Canada Day Previews

The Monashee and the Lieutenant Governors Stakes are highlights of an excellent Canada Day card at Hastings, as Big Union looks to follow-up on his George Royal Stakes victory

Jul 01, 2023

BIG UNION (Ridge Balgobin) — photo Michael Bye

INDYETTA sits on a hat-trick after two nice wins in her last two starts. She had TAM TRICKY and TOBESUNNY behind her and looks like the one they have to beat again. Barn-mate CARLA’S HONOR makes her Hastings debut after arriving from Woodbine. She won on her season debut back east in April and won’t be out of place in this company.

A classy-looking affair with last season’s BC Derby third and fourth, BOITANO and STORMY BLUE, renewing rivalry in a small but quality field. STORMY BLUE had BOITANO almost 4-lengths behind last time, although the latter’s efforts from off the pace don’t make for stress-free viewing as he often encounters traffic congestion. BAKKEN OVERDRIVE’s excellent third in the George Royal Stakes earlier this month came on the back of two front-running wins in Allowance and Optional Claimer company. This is his first go at 8½ furlongs however. Hastings Racing Club’s PRINCE CAIRO seldom lets his followers down and a repeat of last October’s narrow win over Arollercoasterride would make him a serious contender.

LOLA M had plenty of support when winning on her racecourse debut earlier this month and this looks, on paper at least, like a nice opportunity for the well-bred filly to follow up. And, while there were legitimate excuses for some of those behind her last time, any improvement on her debut could see her go close. QUALITY COMMAND had ARTISTIC JEWLER behind when second to Zetamarie on her season debut and was then a perfectly acceptable 4^th behind the smart Shamra next time. This is her first go at the long course, although it certainly didn’t faze her smart full-brother, Porter Gent. Value seekers might consider INDYGOGOLD, who takes on the 8½ furlongs for the first time and has run as though she should benefit from the extra real estate.

MILITARY CROSS caught the eye when second to Addendum last year but he’s been off eight months and is entitled to need the race. BRIAN’S DE LEIGHT had DESIRED OUTCOME and HE’S A SAINT behind him when chasing home the smart Pursue last time, although the year older He’s A Saint was having his first run of the season and may advance again here. ROAD CLOSURE drops a little in class but was beaten a long way last time. That said, a repeat of a couple of his juvenile efforts would make him a tough nut to crack. MAGIC ROAD, meanwhile, has run well in arguably better company than he faces here and can’t be discounted.

Not too much between any of these fillies and mares. WE B THREE has had REA MEA, BAYAKOAS IMAGE, SOLARITY and RUN LOLA RUN behind her in her previous two starts, although they were over 6½ furlongs. She’s yet to win over this distance but she scooted past her rivals with plenty left in the tank last time. SOLARITY has beaten, and been beaten by, We B Three over the ‘long’ course and it should be tight between the two again. RUN LOLA RUN’s two efforts over 6½ this term should have blown the cobwebs away, she’ll relish the extra distance and may represent value at the betting windows.

AROLLERCOASTERRIDE made light work of his opponents last time, drawing away from Stormy Blue and Boitano to win in style. Last year’s B C Derby runner-up is the one they have to beat. PAY MY WAY relished the crack at 8½ furlongs earlier this month and, with FLORIDA GATOR finishing a neck behind him, ran the redoubtable At Attention close. BIG UNION lines up on a hat-trick after landing the George Royal Stakes three weeks ago. His three-length win came at the expense of today’s rival SOARINGFORTHESUN and he will undoubtedly make his presence felt.

Hard to see beyond the lightly-raced ROCKCLIFFE here. He gets the assistance of leading rider Amadeo Perez and a repetition anywhere near his third behind Lucky Force in the Ross McLeod Stakes earlier this month should be good enough. Barn-mate BAK TO LIBERTY finally got off the mark last time after repeatedly butting heads against some of the best around, while BACK SHACK returns to the short track after a lacklustre bid over 8½ furlongs last time. He had today’s rivals KLIMTOGLORY and GREYTOGO behind him when winning over this distance in May and is another for the shortlist.