QE II Challenge Cup – Grade I
KEE Race #1 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.00 For Fillies Three Years Old.
This grade one is a strange race, only 6 runners for a start but only one from Mb Stables as well. Its proximity to the BC can be an explanation i guess but i think if Well Built wins today we may see her take her chance in the big one. Here’s how they line up.
1 Born From Mrs Z, trained by Mb Stables
With the fastest recent 6 furlong work in the field Mb Stables may only need the one runner to win today but despite the fast work she isnt the best filly on paper today. As usual after being bought by the champion trainer we saw an upturn in her form scraping home in the Solana Beach and then running a cracker to be a head second in the KD Ladies Turf. That last effort was a career best and if you put that with the fast work and the ace draw she looks to have a winning chance.
2 Cinis, trained by John Henry
A promising two year old she has been sold twice for over $300 as a three year old but has still only managed the one win. That win came in the Providencia Stakes back in April over this trip where she showed plenty of guts to record a half length win. Two good thirds most recently in the Sands Point suggest this filly is in good shape but a sluggish recent work may be enough to put you off her in an open race. She certainly has shown enough ability to win this but i fear her best result may be in the minor placings.
3 Z Partner, trained by Diablo Diablo
She started to improve in the early season taking a couple of overnights and running a strong second in an open allowance. Those efforts pointed towards significant improvement and she showed that to be the case with a great second in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap in her penultimate start. In her last start she did what few can and made all the running to take the Commonwealth Oaks over this trip and she will look for the lead again today. Whether she can make all in a grade one remains to be seen but she is working strongly and if she gets away with a soft lead she will be hard to catch.
4 Well Built, trained by Team 7 Illusions
She looks the choice in an open field after winning her last three. A sprint maiden claimer winner in February Golden Stable claimed her and then did all the hard work to turn her into a stakes winning filly. In her last start she took the Maybee Stakes by a very easy three lengths in a winning time the rest can only dream about. I am not sure what made Golden Stables sell her but sell her they did and the lucky recipient was Team 7 who picked her up for just $257. Strong works and rapidly improving form will make this one my favourite for the win.
5 She Needsa Brazillian, trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy
I had great fun writing about this ones two year old campaign which culminated in a win in the BC Juvenile Filies Turf but sadly that form hasnt translated to three and she has been largely disappointing since. Her only win this year came in an overnight but she didnt run badly in the BEL Oaks and clearly retains some ability even if she doesnt look as good this season. She could surprise and if she has trimmed recently may bounce back to her best.
6 Que Seras Creeps, trained by D J C racing Stables
Without a win this year i have tipped her a few times but she seems to lack the luck or the desire to win. She is certainly good enough as demonstrated with a close fifth in the Mother Goose and a decent fifth in the Ballerina and the key to her today may be the change of running surface. I have seen plenty of horses run out of their skin when produced on a change of surface and as this will be the first time i havent tipped her for a while today will probably be the day she wins.
SUMMARY
A tight looking race but it looks as though it may be between Well Built and Born From Mrs Z. All of the others have chances however and anything at longs odds should be considered a good bet as nothing should be worse than 6/1 on paper.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
