Victoria Day Previews
Victoria Day Previews
The third race, a $22,000 Fillies' and Mares' Allowance contest, is the feature event on an exciting seven-race holiday-Monday card at Hastings
ENGLISH BAY TEDDY wasn’t beaten far when fourth behind Dancing With Lil on his second career outing last October. The three-year-old wouldn’t have to show much improvement on that effort to win here. DYNAMITER bumped into some useful sorts in all four of his starts last season, but the four-year-old maiden may need to show a little more if he is to take this. SHE’S ON FIRE had JERSEYS IMAGE behind her in the third of her three races last fall and, with the barn having an impressive winner on Saturday, cannot be dismissed.
DON W’s third behind Foot Soldier on opening day laid down a marker his rivals will need to match here if they are to beat the consistent gelding. BROKE AN BROKEN is an interesting import from Woodbine, although his two wins last season came at 8½-furlongs and he will need to show he’s adapted to both the track and the surface. Like Don W, COCORITA has the advantage of a previous start this season and her third behind Silk Stilettos at this level puts her on the shortlist. Meanwhile, both SHARPZAN and ONE FIFTY ONE performed well enough at a higher level than this last year to suggest they can mix it in this company.
KAPALUA CANDY runs for the first time in a year after her breakout 9½-length maiden victory proved to be her one and only outing last term. She’s clearly talented, but so are most of her rivals today. Stablemate VIVA LA VINO and MARYS TAPPIN SHOES were third and fourth respectively in last season’s BC Oaks and took on top-class opposition all year; while experienced mare OSTRACIZE hit the board more often than not in 2022 and is not here to make the numbers up. A repeat of ALOBRAH’s fourth to Belcarra Park last September would also put her in the mix.
LASTING LIGHT has been working well and had KANDY KATIE and HARLAN’S ANGEL behind her when chasing home Jersey Lillie earlier this month. All three have solid claims here. BAKZONE was in the same race as the other three but was further behind and will need to show more. The same applies to IMA DAREDEVIL, whose first foray at Hastings, after being brought in from Woodbine over the winter, saw her finish fifth at a marginally higher level than she faces today. ANIMA rarely lets anyone down and could easily hit the board.
TAPITS CHOICE, BAK TO LIBERTY, MAGIC ROAD, UNION MAN and ROAD CLOSURE all renew rivalry here after chasing home Bakken Overdrive two weeks ago. The form of that race received quite a boost on Saturday when the winner followed-up in some style in Allowance company. A half-brother to Horse of the Year, Infinite Patience, Bak to Liberty ran only in Stakes company last season, gave Bakken Overdrive plenty to think about a fortnight ago and his maiden victory cannot be far away. ROAD CLOSURE, meanwhile, is a winner masquerading as a maiden after his narrow win over the useful Time Ticker and Military Cross last September saw him lose out in the stewards’ room.
LICORICE couldn’t land a blow on impressive stablemate Bunny two weeks ago, but had FREESTYLE behind her in third and both look to be major players here. Freestyle was away slowly and did well to rally into third and could easily reverse the placings with Licorice. ARUNDEL CASTLE was well behind Licorice and Freestyle last time, but she is usually seen finishing late and fast and may well be closer this afternoon. CHI CHI’S SONG wasn’t beaten too far on the second of her two starts last year and she is worth keeping an eye on.
DRILLER takes a marginal drop in class here and his third behind Shotgun Rider and today’s rival TIZ VICIOUS on his seasonal reappearance should put him where he needs to be fitness wise. Tiz Vicious handled his first attempt on the Hastings’ bullring well enough and was race fit following a winter campaign at Golden Gate. He still has questions to answer at this distance, however. VALUABLE COWBOY hasn’t left too many questions unanswered in the mornings, recording four bullet times in his five previous workouts. He was fourth behind Shotgun Rider and co., finished off last season with two wins and needs to be on the shortlist.
Victoria Day Picks
HISA Drug Program Launches Monday
2023 YUSHUN HIMBA (JAPANESE OAKS) (G1) Replay
Japan racing has another superstar on its hands after a sensational Japan Oaks (G1) win by LIBERTY ISLAND. The winner of the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas-G1) will now aim to complete the ‘Triple Tiara’ by heading for the Shuka Sho in October. Liberty Island’s six-length winning margin was the biggest since 1975. You can read all about Liberty Island’s pedigree by clicking the Asian Racing Report link below…
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines, Monday May 22
