05/25 Whittingham Stakes – Grade II
SA Race #4 1 1/4m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 A P Sundown Fractious Fuentes Ru
Jumps into this with some pretty good works but only average form to back them up. Claimed from Mb Stables at the start of the year it was his third time of changing stables and whilst consistent at lower levels he has never really threatened to break through into this level. He impressed when winning at allowance level after being claimed over a mile and a half but failed next time out over a mile and an eighth suggesting he is the type to do well over extreme distances. Will this trip be long enough? Well he will be running on at the end but i cant see him measuring up to the best of these.
2 On The Spot Mb Stables Talamo J
This was a pretty good three year old placing in some of the big TC qualifiers and running pretty well in the Preakness. He went on to win the Dwyer but has since been dropped back in trip to sprinting with only moderate success. With all his recent form on dirt we have to go back to the start of last year to find some good turf form with two wins over longer trips and his recent turf works suggest he may be a bit of a dark horse in this race. The only mystery is why MB has persisted on dirt when he was so good on turf and why he dropped back to sprinting before coming back to turf routes? Today we will find out if for the last eleven races the trainer has been barking up the wrong tree.
3 The Force Awakens Diablo Diablo Pereira T J
A grade one winning juvenile, he won the Nijinsky as a three year old and was third in the Sword Dancer as a four year old so it is clear this was has a touch of class. Inconsistency has been his enemy though so it is hard to be confident about his chances. His form this year has been OK but i think he may have lost a little zip as he has got older and for me whilst he is sure to run well i just dont think he has the legs he used to have.
4 Call Me Godd Sir Daniel Martin Desormeaux K J
The three year olds only get 3 Lbs in this race thus there is only one but this one is working as well if not better than the older horses so there is no reason that 3 Lbs wont be enough. A pretty good three year old placing third in the KY Jockey Club he has been a bit disappointing this year and has been flip flopped between distances and surfaces. He ran well in only his second turf race on this track at overnight level and those works tell me that there is something more to come from him.
5 Video Master Aer Stables Gutierrez Mario
Bought for $85 recently that seems a big price for an eight year old but the trainer is known for his antics and you have to wonder whether there is a method to his madness. He hasnt run badly this year placing third in the San Simeon over a sprint trip and then running well in the TAM Turf Classic over a mile and an eighth. I am not sure either of those starts add up to him winning here but i am willing to give the trainer the benefit of the doubt until after this race.
6 Ingrained Our Athletes Bejarano R
Another bought out of Mb Stables he won the Baruch Handicap last year and then ran well in the Pattison Canadian International. After being bought at the Christmas Auction he came straight out and won the San Gabriel at Grade two running from a wide gate as he is today quickly repaying his purchase price with some interest. He didnt handle the off track last time and has a fair chance even from a wide draw in what is a fairly weak field.
SUMMARY
Well this is a pretty weak field for a grade two and whilst the weight favor the older horses i do actually quite like the three year old here. So its Call Me Godd for me with On The Spot and The Force Awakens pressing him all the way.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
