The Fourstardave Handicap – Grade I
SAR   Race #7   1m   InTurf   Graded Stake
Purse $500.000  For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Iron Mann, trained by Aer Stables
The jury is out with this four year old son of Ironbound, as he continues to burn up the gallops in his work outs, but has failed to live up to those on the race track. A great fourth in the BC Mile as a three year old, he looked set for a big season this year, but has failed to live up to that great promise. Most of the four year olds have been struggling, which hasn’t helped his cause so I would like to give him one more chance in this company.

2 Swamp Fox, trained by Blushing Meadows
Has run some great races over a successful career and doesn’t look like he has lost too much sparkle as a five year old. He finished behind Iron Mann in the Kilroe Mile, and gets a one pound advantage here, so that will put the two of them pretty close. I liked his run in The Highlander last time, and he certainly has a good chance of getting something out of this race.

3 My Behrens, trained by Axeman
Ran a decent and close third in the Connaught Cup this year, and is a tough and consistent sort these days. He gets enough weight though, and he may be fighting for place money, rather than the win.

4 You Big Freak, trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy
The second highest earner in the race, he is another who has suffered a bit with his age group this year. He ran well in the Muniz Memorial to be a close second, and was a competitive fourth in the San Francisco Mile, so isn’t far off his best and is another with a live chance of taking this competitive looking race.

5 Pass The Pesos, trained by Australia Wide
A lightly raced four year old, he has been coming along nicely in lesser grade, and with fast works and a raceable weight, he is certainly right in this.

6 Irish Flu, trained by Sanny Village
The old man of the field at six years old, he is the biggest earner and manages to get in with a very fair weight. With only a couple of starts this year, he is certainly the freshest horse in the race and did pretty well in the King Edward BC Stakes last time, coming off a long break, so certainly has a winning chance.

7 King Rioja, trained by Mb Stables
A TC contender last year, he has stuck to overnights since and has been running pretty well. There’s nothing wrong with his work times, and the open allowances he has been running in are not far short of stakes races, so the form isn’t bad. The wide gate should be OK too as he is an on pace sort.

SUMMARY
I never like four year olds at this time of year, although with no three year olds in the field, they have a much fairer chance. Having said that I am going for the oldest horse in the field in Irish Flu, as his trainer is in top form, and if he gives his best, he will be hard to beat.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES