CTHS Sales Stakes Monday
Four Stakes races, featuring the cream of the CTHS Sale graduates over the past three years and including the best collection of juveniles seen out so far this season
GWEN made fairly light work of her opposition on her second run down at the bottom level and should be a warm favourite to repeat here, although Sky Factor and Anaamy are both dropping a rung down the class ladder and have solid chances. Flicker Dance, meanwhile, won on her very first appearance and any level of progress after such an excellent debut puts her into contention.
SLEW’S DA BOSS has finished outside the first three just once in his previous dozen starts while Big Union has run into some tough company in his two appearances since beating Prince Cairo and He’s Relentless back in May. There seems little between the two. Finding Ways, meanwhile, is on a hat-trick of wins, although this represents his biggest challenge since finishing third to Pay My Way in June. Driller has been out of action since mid-June although he’s another consistent sort with form good enough to land this if at his best.
The first of four CTHS Sales Stakes contests restricted to graduates of previous CTHS yearling sales. The appropriately-named Be Quick is among the fastest horses at Hastings and his narrow Lieutenant Governors' Handicap victory over Porter Gent and Cascade Billy make him a worthy favourite. NINE ONE ONE has made two winning visits to Emerald Downs already this season and, last time, ran equally well to finish second behind Torpedo Away (who was a bold seventh in Sunday’s Longacres Mile) and he is a big danger to the favourite.
Interesting to see how Always in Charge copes with her first attempt at 8½ furlongs here. If it suits, she has some speed and can cause a minor surprise. Hastings Racing Clubs’ Hollywood Mistress is also taking on the 8½ furlongs for the first time and was staying on well enough behind Always in Charge last time to suggest it might suit her. SILK STILETTOS is dropping significantly in class, wasn’t too far behind over this distance last time and faces less demanding opponents. Koala is moving the opposite way and this first bid at a mile-and-sixteenth comes on the back of a seven-length win over Ice Breaker last time. Walkinthewalk should be a little closer to the action today.
The second of the day’s CTHS Sales Stakes events is for two-year-old colts and geldings. Magic Road was well regarded enough by connections to make his debut in the $50k BC Nursery Stakes earlier this month and any improvement on his third-place finish put him in nmix. LEGACY SQUARE won the Spaghetti Mouse stakes on his debut despite, understandably, running a little green and then followed up in equally impressive style next time after losing several lengths when forced to check on the far turn. Counteract beat the useful Filly Fatale on his debut, while Logical Al also made an notable first career start.
Calyspo Princess returns for the first time since taking down subsequent winner Rememberthealamo on her debut back in June, while Loveaboveandbeyond looked a different proposition altogether when stepping up to 6½ furlongs on her fourth career start to take the BC Cup Debutante Stakes. Licorice, Air Force and Island Living all finished third on their respective debuts and could easily go closer today. While Matsqui has improved in each of her three runs so far and went down by just a head last time. HIGHER IMAGE wasn’t far behind Loveaboveandbeyond on BC Cup Day and may represent a little value.
The appears, on paper at least, to be between KLOEPATRA and We B Three. The latter chased home the magnificent Infinite Patience last time (although she wassome way behind) but she may have to play second fiddle again here to Kloepatra who impressed many when sauntering to a seven-length win over Amanda and U Did It on her first attempt at the distance last time. Visenya has climbed the ranks impressively this term and, following a win at the $4k level back in May, progressed to a ½-length victory over Sloop John B at the $25k level last time. She has a decisive turn of foot and can be expected to arrive late on the scene.
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