The Discovery Handicap – Grade III
AQU   Race #2   1 1/8m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $150.000  For Three Year Olds.

1 The Rook, trained by D J C Racing Stable
Another fine example of a pointless handicap race with only one pound separating all the runners. This fella started on the TC trail running well in the Lewis Stakes and the Gotham before finishing four lengths back in The Wood Memorial. After failing to make the KYD he was aimed lower and picked up a decent allowance and a statebred stakes race before having another crack at the big guns in the PA Derby last time out. He disappointed again in that race finishing four lengths back in ninth and looks the type that struggles in the top grade. His works are pretty good though and he certainly has the ability to win at this level so i would expect an on pace effort from this draw and he will be right in there at the end.

2 Menagerie, trained by Pocket Aces Racing
A consistent sort his form once again shows the fact that there is very little difference between a graded stakes race and an overnight. His last two starts have been very solid and hint at improvement especially his last start in the LA Derby. He was impressive in winning the Shared Belief Stakes by an easy three lengths prior to that grade two effort in a fast time. In the LA Derby he went to the front and was pretty game when headed going down by a length at the line and finishing third. That was a lifetime best effort and thats always a good sign coming in to the tail end of a season.

3 Remastered, trained by Drabfantasy
Lightly raced he has never been out of the first three taking an Open Allowance last time by a gutsy quarter length. He loves a longer trip and his works although a little on a downward trend certainly show that he has the speed to win this.

4 Bombastic Thought, trained by Oval Express farms
Another lightly raced sort he won his maiden and Allowance well before a one paced fourth in the Lukas Classic last time. A good enough sort but he may find a few too good for him in this tight handicap.

5 Still Trending, trained by LionKing Stables
Trolled the fair tracks for his previous owner picking up a maiden and allowance at RUI and PM. Bought for $15 his new owner could see that he was being aimed far too low and puts him in this race to show his metal. His works are on an upward trend and he may well be the dark horse in this race.

6 Pierre Samuel, trained by John Henry
Bought from the Australia Wide stable after winning a couple of competitive overnights he immediately repaid his purchase price by taking the Elgin Stakes for his new owner. In his last start he was punched up onto the lead by the outside speed push nd weakened into a poor seventh but i am willing to put that down to the ridiculous draw bias and if his owner can negate the wide speed push today he should run a much better race.

SUMMARY
Well the handicapper puts them all within a smidgen of each other which is clearly a bit silly. Menagerie looks the one here, he certainly has the best form but i am tempted by the improving works of Still Trending who had been sandbagging at the lower tracks for his previous owner and may prove a bit better than that today.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES