Sunday's Previews
A valuable Allowance contest headlines a very competitive Sunday afternoon's racing at Hastings, with only one of the seven heats scheduled to go off with fewer than six runners
FINDING WAYS had TIZ VICIOUS behind when winning two starts ago and then followed up with a professional third to Aquitania Arrival and Stormy Blue last time. He goes for his fourth win of the season and his rivals will need to get past the perennial frontrunner to win. RACING RIVER goes for a fourth consecutive win after rattling off a hat-trick of victories since the beginning of July. This represents a small step up in class for the six-year-old, but the barn clearly have him in excellent form and he’s certainly in the mix. KOALA is another looking for a fourth win of the year and she lines up here after narrowly besting Quality Command and makes her first appearance for connections since being claimed. A repeat of class-dropping I’M CORFU’s excellent third to Bold Arch two starts ago would make him a serious threat.
A three-time winner already this season, the classy STAY FANTASTIC settled in behind a strong pace last time before quickening-up smartly under Amadeo Perez, passing today’s rival STORMY BLUE and seeing off a late, late challenge by WISELY PLAYED. They went plenty quick enough that day and Stormy Blue did well in the circumstances after being on the sharp end for much of the race. ROOKIE YEAR has been running in the best company for much of the season and this represents a marginally less onerous challenge. He was beaten just a length by At Attention two starts ago and a repeat of that performance would make him a big threat.
OSTRACIZE drops onto the bottom rung after a solid third behind Silk Stilettos last time. She’s been swimming in deeper waters than she faces here and a repeat of that last effort should put her close again. Veteran war horse ACE DEUCE bagged his 15th career win when beating VANCOUVER’S HUNTER last time over today’s distance. The form was boosted when ‘Vancouver’ won next time out, albeit back over the 6½ furlongs. He did win over this distance last year, however, and there’s probably not much between them. DYNAMITER has won both his races over the distance this season and drops back down in class after failing to fire on his first run for new connections since being claimed. He should be closer today.
TONTO has been off since making his career debut back in June. He was a promising third behind Bak to Liberty and Magic Road that day, however, and this would be well within his grasp if he can reproduce that level of performance today. SOMTHING ELUSIVE makes his first appearance for new connections since being snagged at the claim box following a close-up third to Magic Road. He’s been knocking on the door of a first win for some time and should have plenty of support to finally break his maiden at the 12th attempt. DAPPER DON has steadily improved throughout the season after a lengthy absence previously. A repeat of his neck second to Milo’s Command last time make him a contender. DEANARROW had ‘Dapper’ behind in both his most recent starts. He’s hit the board in five of six efforts this term and it will probably be six of seven when this one’s over.
There was much to like about the way KIKI’S SUNDANCER skipped clear of his pursuers on just the second run of his career. He held a near seven-length advantage when crossing the line and, while his ability to perform equally well at the mile-and-sixteenth distance will need to be taken on trust, he didn’t seem to be stopping. TUXEDO had STOPSHOPPINGSHELLY just behind when second to Filly Fatale in July and has run creditably in both starts since then. He’s proven at the distance and should be a major factor again here. JOCK TALK was close enough behind Tuxedo when they chased home Jerseys Image in August to suggest he’s a danger. MOUNT LOKI, meanwhile, didn’t appear to relish the 11-furlong stamina test last time and is better judged on his maiden win at today’s distance in July when he bested Deanarrow and Somthing Elusive. He has to go on the list.
LOGICAL AL had ENGLISH BAY TEDDY and BETTER TONE behind when winning by almost four lengths last month. He looks a worthy favourite, although this is certainly no ‘gimme’. BAK TO LIBERTY was a little unfortunate to be disqualified from first place two starts ago when comfortably besting today’s rival, AZOV SEA. He then bit off more than he could chew in the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial last time and should be a much bigger threat back at this level. JERSEYS IMAGE makes his first start for new connections since being claimed after last month’s win over today’s rival SILARONE.
FAMILY BIZ was third to GOOD BYE PUTIN and AVE’S IN COMMAND three weeks ago and makes his first start for the Craig MacPherson barn since being claimed out of that race. All three have major chances again here in what looks a wide-open finale. Y VEE R had Wisely Played and Logical AL behind him when winning three starts ago. Since then, he’s disappointed twice at Emerald Downs but should be a different proposition back on familiar ground. A repeat anywhere near his win would make him the one they have to beat here. COUNTRY COWBOY also has winning form this season in better company than he faces here, although he’s yet to finish better than third in five attempts at this distance.
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