Sunday's Previews
A valuable allowance contest, featuring last season's BC Derby runner-up, is the highlight of a highly-competitive Sunday card at Hastings
While it’s not totally clear where the pace might come from in the opener, BABY GRAND has won gate-to-wire previously and his opponents will need to ensure he doesn’t sneak off too far if allowed the lead. DRILLER rallied well to finish fourth behind Valuable Cowboy on his debut and this represents a drop in class for the veteran. He’s the one they have to beat. The consistent JUVEE TOO is as tough as they come and lines up here on the back of a win last month.
This looks like a perfect opportunity for UNION MAN to get off the mark after mixing it it in tougher company than he faces here. BARBERRY BANDIT should strip fitter after his season debut last month and a repeat of his final appearance last season, when third to Don W, puts him in the frame. BORROWED EQUITY ran well enough behind Force to Rekn With on his racing debut last month to suggest he can be involved here.
Traffic may need to fall right for BOITANO, who performed admirably on his season debut when third behind Soaringforthesun, but he should be a different proposition over the 8½-furlong course. AROLLERCOASTERRIDE suffered a bit of ‘seconditis’ last season, but those extremely narrow defeats included the BC Derby and the BC Premiers H’Cap and he will take some stopping here. STORMY BLUE is another who should relish the additional real estate today after two solid second-place finishes over shorter distances already this season.
Dual Stakes winner LOVEABOVEANDBEYOND dips her hooves into the claiming ranks proper for the first time here and, although she goes up against older horses, a repeat of pretty much any of her previous four starts should be good enough. The consistent COCORITA has had plenty of racing over the winter and has adapted well to the demands of the Hastings’ bullring, with two third-place finishes so far. FILLY FATALE won on her season debut but then bumped into the runaway winner Lucky Force next time and is another for the shortlist.
AQUITANA ARRIVAL makes his Hastings debut and has been testing clock-watchers’ reflexes in the mornings. He’s been off for more than a year, however, so his match fitness and ability handle the unique demands of the East Van bullring will need to be taken on trust. JOCK TALK is another import making his track debut. The lightly-raced 4yo won at the first time of asking at Turf Paradise in January and was then third on his only other start in March. He’ll be fit and the barn is in form. ROOKIE YEAR ran in Edmonton for most of last season after being claimed out of Turf Paradise and is another making his track debut. He won at this level last June and must be respected.
The Condilenios barn has been rampant this spring and he may hold the key here with FOOT SOLDIER and I’M A CHI TOO, both of whom have recent form good enough to land this. Foot Soldier beat his barn-mate a length when they clashed on opening weekend, before going on to run the tough Juvee Too close next time, while I’m a Chi Too then beat Eye B Seeing You a length with subsequent winner Makeitorbreakit back in third. KNOPFLER has been close enough in both starts this season to suggest he is also a major contender.
DEANARROW was well supported on his season debut and only just missed, going down by a nose to There Goes My Hero. This is just his third lifetime start and he may have a little more improvement in him than some of the others. MILO’S COMMAND drops a few levels here and a repeat of his third on opening weekend would see him go very close, while WELLSLEY also adjusts his sights and is another for the shortlist.
Statistics
Sunday’s Picks
Epsom Derby Review
A particularly significant Epsom Derby this year, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner the first son of the late, great Japanese sire, DEEP IMPACT (Sunday Silence) to land a European Classic. O’Brien’s post-race interview is well worth listening to as he puts the importance of AUGUSTE RODIN’s victory into context.
