The National Museum of Racing – Grade II
SAR Race #7 1m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.

With two races worth $400.000 or more for three-year-olds attracting just eleven starters it does make me wonder where all the three-year-olds are. Maybe it is the dominance of the top stables of these three-year-old races or maybe it is just timing and the schedule, but it has to be said six starters is just a little disappointing. Having said that, it will be a very good contest and there is plenty of potential and quality to this field even if it doesn’t have the numbers. Here is how they line up:

1 Extreme Super Hero Mb Stables Franco M 122 —

With the stable mate the obvious pick of the two, I guess this one will be looking for second, but he has won his last two from the ace draw by making all the running so I wouldn’t be too sure he couldn’t spring a surprise. The winner of four turf races he has been improving gradually and in his last two starts has started looking like he can make a mark at this level. A 1.35 flat work says he can run a race today, whether that is good enough to win remains to be seen.

2 Diamond Haggis Fractious Prat F 122 —

Working well this is a real contender for the Fractious Stable. He had a little go at the dirt in the Fountain Of Youth to see if he was good enough for the TC but that experiment was abandoned quickly and that has been his only race off the grass in his five starts this year. Winning the Kittens Joy on seasonal debut he was very close to winning the Transylvania and the American Turf but just came up short in both, running second. He was strongly fancied to win the PEN Mile last time but stalked a fast pace and didn’t have anything left at the end finishing third. The small field will suit him today and he could be the one to break what looks like an MB dominated race.

3 Test The Waters Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario 122 —

Missed the KYD but went to the Preakness instead and it very nearly paid off as he went down by a nose in the shadows of the post. He had his third turf race in his 13 race career last time when tackling the BEL Derby and looked the winner at this trip eventually finishing second after getting run off the lead down the stretch. He has worked a sub 1.35 turf mile since then so is clearly looking to make a career on the grass and will probably start favorite for this race and deservedly so. I am not sure whether he will be stalking his stable mate or leading but either way he looks the form horse of the race.

4 Crickets Martyparty Velazquez J R 122 —

Now it looks like the race is between Fractious and Mb Stables until you arrive at this runner, and I have a sneaking suspicion that he will be the one to upset the apple cart. He has won his last three on turf, all at stakes level and what gives me real confidence is the 1.34 and 2 mile work he put in after his very game win in the Manila last time out. Good enough to run in the KYD he disappointed a little after a good qualifying run in the BG Stakes but has looked even better on the grass since.

5 Marksman Luz International Luzzi L J 122 —

Well, the question marks take up the whole page with this one as a one race winner of a maiden sprint last time. Of course, on paper he has no chance, but this is HRP and much stranger things have happened so why not have a go with a horse that looks to have a future though it may be unlikely that that will start today. Having said that, his works are strong so why not have a go?

6 Neagh D J C Racing Stables Lopez P 122 —

The three-race winner gets the wide draw here which won’t help his chances much. A decent enough sort, he has won three and has looked pretty good at overnight level though that hasn’t translated to stakes races as yet. His works are good and his last two placings at ungraded level have been honest, so he may be in contention for some of the minor purse money.

SUMMARY

As I glanced at this race it looked a straight battle between Mb and Fractious but when I went through the runners I couldn’t get past the winning chance of Crickets. He will be my number one choice ahead of Test The Waters who may again lead and get caught late. Third looks to be Diamond Haggis.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES