Magnificent Monday
Magnificent Monday
Don't like Mondays? Think again! Monday is CTHS Sales Stakes day at Hastings, with four $50,000 contests taking centre stage on a fascinating seven-race card. What a way to start the week!
DIOCLES made up an impressive amount of ground to run AUGUST RAIN to a head in the BC Cup Nursery Stakes three weeks ago on what was his career debut. He’s unlikely to be as far back today and will take some stopping if he progresses even a little on that excellent first effort. PISCO got caught on the front end through some overly-eager early fractions in Diocles’ race and understandably weakened from the top of the straight. He should be a different proposition today. August Rain was also impressive; sitting on Pisco’s shoulder throughout and staying on resolutely to just see off the late challenge. NORTHERN FORCE trailed in behind today’s three rivals last time but is clearly well regarded enough by connections to take another shot today and should improve on his debut.
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #37 is a BAKKEN half-brother to DIOCLES*
Debutante DAZ LIN FORCE, the first foal out of former Horse of the Year, Daz Lin Dawn, has been alarming the wildlife in the mornings and will have plenty of fans. But experience counts for a lot with two-year-olds and LIZZIE’S RAYNE is making her third start of the campaign. She dealt comfortably with DONNA WYN in the BC Cup Debutante Stakes last time, powering 4-lengths clear down the stretch, and looks an obvious threat today. FLYING MISS is a full-sister to Miss Finality, who was second in this race a few years back. That was on sis’s third start, however - Flying Miss makes her debut here and faces a challenging first day at work. FEBRUARY is another debutante. She was an expensive CTHS Yearling Sale graduate, has had plenty of work and, on breeding alone, could easily be a danger.
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #17 is a COUNTERFORCE full-sister to DAZ LIN FORCE*
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #39 is a RALIS half-brother to DONNA WYN*
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #18 is a RALIS half-sister to FEBRUARY*
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #36 is a BAKKEN half-sister to FLYING MISS*
Six unraced juveniles take their first tentative steps in the racing arena. Both WEALTHY TEXAN’s sire and dam won on their racing debuts and he’s been working well enough in the mornings to suggest he can play a key role. T’WASBAKKENTHEDAY is a half-brother to recent winner Tobesunny and has shown a little speed in the mornings. MR MORRIS is a full-brother to former Supernaturel Stakes winner, Floral, as well as another couple of multiple winners; while NU SOUP FOR BABY is a half-brother to winners Nine Oclock Ceaser and Bennys Button. NU BLEND is the only filly in the race and will have to overcome the wide draw. However, she’s been working well and is out of a three-time Hastings winner. Finally, SWEETSTRUTTINEDDIE is a half-brother to Hastings’ winner, Silarone.
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #54 is a RALIS full-brother to SWEETSTRUTTINEDDIE*
MATSQUI gave the wonderful Air Force a nervous moment when rallying late into second place in last month’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap Stakes. That was the best performance of the tough filly’s career so far and she is a real danger if able to repeat. SHAMRA has been outstanding this season and returns to Hastings following a solid fourth-place finish at Century Mile in the equivalent of this CTHS Sales race. A repeat of her comfortable win prior to that, when putting three lengths on Rea Mea and Pretty Aria, make her a worthy favourite. Normally produced late with a rattling challenge, ARUNDEL CASTLE’s only win came when making every yard of the running. That’s an unlikely scenario today, given the class of race, but she teams up with Antonio Reyes for the first time and is no pushover. EBONY EYES was impressive when winning her maiden earlier this month but this is a very different challenge. She’s still lightly raced, however, and there may be more to come if she enjoys her first effort over 8½ furlongs. LICORICE finished behind both Matsqui and Arundel Castle when they met over this distance two starts ago.
Much will depend on how quickly they go through the early stages here. WISELY PLAYED is normally produced late and has gone down narrowly to the smart Stay Fantastic in both his previous starts. However, if JUST JIMMY gets a comfortable time on, or near, the front end, he will take a lot of stopping. ROCKLIFFE has lost his way a little since being claimed in July but a repeat of his third to Luck Force and Legacy Square in the Ross McLeod Stakes in June would make things interesting. Lightly raced EMPEROROFTHENORTH overcame some rough traffic to comfortably win his maiden last time and looks a progressive sort who should handle the distance. COUNTERACT also takes on the 8½ furlongs for the first time and gives every indication he’ll be suited by it; although he will probably need to improve again to take this.
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #25 is a COUNTERFORCE half-brother to ROCKCLIFFE*
*CTHS SALE UPDATE: Hip #21 is a COUNTERFORCE half-brother to EMPEROROFTHENORTH*
FILLY FATALE returns to the class and distance that saw her win gate-to-wire last time and a repeat of that effort should see her go very close again. SILVER ARROW had PEACEHAVEN behind in fourth when winning last time, while something close to DONE THAT’s third behind Harlan’s Angel and Anima two starts ago would make her a big danger. TOBESUNNY hasn’t run over this distance since 2021, but that was a second-place finish in way deeper waters than she faces here and she’s only missed the board once in five starts this season. VISENYA makes her first start for connections since being claimed last time. She’s another who has won at this distance in a better class, although she will need to improve on her three efforts so far this term.
HE’S GOLDEN made a perfectly acceptable debut when a staying-on fifth earlier this month and should be a different proposition at this class level in a race that may not take a lot of winning. DAPPER DON missed three seasons before reappearing this spring and returns to 6½ furlongs after fading late over the mile-and-sixteenth last time. He can be involved at the business end if repeating that standard. SHE’S ON FIRE looks the main danger and this is good opportunity for her to lose the maiden tag after a narrow third last time in a similar event. MILO’S COMMAND has hit the board in three of his five races this term. His last effort wasn’t him and can probably be ignored. He’s one for the shortlist.
Monday’s Picks
Prince Takes King’s Plate
TORONTO, August 20, 2023 – Paramount Prince, under jockey Patrick Husbands, bested filly stablemate Elysian Field, both conditioned by dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse, in the 164th running of the $1 million King’s Plate, Sunday at Woodbine.
Last time out in the Plate Trial, Husbands put Paramount Prince on the front end and the pair coasted to an impressive five-length score in the 1 1/8-mile Tapeta event on July 23.
On Sunday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd, it was déjà vu as rider and horse took control from the outset and never looked back en route to another splendid wire-to-wire triumph.
Paramount Prince and Husbands continued to call the shots through a half in :47.41, one length in front of Silent Miracle, while looking comfortable and full of energy as they arrived two lengths on top at three-quarters in 1:11.81.
Straightening for home, the son of Society’s Chairman-Platinum Steel kicked it into another gear and dashed away from his pursuers as Elysian Field, winner of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, picked up the chase and tried in vain to collar the leader.
Ahead by 1 ½ lengths at the stretch call, Paramount Prince crossed the line ahead by the same margin. Elysian Field finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Stanley House, while Velocitor was fourth. Kalik, the slight 4-1 choice, was thirteenth.
The final time for the mile and a quarter on the Tapeta was 2:01.93, not far off the record 2:01.48 posted by last year’s Plate winner Moira.
Husbands, who has posted over 3,600 wins over his illustrious career, felt confident coming into the race.
CTHS Yearling & Mixed Sale — Online Catalogue
