August 15, 2009


Sunday Preview:
Sunday’s top European race promises to be the FR-G1 Prix du Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, with the very-talented Goldikova taking on the top-rated racehorse in the world, UAE-G1 Dubai Duty Free winner Gladiatorus. Off four consecutive victories last year—culminating in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile—Goldikova was well-beaten stretching out to 9f first out this year, in the FR-G1 Prix d’Ispahan. However, she rebounded with victories in the ENG-G1 Falmouth Stakes and FR-G1 Prix Rothschild—the latter of which she also won last year, and both at her preferred distance.

In addition to Goldikova , last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up, 3-year-old Heart Shaped, makes her first start in open company, in the IRE-G3 Phoenix Sprint at The Curragh. Other fillies/mares entered: 4-year-old Girouette who last out won the listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes over 4-year-old Perfect Polly who’s also in here as well as the unfortunately-named 3-year-old Statue of Liberty filly Gluteus Maximus who has only 1 win in 10 starts. The likely-favorite 3-year-old colt Vocalised—disappointing last out in the FR-G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains—is by Vindication out of Serena’s Tune, daughter of the great American champion filly Serena’s Song. The sentimental choice will be 8-year-old gelding Benbaun in his 48th career start (37 stakes); he comes in off a victory in the IRE-G3 Sapphire Stakes.

Also at The Curragh, in the IRE-G2 Royal Whip Stakes, 6-year-old mare Deauville Vision takes on a field that includes salty 8-year-old PA-bred Lord Admiral, runner-up in the IRE-G3 Meld Stakes last out, and promising 4-year-old colts Curtain Call and Casual Conquest, the latter winner of the IRE-G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in May.


Saturday Results in Australia:
With her inside run blocked in the stretch, Fritz’s Princess could only muster a fourth-place finish in the AUS-G2 Premiere Stakes, just behind 3-year-old Phelan Ready who took third. The winners—in a dead-heat—were longshots Mentality and Kroner.

In the AUS-G2 Liston, Typhoon Tracy didn’t win, but her third-place showing was promising against much saltier open company. The winner Predatory Pricer is already G1-placed—and a half-brother to international sprinter Takeover Target. Second-place Whobegotyou is a G1 winner who does well first up as he was here.

In the AUS-G3 Cockram, poor little Romneya looked good around the final turn, but her 127 top weight got to her late and she wilted to ninth; the winner Cats Whisker, only carrying 119, was able to nose out Annesong (123), while 12-1 longshot Flying Ruby got third.

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