Goldikova Stakes – Grade II
SA Race #7 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Raw Sugar Mb Stables Pereira T J

It’s that time of year when these sorts of races can cut up pretty badly due to all the top horses being deep into their final prep for the BC. So we end up with those fringe horses who can often pick up a good graded stakes win without having to beat much. This three year old fits into that bracket with five wins from ten races and an ungraded stakes win she has yet to fire at this level but gets an opportunity today against just four rivals. The trip suits and the draw will work for her so she must go down as a win chance.

2 Chai Mission Maxmillion Farm Franco G

The class horse in the race she would be good enough to run an outsider in the BC so on the face of it she could be the number one choice. With the perfect draw and graded stakes winning form it is hard to see past her but there is always that nagging doubt that at five her improvement curve could be heading downwards at any time.

3 Zee Model Gdp Inc Fuentes Ru

A lightly raced four year old, whilst Chai Mission may be heading down the curve this one certainly looks to be heading up it and i think on a dry track she would be able to come out on top. Her spirited finish in the First Lady last time saw her go down by just a head and that form would be good enough to see her victorious today.

4 Ice Cream Truck First Street Stables Prat F

A consistent sort below this sort of grade she gets her best opportunity of winning a grade two today and is sure to be competitive. She is an on speed sort so may be sacrificed by the race engine but if she can get a little cover or be convinced not to go too fast too soon i think she will be right in it at the end.

5 Chances Taken Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario

The Regret and BEL Oaks winner has disappointed since but there have been excuses and she gets the perfect chance today to get back to winning ways. Her works are the same if not better than her older rivals suggesting that once again the three pound age allowance will see her on top. The only balance here is the wide draw so Mb will have to leave some of it to luck, but if all things were equal this looks the best filly in the race.

SUMMARY

Two Mb Stables three year olds racing against three older rivals with one being a grade one winner…..it looks pretty simple on paper. So is there anything that can beat Chances Taken, well i think the older horses are capable of making a race of it especially if it rains because then Chai Mission may just be unbeatable.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES