Pharoah Stakes – Grade I [BC] [KYD]
SA Race #4 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Two Year Olds.

1 Royal Ascot Williams9 Van Dyke D

Gets in the ace draw and might well need that advantage to give him any hope here. Won his maiden well enough but was pretty ordinary in an allowance last time and unless he improves about six lengths for the step up in trip i cannot see him in the finish.

2 Blacklisted Broken Spoke Stables Pompell T L

An impressive maiden win but it was only at LAD he then went on to run a game race in the FL Sire Stakes Affirmed where he dead heated with Velocicoaster who has since gone on to win the FL Sire Stakes in Reality. His works are solid and he once again gets favor from the draw monster with the draw that everyone wants so he must have a serious chance. My only question mark is the jockey he has drawn as you don’t see them winning these big races too often at HRP but that may not stop him.

3 Secret Sweat Mb Stables Gaffalione T

As usual Mb Stables has the maximum runners in a BC Qualifier and i think this one with the bets draw of them may turn out to be the overlooked one. Very impressive in his maiden over a mile last time i have a feeling about this son of Sweet Sweat that he may just be up to this.

4 Red Summer Devil Mb Stables Lopez P

Another perfect draw, his fourth in a row he should maybe have done better considering the favor he has be shown by the draw monster but his works say more than his race form so maybe today is his day. Bought for $200 which is a heck of a lot for a CT maiden winner his works said he was worth it but in his first start for his new stable in the Iroquois he looked a long way from a great buy. It seems a lot to expect for him to better that effort but we have seen plenty of good horses with blobs in their records with this new race engine so that may just have been one of ‘those’ races and he may come out and street this field today. A big chance on his works but still something to prove on the track.

5 Violence Fractious Baird E T

A good debut winner but terrible in the Simcoe, his trainer has gelded him since in the hope that the magic fairy dust will be sprinkled on the scar. As the operation only took place a few days ago we have no evidence to go on so as long as he doesn’t pull his stitches out we may see an improved effort or another poor one.

6 Lambeau Bigchief Stables Smith M E

A maiden debut winner way back at the start of juvenile racing he has done pretty well since without setting the world alight. A fair effort in the DMR Futurity last time saw him finish fifth but you get the feeling the trainer will have to try something different if he is to win today. This field isn’t as strong as some of the juvenile stakes races this year so that certainly helps and he would have a solid each way chance.

7 Flip Off LionKing Stables Maldonado E

Bought for just $35 after a maiden claiming win he gets thrown in the deep end for his first start with the new trainer. The positive is that he made all to win over a mile so the trip shouldn’t be a problem and i noticed the trainer has been playing around with the adds so we may see an effort from him today. Not in my top picks but a definite maybe.

8 State Of Fury Alydar Stables Hernandez J J

I liked the way he coped with a difficult draw to win his maiden at DMR last time and that is often the sign of a good horse. I think in time he may prove to be up to this level but at 15.1hh he may not have reached his full potential yet so it is more hope than confidence that i suggest he has a chance. Whatever he does today he will get better for sure.

9 King Noah Arindel Carrasco V R

Getting out to the cheap seats now i think this would be my clear choice had he not drawn out. The effects of the draw are never more obvious than when you look at his form. leading or on speed in both his runs prior to the Hopeful from inside draws when he got to that race and was drawn wide he got a spinny legs start and went out the back. In the end he ran an eye-catching race dodging and weaving into third and as long as the race engine doesn’t deal him a similar card today i think he could just about win.

10 Night Raider Mb Stables Eikleberry R

The third stable runner i don’t think this draw is a big problem for him because he has looked like a natural closer if there is any such thing on the new engine. Running on late in the Simcoe he was a bit of a black booker that day and franked that opinion when winning The Jack next up. This is no stable star but i think if the pace is no early he could pick a wide path and come right into it at the end.

11 Winning Blueprint Nakamura Stables Luzzi L J

The trainer hasn’t had much luck with the draw in the races i have been covering today and this is another that is stuck out in the cheap seats. I am not really sure what to make of him as he won his maiden on the turf and was then terrible in the wet at SAR so he is very hard to weigh up.

12 Luna Beech Asgar Centeno D E

He has lots of experience and he will need it all from out here in the car park. He took seven races to break his maiden and could only do so at ALB but won by eight lengths that day and has always looked like he would be improved by a longer trip. His works are as good as anything and like Night Raider if there is a strong pace then he may just be picking a wide path late and could win at rewarding odds.

SUMMARY

This is a funny race because whilst it is a BC and KYD points race it has nowhere near the depth of the Breeders Futurity i have just written about. So that opens it up a bit to some enterprising tactics and the chance to steal a BC place and with that in mind i rather like Night Raider or Luna Beech. Having said that i don’t think they are the best in the race so on form and draw you would have to go with Blacklisted, Secret Sweat and Red Summer Devil. Take your pick, form or shenanigans as the BC draws nearer and we see the final qualifiers take their place.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES