November 10, 2016

The counterpart for the Princess Elizabeth Stakes for juvenile fillies is the Coronation Futurity for juvenile colts and on Sunday afternoon at WO, a small field of four will go forward for a race that has been run since 1902. Winners include Horse Of The Year honorees Canadiana, Canadian Champ, Victoria Park, the immortal Northern Dancer, L’Enjoleur, Norcliffe, Overskate and A Bit O’Gold while HRP has seen horses like JC Gold Cup winner Self Esteem, BEL winner Deja Steel and No Doubt About It, duel Grade I winner and BC Sprint champion for owner Mb Stables. They have two entrants in the field this year in search of their fourth win in five years but they might have to deal with a turf-to-dirt stakes winner who could be tough of his last effort in stakes company.

1-Indiana Jones (Two-year-old chestnut colt / Owner-Australia Wide)

First a maiden winner, then a stakes winner in the Cup And Saucer, Indiana Jones is looking to cement his status as one of the best of his generation with a score on the main track in the Coronation Futurity and with experience at the distance, the question is going to be one of pace. If he gets something up front, he might be able to close into the pace but that will be completely up to his rivals and that is never good when taking a short priced favourite.

Analysis-Turf runner tries to build his form on dirt

Fair Odds-2/1

2-Cash (Two-year-old chestnut filly / Owner-Downwind Stables)

Cash could easily have gone in the Princess Elizabeth against fillies but gets a break in weights against males here and will hopefully run better than she did in the Frizette, when she was one of many who clearly did not handle the good surface. She has not had a workout since that start at BEL and that could be cause for concern if she hopes to get two-turns and on paper, she looks behind many in the field who are improving off better races.

Analysis-Takes on males but looks behind the eight-ball

Fair Odds-12/1

3-Southern Style (Two-year-old bay colt / Owner-Mb Stables)

Southern Style was excellent in a maiden breaking win over this same course and distance in early October and looks ripe for a huge move forward, although he was tiring at the end of that event and will need to ration his speed better. Pedigree is clearly there for a big run and he comes from the big barn so look for another huge effort and one that could easily see him upsetting the inside runner in wire-to-wire fashion.

Analysis-Big chance in his move up from the maiden ranks

Fair Odds-3/1

4-State Senator (Two-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Mb Stables)

Despite the fact that the competition has kept getting the better of him, State Senator takes his second shot at stakes company after closing for fourth in the Grade III Grey and the question is going to be, as it is for almost the whole field, one of distance. His speed ratings are certainly fast enough and he has the experience at this level to make a major impact but he will need something to move into and the fear is that his stablemate might get away to an easy lead, muting his late impact move than it should.

Analysis-Continues to test stakes company and might improve slightly

Fair Odds-4/1

Overall

A duo of Mb Stables trainees will warrant much of the attention in the Coronation Futurity at WO on Sunday but Indiana Jones might just have the upper hand after a big score in the Cup And Saucer, at least if he can translate that kind of form to the main track. For Southern Style and State Senator, their contrasting running styles might put them each in a good spot for victory with the former trying to go wire-to-wire while the latter will be charging from off the pace.

Prediction

Win-Indiana Jones (2/1)

Place-Southern Style (3/1)

Show-State Senator (4/1)

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded