Derby Day Riot
Canadian Derby third Regal Riot looks to land the big one on Saturday, when the son of Jersey Town takes on eight rivals in the British Columbia Derby
Good to see BOLD ARCH return to sprinting after his second unsuccessful attempt at 8½ furlongs. His most recent start at this distance saw the dark bay rapid transport system go down by a nose to Cascade Billy and a similar performance could well return him to winning ways. PARKER POINT is no slouch either and he returns to sprinting for the first time since winning back in May. SET TO SHINE, meanwhile, has been mostly plying his trade in Stakes company this year and a creditable fifth behind Uncharacteristic and Porter Gent in the George Royal Stakes back in June puts him in the frame.
Unbeaten now in eight consecutive races, INFINITE PATIENCE is the undisputed Hastings’ champ and the reigning horse of the year will be a very warm favourite to make it eight in a row. The fight for minor places should be more competitive, with DAPHNE looking to confirm last month’s CTHS Sales Stakes win over WE B THREE, while SOLARITY should be looming large and fast in everyone’s rear view mirror as they dash for the line.
A fascinating contest with all-bar SANAWAR taking on nine-furlongs for the first time. Owned by hockey star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sanawar does all his best work late-on and runs as though the extra half-furlong will suit his style. PINEAPPLE TIDBITS has hit the board in all but one race this season and he’s another who is often seen closing late. This represents a class drop for MCMURPHY and on his best form he’ll be hard to ignore. LAUGH WITH ME, meanwhile, is on a hat-trick of wins after getting up late to beat Bluegrass Angus last time and he gets the nod here.
ASKMENOQUESTIONS made his career debut in the $50k Spaghetti Mouse Stakes and then proceeded to break awkwardly. He’ll know more today, is out of a Grade 2-winning mare and, while the outside draw is a significant disadvantage over 6 furlongs, is a serious threat. ROARING DESTINY took a while to work things out on his debt behind Logical Al, but made up a lot of ground late-on and should be much closer this time. BACK SHACK had some traffic issues behind stablemate ROAD CLOSURE last time and both have serious shots. MILITARY CROSS appeals most of the debutantes, although the betting market may provide further clues.
The magnificent PORTER GENT, who has won nine times and missed the board just once in 18 starts, appears to have progressed again since being stepped up to 8½ furlongs. This valuable contest looks tailormade for the five-year-old after he scooted down the lane to beat SYNERGY and FORT LANGLEY by more than five lengths last time. AT ATTENTION reappears here following his tenacious victory in last month’s Century Mile Handicap, with UNCHARACTERISTIC behind in third. Well-named BE QUICK beat two-times Emerald Downs winner Nine One One in the $50k CTHS Sales Stakes last time and he may give his stablemate most to do, while former Candian Derby winner Uncharacteristic should appreciate the extra distance here.
PAGODA RIDGE made short work of her rivals when winning her maiden by three lengths after being dropped in class last time and, although his represents a tougher assignment, she should be in the mix. SILK STILETTOS, who just lost out to Ice Breaker last time, drops to the lowest level of her short career to date and she will be a popular selection. QUALITY COMMAND seems to be a progressive sort and her maiden win over Value Dancer, with subsequent winner Indygogold back in third, makes her an obvious danger.
With Washington Oaks heroine Tiz a Macho Girl a late scratch, the BC Oaks will be contested by a strong home team led by U DID IT; who missed out by just a neck in last month’s Century Casinos Oaks. KLOEPATRA finished ahead of U Did It in last month’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap, but disappointed last time when only fourth in the CTHS Sales Stakes. Bettors can probably ignore AYELLOWROSEOFTEXAS’s lacklustre effort last time and she’s better judged on her victory over subsequent winner Stormy Blue two starts ago. MARYS TAPPIN SHOES continues to progress, while easy Manitoba Oaks winner BURROW DOWN is now in the care of Hastings’ handler Cindy Krasner and must be respected.
Possibly asking a lot for AROLLERCOASTERRIDE to win the BC Derby on the back of a Santa Rosa maiden win, but the son of Curlin looked to have a touch of class in that emphatic California victory and, if he handles the track and the step up in distance, can go close. The Godolphin-bred BOITANO signalled his arrival at Hastings from Florida with a rallying third behind Just Jimmy off some slow fractions that would have inconvenienced the son of Nyquist as much as anyone. STORMY BLUE had been operating under the radar but lines-up here on a hat-trick following two eye-catching wins. He will need to improve a little but is going the right way. REGAL RIOT’s magnificent third in the Canadian Derby confirmed his status as one of Hastings’ best 3yos and he should be a serious threat again today. SOARINGFORTHESUN endured a rough race in the Canadian Derby and a repeat of his win over Gunfighter and Regal Riot in the Sir Winston Churchill Stakes would make him a live candidate.
This may well be a shootout between the three class droppers FRANKIE MACHINE, ERLICH and ONE FIFTY ONE. The latter certainly appeals on the back of his most recent start, when a rallying third to Baby Grand in what was a slowly-run affair, and his connections may have had this race in mind for a while. Erlich wasn’t beaten too far when fourth behind Frankie Machine last time, while the victor that day should prove a popular choice to follow up over the novel 9-furlong distance which, while hardly a marathon in the wider racing world, is a half-furlong further than they normally face here at Hastings.
Swift Thoroughbreds Secures Sales Topper
Hip #2 (above), a colt by Kentucky-based sire PRACTICAL JOKE topped the 2022 CTHS Yearling & Mixed Sale when knocked down to Swift Thoroughbreds for $40,000. There was solid business for a reduced catalogue, with only 64 yearlings offered for sale compared to 82 in 2021. As a result, the demand for BC-breds saw an 11% increase in average compared to last year. Fewer horses also saw a 30% jump in median when compared to 12 months ago. There was only one more RNA compared to last year, although as a percentage of a smaller offering, RNAs represented more than 14% of the total catalogue. You can see all the sales results by clicking the blue button.
