Sunday's Previews
Seven fiendishly difficult puzzles to solve on another cracking afternoon's card of racing at Hastings
Sunday, September 17
LUCKY FORCE switches back to sprinting here following two solid Stakes efforts over the mile-and-sixteenth course. He’s been ultra-consistent all season and his 11-length demolition of rivals back in May was one of the season’s highlights. He’s the one they have to beat. ROCKCLIFFE showed signs of a revival in fortune when third in last month’s CTHS Sales Stakes. He’s also dropping back in distance, although it’s not as clear it will suit him as much as Lucky Force. INDYETTA goes for a remarkable fifth win of the season. She had today’s rival TIME TICKER behind last time and, while this represents as tough an assignment as she’s been given all year, she will certainly make her presence felt.
ADDENDUM ran respectably enough when chasing them home in just her second run of the season. This looks a sterner task but, although she has yet to run over the 8½-furlong course, she may be better suited to the distance than some of her rivals. EBONY EYES won her maiden convincingly enough before bumping into some top-drawer fillies next time in the CTHS Sales Stakes. The distance remains an unanswered question but the company should be easier to deal with. ALOBRAH’s only effort over this trip also resulted in a beatdown, but it was also at Stakes level. Her front-running style may also be an issue over further but she’s definitely talented enough to be a major danger.
EARS TO US has been solid all season without winning. He had rival EH TEE EM behind when going down by a head two starts ago. He’ll probably be close to the front throughout and it’s hard not to see him playing a major role. SOMTHING ELUSIVE makes a rapid reappearance after going gate-to-wire just seven days ago. If he’s recovered, he’ll be a contender. ROAD CLOSURE, meanwhile, drops significantly in class and is the one they have to beat.
VIVA LA VINO had BELCARRA PARK and REA MEA behind when winning last time. She’s been solid all year against good horses and she should be at the heart of affairs again today. Barn-mate KAPALUA CANDY has landed two of her three races this season. On her only unplaced effort, she was fourth behind the smart Shamra and ‘La Vino’ and that effort alone makes her a ‘must have’ on the shortlist. DAPHNE has been out of action since last September and is clearly entitled to need the outing. However, she was smart performer last term and will be a big danger if anywhere near full fitness.
TEXAS LEGACY has hit the board in all bar one of her seven outings this season. The mare went down by just a neck last time (with DRILL BABY DRILL behind) and, prior to that, got up late to land the spoils under today’s rider Fraser Aebly. Hard not to see her heavily involved again this afternoon. PENALTY TO RANGERS had PERFECT PENNY behind when a nose second to Island Living two starts ago and this represents a small step down in class on that run and she’ll go close if repeating the standard
BELLAROO’s three wins this season have come at this level or lower and she looks like the one they’ll have to overcome again here. She had LASTING LIGHT just behind when winning last time and, while there’s not much between them on paper, ‘Bell’ seems to find a way when she needs to. Lasting Light is certainly talented enough but has yet to visit the winner’s this season and is certainly due a win. QUALITY COMMAND lost out by only a head last time in an arguably tougher contest than she tackles here and is definitely in the mix.
This represents a few steps down the class ladder for MS STANFORD. She wasn’t too far away when third to Ebony Eyes last time and this appears to be a good opportunity for her to get off the mark. Barn-mate ELLAMEISETER drops back to sprinting after a bad day at the office last time over further. She also drops in class significantly and has recent form that would make her a serious threat if she can replicate the effort. C C SUNRISE also returns to sprints after a solid second over further last time.
Sunday’s Picks
Master of the Seas is the Boss of Woodbine Mile
By: JENNIFER MORRISON | September 16, 2023
He’s described as ‘high maintenance’ and ‘not the most forward’ horse but MASTER OF THE SEAS (Ire) easily flew by five rivals in Saturday’s Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1), earning a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November. The Godolphin homebred by Dubawi (Ire) – Firth of Lorne (Ire) by Danehill was the eighth straight Grade 1 winner in North America for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Oh, and just 30 minutes earlier, Appleby trainee Eternal Hope won the Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks at ‘Belmont at Aqueduct’.
Master of the Seas was sent off at 2 to 5 in the Woodbine Mile, seeking to duplicate his stablemate Modern Games’ easy win in the Mile a year ago before going on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile…
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Sunday, September 17
