Fortune Favours the Bold
We run the rule over another competitive Saturday afternoon's racing at Hastings, as BOLD ARCH looks to make it three wins on the trot in the day's feature Allowance contest
REA MEA has been mixing with classy company again this year and, with a single exception, has been admirably consistent. She split We B Three and Bayakoa’s Image over this distance back in June and a repeat of that, or either of her two most recent efforts, would see her go close. KOALA has three wins this term to match her three last year and she hasn’t missed the board in all five outings this season. The lightly-raced DREAMB makes just her third career start and, while this will obviously be a tougher task than July’s maiden win, she startled the geese with a nice piece of morning work recently and she’s a contender. Stablemate FREESTYLE has also bumped into some of the best fillies around in her quartet of races this term and she’s another whose recent workouts have had the wildlife on red alert.
JOCK TALK gave them a head-start and a beating last time when patiently ridden by Kimal Santo. Once they got to the leaders in deep, deep stretch, the pair looked easily the best on the day and a repeat of that will have everyone checking their rear-view mirrors down the lane. THEREGOESMYHERO had KLIMTOGLORY behind when second to barn-mate Self Serving last time. Relatively lightly-raced, he’s been admirably consistent all year and may still have a little improvement to come. Rider Silvino Morales remains loyal to KLIMTOGLORY at the expense of DONE THAT, who he’s also ridden in all her starts this term, although there’s probably very little between them.
DREAMING D’ORO was the odds-on favourite on her racecourse debut in July but may have bumped into a smart one when chasing home trailblazing Hartley Manor. She was clearly the second best that day, however, and has been working well since. Any normal progress should see her at the heart of matters, although she does have to overcome a less-than-ideal gate position. BAKBURNER is the only other runner with experience, although she made her debut in a Stakes contest and was eased when her chance went. She’ll need to improve but should be a different proposition today. Of the four making their racing debuts, the gelding SHOCK THE HOUSE had been showing up well in the mornings, while SAILINGFORTHSTARS is a well-related sort who may have some zip.
MR MORRIS, a full-brother to multiple Stakes winner Floral, missed the break when second in his debut last month. He probably wouldn’t have troubled the impressive winner T’wasbakintheday, even with a less tardy start, but he should be a big danger here if progressing from that first effort. BECKETT’S BEST couldn’t land a blow behind August Rain and co in last month’s BC Cup Nursery, but was given an easy time of it once his fate was decided and he should be better equipped to make an impact today. Highlights among the four unraced entrants include FOREVER SUMMER, who is out of the former BC Horse of the Year Snuggles and is a half-sister to Stakes-placed, TIME TICKER.
RACINO cut through a crowd like a hot knife through butter last time under Kerron Khelawan to give Hastings Racing Club members one of their biggest thrills of the season. A repeat of that performance may give supporters more to cheer, although this will be a marginally tougher assignment. JERSEY LILLIE had HARLAN’S ANGEL behind when a neck second to Anaamy last month and she will be involved at the sharp end again if replicating that effort. ANOTHERSUNNYDAY was rewarded for her consistency this season with a narrow win last time and is a threat, while ROSE OF TEXAS was an impressive winner two starts ago under Jose Sanchez before bumping into an in-form Racino nect time and she should be thereabouts again.
BOLD ARCH fans were a little concerned about their guy earlier in the season. They need not have worried. He’s looked like his old self again of late and a repeat of his most recent win, when besting today’s rivals JUST JIMMY and SET TO SHINE, would make him the one they have to get past again today. Fellow front-runner Just Jimmy is no slouch. He lines up here on the back of a CTHS Sales Stakes victory and will be a handful as long as he and Bold Arch don’t become embroiled in a throat-cutting duel that may easily become complicated by occasional pacesetter, STORMY BLUE. ‘Stormy’s’ barn-mate SET TO SHINE could be the main beneficiary of any meltdown on the front end.
FILLY FATALE has been first or second in five of her six outings this season and her two most recent wins have come at this distance. She looks nailed-on to hit the board. MISS THE HYPE had AMANDA a length behind when third to Lizzies Girl last time, although AMANDA was making her debut for new connections and having her first run at the distance for more than a year. It wasn’t a bad effort in the circumstances and she can be a bigger threat today. BAKFIRE BABY ran well enough when second to Lizzie’s Girl over this distance two starts ago to suggest she can play a hand, while BAKZONE was just behind that day and has won at this distance previously.
Statistics
Saturday’s Picks
Wintering Program Agreed
TRBC members met recently and approved the inclusion of a Wintering Program for horses who have raced at Hastings over the 2023 season.
The amount of the Wintering Incentive will be $4,000, payable in 2024 for each eligible horse who returns to Hastings for the 2024 Race Season.
Dairen Edwards, President of CTHS BC Division,said: “This is just one of several programs we need to fund in order to grow the BC horse racing industry over the next several years.”
David Milburn and Ole Nielsen from HBPA and BCTOBA respectively, agreed with Dairen’s view.
To be eligible for the Wintering Incentive the horse must meet the attached conditions.
According to TRBC chair Gary Johnson, additional incentives/programs will be announced after we see the preliminary results of discussions with government.
Johnson said: “The TRBC members are fully aware that first and foremost is the need for a long term agreement with government on funding of horse racing. A long term agreement will show there is a future and will add stability to the industry as a whole.”
2023-24 Wintering Program Eligibility
Thoroughbred Racing BC, in recognition of the economic realities of wintering and training lower-level claiming horses, have implemented a plan to provide an incentive of $4,000 CDN for wintering.
Eligibility
Thoroughbreds that make at least one of their last two (2) 2023 starts at Hastings for a claiming price of $8,000 ($10,000 for BC Breds) or less and make their first two starts in 2024 at Hastings at any level.
To remain eligible a horse must not have started at any track other than Hastings between September 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, except for racing at Century Downs after October 15, 2023, to the end of the Century Downs 2023 meet.
The Owner of Record (OOR) is the owner that registered the eligible horse with the Race Secretary and supplies a valid application form.
There is only one OOR for an eligible horse. This means that if the horse gets a different owner, any benefits under this program still owing, will go the original OOR.
Any reference to ‘papers’ includes both paper based and digital records.
An eligible Thoroughbred will need to be stabled at Hastings in 2024 with the intention of racing at the 2024 Hastings Race meet and its papers placed with and accepted by the Hastings Race office by the OOR.
When the horse makes its first start at Hastings in 2024, $2000 will be deposited to the account of the OOR.
When that eligible horse makes its second start at Hastings in 2024, a further $2000 will be deposited to the account of the OOR.
The OOR must agree to leave the horse's papers in the Hastings Race Office until the end of the 2024 Hastings Racing Season and to race the horse exclusively at Hastings Racecourse until the end of the 2024 Hastings Racing.
Repayment of all Wintering Program money received for the horse will release the papers at anytime.
First start must be made by July 1, 2024, unless there are extraordinary circumstances which may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Friday, September 22
New Stride News
