1 Danzing Logic, trained by Riggins Racing

Competitive at two culminating in a decent win in the grade two Golden Round she lost her way a bit at the start of her three year old career. Two disappointing starts in the Davona Dale and the Eight Bells made a few question whether she had trained on but a change in tactics last time out gave her connections a glimmer of hope. Flying late after trailing the field she got to within a half length of Ta Wee in the grade three Selene Stakes which was a much better run. Maybe her first two starts over seven furlongs and a mile were just too sharp for her and she stepped up over this trip last time out, if that is the case she may be a threat today.

2 Hydro, trained by Team 7 Illusions

In contrast to Danzing Logic this filly was a below average two year old with four efforts a low level resulting in consistent efforts but no real clue to what she was going to do at three. A switch to turf saw her improve a stone and take first the CA Cup Oaks and then the ungraded Camponile. It would be easy to think that she was a turf filly and that was where the improvement came from but she further muddied the waters when she ran an absolute cracker in the grade one Acorn going doing by a length after a game on the pace run. I really don’t know what to make of this filly, her works are excellent on the dirt and she is clearly much improved and that second last time out gives her a winning chance in this race.

3 Distant Cousin, trained by D J C Racing Stables

She improved as a two year old winning an ungraded stakes race before really coming to herself as a three year old. A close second in the Forward Gal put her right in the Oaks picture but she struggled from the stalk in the Davona Dale ending up fourth before a better effort but the same finishing position in the GP Oaks. Those three efforts put her within a few lengths of the best three year old fillies but having missed out on a KY Oaks run she was given a breather from top competition for her last start. She showed just how classy she is by romping home in an allowance and that sets her up nicely freshened for today.

4 Shakira, trained by Alydar Stables

Followed a similar route to Distant Cousin with an ungraded stakes win as a two year old she performed equally well in her attempts to get in the KY Oaks but like Distant Cousin failed to get in. Probably her best run was when she was third in the grade one SA Oaks but her close second in the Eight belles and her third in the Selene were pretty good too and she has strong claims in a very good field today. This trip is ideal and there are very few question marks hanging over her making her a good betting proposition.

5 High percentage, trained by Maverick Racing

One of those many three year olds that Mb Stables unloaded she looked like she was going to be one of the best of them when she ran a very close second in the grade one Ashland just getting collared by Miss Phooey Beach but then ran a very poor race in an overnight when a distant third of four runners over the same trip. With two such vastly different runs it is hard to read her chances today but I will use the same logic that I have used for so many of the Mb Stables off loads in that if he was sold then he may not be as good as his form suggests, for that reason I am passing her over.

6 Don’t Freak Out, trained by Visceral Farms

Here we have another ex Mb Stables runner who was sold prior to the KY Oaks after a good win in the SUN Oaks. She ran creditably in the KY Oaks in her first start for her new trainer but again I have to say I am wary of the ex Mb Stables three year olds as very few of them have performed since being sold so again I will pass her over for today’s race.

7 T S Razor, trained by Australia Wide

Now this filly is very interesting and represents the resurgence of Australia Wide after a walkabout of a couple of years. Bought for five hundred and fifteen dollars after Sanny Village had forked out over three hundred dollars for her she is clearly getting plenty of interest probably prompted by some super mile works rather than her exposed form. She ploughed through the mud to win the ungraded Opelousas Stakes last time but that was a poor race and can’t really be seen as a good line for this race which is very competitive. I fear the wide draw which has been the killer of many a good horse this year but I also think this may be the best three year old filly in the making.

SUMMARY

This is a lovely race for the purist. The exciting prospect in TS Razor, the consistent graded stakes performers and the anomalies in Don’t Freak Out and High percentage. If the wide draw doesn’t beat her then I think T S Razor will win but failing that it will be between runners 1 to 4 with possibly Distant Cousin shading it.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES