pretty impressive two lengths
and putting that alongside his good fourth in the grade one BG Stakes put him right in the mix for top honors.
I am liking hs work times and this may well be his best trip so if he can get handy early on he could beat his
old owner at their own game.
8 Asset Class, trained by Sccj Stables
Took the Coolmore Lexington over this trip two back and retains Espinoza for this race which can only help
his chances. He got tired at the end of The Peter Pan last time out and finished fourth so this trip may be
the most testing thing for him but like the others his work times are in the ball park so it is hard to write
off his chances.
9 Snowmizer, trained by D J C Racing Stables
Took the Withers before a close second in both the Gotham and The Wood Memorial and was one of the first into
the KYD field. That prospect attracted D J C who paid a whopping $1250 to secure this horse from Sarah Stables
in a deal that is looking expensive so far. He was a huge disappointment in the KYD ending up last from a wide
draw and got the same treatment in the BEL, handed a wide draw and finishing in the back half of the field.
It would be lovely to see this popular trainer getting some of his money back but he once again finds himself wide
and with little improvement in his work times i cant see him getting into the winners spot.
10 Its Good To Be King, trained by Pan Farms
An interesting entry but hopeful at best. Just three starts and a maiden win this would be a massive shock should
he win.
11 Red Candy Roja, trained by Australia Wide
Australia Wide won the first four runnings of this race but has been handed a horrible draw in this to try and win
a fifth Queens Plate. He looked handy in the PRX Derby keeping on strongly for a head win but was appalling in the
BEL when a lack lustre 15th beaten 12 lengths. Either his pre race work before the BEL told us the story of a sick
horse or he has improved a good few lengths since that run because his latest work time was nearly a second faster
which makes for interesting reading when trying to assess his chances. If he can come back to his best and carry
the improvement shown in hs last work he would have every chance but you have to take his well being on trust.
12 Host, trained by Team 7 Illusions
With just the one maiden win and some of the slowest work times in the race you would have to be looking for a miracle to see this one winning.
13 Magnificent Beast, trained by Blushing meadows
Another with just the maiden win to his name he at least has some form at black type level as he ran a decent race to be
second in The Plate Trial. His work times and a difficult draw make it hard to see him winning but that last run was pretty good and he is entitled to have an outsiders chance.
14 Spirits Reward, trained by Big Guns Stables
The plate trail winner has been handed a tough task here as he starts from the car park in an effort to complete the double. I liked the way he won that race and his work times are very good so depending how the draw plays and others run he may well be capable of a big show.
SUMMARY
This is a very interesting race with a second covering all the runners on works and many of the field coming off disappointments. Cliffs Of Moher looks the obvious choice but i like the filly here especially as i believe this trip may see more improvement from her. Failing those two Connectivity will be finishing strongly and i would never write off a runner from Australia Wides stable but as usual in these big fields, the pace, the trip and the luck on the day will be the true difference between first and second.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
