September 1, 2015
The Grade I Sword Dancer at SAR has routinely produced some epic performances and more than a handful of future superstars and it looks like a new one was born on Saturday as Tundra Kenny, a $275.000 purchase for star owner Australia Wide, rattled off his third consecutive win with wire-to-wire precision. From sire Natural Drummer, who has already produced stakes winners March Madness, Natural Beauty and BC Distaff winner Sinissippi Delite, the three-year-old got a break in the weights and used it to full advantage, sprinting away around the turn en route to a docile one-length win with a 100-speed rating, easily his best to date and a sign of things to come for this exciting horse.
The opening furlong of the Sword Dancer saw Bold Pretender (12.60) take up the mantle from Tundra Kenny (4.85) with All Together (7.25) holding his own along the rail, just in front of favourite Ashkalani (*1.70). As the large group moved into the first of three turns, Tundra Kenny took a brief lead inside as the top duo moved clear from a trio of pursuers, as Candy Cain N Able (18.70) joined the fray early. All Together really moved into contention inside around the turn as the two leaders continued to battle up front but everyone really held their own through the first marker in 48.23, with much of the drama still yet to unfold. Tundra Kenny had moved a half-length in front past six-furlongs in 1:12.31 and as the field moved into the backstretch for the second time, it looked like both Bold Pretender and Ashkalani were starting to struggle and that left All Together and Candy Cain N Able as the top contenders to overtake the longtime leader. With three-furlongs to go, Tundra Kenny had put more than two-lengths on his nearest rival and those rivals were stalling and from the back of the pack was War Scent (8.30), who angled outside of tiring horses to take a final shot. Even splits had given the three-year-old frontrunner plenty of stamina and with such a large margin, everyone was basically racing for second and although they were able to close the gap, Tundra Kenny still had plenty left in a solid length and a half triumph, with War Scent hanging on for second over a charging Breiterate (7.45). Candy Cain N Able found the distance a little too long and had to settle for a clear fourth with Danzing By The Bay (27.35) an even fifth and Bold Pretender and All Together a very tired sixth and seventh. Copper Clappers (9.90) never got involved but still managed to outfinish Ashkalani, who was the bitter disappointment of the race, while Celtic Tremor (23.15) was clearly outrun in a race that saw him finish double-digits behind the sharp winner.
Owner Australia Wide won the Grade I Sword Dancer back in 2004 with Royal Randwick and in 2006 with Jagged Account, and both of those colts went on to many Grade I wins and huge careers afterwards, so logic was say that Tundra Kenny has a big future ahead of him with three straight wins for the new barn under his belt. Victory here assures him a start in the BC Turf so a race like the Hill Prince at BEL, against fellow sophomores, might be ideal if he is looking to get some class relief before taking on the big boys once again at KEE.
Congratulations goes out to owner Australia Wide and their three-year-old colt Tundra Kenny, a wire-to-wire winner of the Grade I Sword Dancer at SAR!
Prediction Ashkalani / Candy Cain N Able / All Together
Winner Tundra Kenny
Three-year-old bay colt
Natural Drummer-Kaycees Laffin (Laffin Stormtrooper)
Owner Australia Wide
Time 48.23, 1:12.31, 2:00.35, 2:24.99
Overall
Tundra Kenny 4.85 broke well, clear late, no challenge
War Scent 8.30 behind rivals, angled wide, up for second
Breiterate 7.45 solid late rally
Candy Cain N Able 18.70 found little in last furlong
Danzing By The Bay 27.35 even effort
Bold Pretender 12.60 pressed, weakened
All Together 7.25 no response when asked
Copper Clappers 9.90 outrun
Ashkalani *1.70 solid break, tired
Celtic Tremor 23.15 no factor
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade I
