Play It Carefully
It often pays to follow jockey-trainer combinations. That’s the route we are going with in the Pegasus Plate at London Bridge Racecourse on Saturday where the red-hot RCS Locos-Wayne Kinker juggernaut face up to some equally in-form stables over 1700m. Stable well-being and jockey confidence are worth a good few lengths on any race day and this past Saturday’s heat meeting was living proof that when you are hot, you’re hot. Shadow Warrior is a gutsy sort, who seldom runs a bad race. His last run in the Jewel Of The Mile can be excused, as the midget on top had a mind of his own.
3-time World Cup winner Ajax looks in good nick, the son of What A Rush won the Jewel Of The Mile in great style last time when beating most of the runners in this race. Secret Pharaoh has been one of the most consistent runners to trainer Dixon Racing’s yard, never finishing out of the 1st three placings in his last nine starts. He is better off with his conqueror of last time, whom he meets again here. On Saturday he just could shed his bridesmaid tag in cup finals.
Herculaneum, who runs for the Barcarolle yard, has been very competitive in his last few races. Another bold showing is expected. Idea Cafe Stink is one classy mare and capable enough to win this race. Nealan and Just About Square, has been thereabouts in cup finals, so would need to be at their best to produce the goods. Dunedin Star, the Desert Wind runner is an honest and consistent performer who is always in the mix. She should go very close here.
Queeg, Jez We Can and Left Turn Ahead all has claims and could surprise.
It is a very competitive little race and should prove an entertaining spectacle.
RECAP: ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 5
09/24/2016
| Pos | Gate | Horse | Stable | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Shadow Warrior | RCS Locos | Wayne Kinker | 1:40.281 |
| 2 | 10 | Left Turn Ahead | Chaotic Neutral | Tabitha Shiyou | 1:40.299 |
| 3 | 2 | Secret Pharaoh | Dixon Racing | Emmie Assad | 1:40.599 |
| 4 | 8 | Just About Square | Get Square Lodge | Maya Heier | 1:40.813 |
| 5 | 6 | Idea Cafe Stink | ghanainternational | Josette Cilek | 1:40.931 |
1. Ajax |
5yo stallion from captaincrusoe, Career earnings: $2,846,122 Overall rating: Grand(65) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 9th Oct 2015, bred by captaincrusoe
Lineage:By What A Rush out of Blue Cassandra
Recent form:8,3,1,1,1
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Stable comments: – “This will be Ajax’s toughest race. I have a new jockey on board and he will have some big shoes to fill.”
2. Secret Pharaoh |
5yo stallion from Dixon Racing, Career earnings: $1,966,711 Overall rating: Grand(66) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 23rd Oct 2015, bred by Dixon Racing
Lineage:By Ozymandias out of Secret Scandal
Recent form:3,2,2,2,1
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Stable comments: – “Secret Pharaoh has had an almost perfect preparation for this cup, if the going turns dead, he will only need to beat his old time foe Ajax, but Pharaoh is one who is hoping to ‘clean up’ on Saturday”
3. Herculaneum |
5yo stallion from Barcarolle, Career earnings: $1,080,000 Overall rating: Grand(67) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 23rd Oct 2015, bred by Dixon Racing
Lineage:By Sharpnwise out of Secret Rapture
Recent form:1,2,1,4,4
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Stable comments: – “Pegasus Plate looks to be a strong line up this year with many chances. Basing the tips on a good track I would consider both Secret Pharaoh and Ajax the horses to beat. My runner Herculaneum looks better suited with a lot more cut in the ground but will be coming home very late. Of the other runners Idea Cafe Stink could cause the upset if allowed to dictate the race in the middle stages. Good luck to all runners, should be a corker of a race.”
4. Shadow Warrior |
5yo stallion from RCS Locos, Career earnings: $2,234,800 Overall rating: Excellent(63) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 9th Oct 2015, bred by Manor Park Stud
Lineage:By Sharpnwise out of Gallamist
Recent form:6,1,5,2,1
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Stable comments: – “I’m hoping the Pairing of Shadow Warrior with Wayne Kinker will produce another cup and should be around the mark. There are several runners to be fearful of, were just hoping for some more sunshine.”
5. Jez We Can |
5yo stallion from Lozzy Stables, Career earnings: $678,480 Overall rating: Excellent(61) – Breakaway |
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Born:Fri 9th Oct 2015, bred by Lozzy Stables
Lineage:By Gone Nuclear out of Scarlet Brigade
Recent form:1,5,7,3,3
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Stable comments: – “The final of the Pegasus Plate looks ultra competitive this year and Jez We Can represents Lozzy Stables. He was a foetal 5 who has had 12 hours training per week since his birth and is bred for medium distances and won a local cup the Common Cause as a two year old. He is the highest rated five year old horse the yard has ever owned, however he has always found world cup competition very tough. Much depends on the going as he needs it good, but realistically he is likely to finish closer to last than first. No idea who will win but if it goes slow then one of the mudlarks will probably take it.”
6. Idea Cafe Stink |
5yo mare from ghanainternational, Career earnings: $1,728,241 Overall rating: Grand(65) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 2nd Oct 2015, bred by M B UNITED FC
Lineage:By Sonic Blur out of Rican Manatee
Recent form:1,2,3,6,2
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Stable comments: – “The conditions maybe a bit to fast for Cafe, however, I expect top 3-5 place.”
7. Nealan |
5yo stallion from Speed Breed, Career earnings: $1,550,280 Overall rating: Admirable(59) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 2nd Oct 2015, bred by Speed Breed
Lineage:By Canus Sharif out of Irene Adler
Recent form:2,2,1,1,2
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Stable comments: – “Nealan shouldn’t be a favorite, but shouldn’t be ruled out either. He’s looking to make his mark on the world and a win would accomplish that.”
8. Just About Square |
5yo stallion from Get Square Lodge, Career earnings: $1,086,500 Overall rating: Admirable(59) – Early sprinter |
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Born:Fri 2nd Oct 2015, bred by Get Square Lodge
Lineage:By Gemstone Ranga out of Cashy Icefall
Recent form:4,3,3,1,2
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Stable comments: – “Running for the experience it looks, but you neverknow….”
9. Dunedin Star |
5yo mare from Desert Wind Stables, Career earnings: $1,141,311 Overall rating: Excellent(63) – Competitive |
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Born:Fri 9th Oct 2015, bred by Desert Wind Stables
Lineage:By Straight Liner out of Urban Sea
Recent form:3,1,1,3,3
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Stable comments: – “Place would be nice but not hoping for much more.”
10. Left Turn Ahead |
5yo mare from Chaotic Neutral, Career earnings: $712,429 Overall rating: Excellent(61) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 2nd Oct 2015, bred by flying spurs
Recent form:3,3,1,1,1
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Stable comments: – “I had this cup in mind for Left Turn Ahead to compete for the win, but alas, I botched the recovery process. So I doubt she’ll be able to challenge. I’m expecting bottom half but dream of a top 5 finish. Many horses are very close in strength. Several have run the qualifiers very cleverly, keeping energy expenditure to a minimum while disguising true speed. Although I’d usually discount muddies on such a track, Idea Cafe Stink looks able to take a solid stab at the cup. At the end of the day, freshness going in and track position in the last corner are going to be the key. If Dunedin Star is still part of the leading horses entering the final straight, her competitive style may just be enough to challenge the fast finishers who I personally think should have a slight edge. On the other hand, Lozzy is a great trainer who could make Jez We Can‘s breakaway style leave them all in the dust.”
11. Queeg |
5yo stallion from 5 Card Stud, Career earnings: $2,553,348 Overall rating: Excellent(63) – Mud-lark |
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Born:Fri 2nd Oct 2015, bred by GOLDCASH
Lineage:By Payed out of Ghabriella Choice
Recent form:2,2,3,1,4
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Stable comments: – “Queeg was very disappointing in his qualifier and like all good owners I blamed the jockey and sacked him at a cost of $250,000. The ground had been a suitably soft for the qualifier but it changed a day or so before and this hindered his chances. If it were to go soft for the final I would expect a strong showing so I am hopeful rather than confident considering some of the notable stables I am up against.”