The Big Showdown
A quality field lines up for the Epona Cup to be run at London Bridge on Saturday and a quick look at the runners suggests this race is a showdown between three top age group stables – Angel’s Flight saddles last season’s Great Sphinx winner Bounty Hunter, Manor Park has entered the impressive looking Sires Produce winner Ching Infinity and the in-form Bristol Turks stable is challenging with 3yo Breeders Cup winner Ride The Lightning.
It is impossible to separate these three runners on paper and it promises to be one hell of a showdown!
While the top 3 certainly look to fight it out, there are two others that could quite easily upset the apple cart, namely, Trouble Racing’s Wormwood who looks to be coming on the right way and Sardean’s Morning Poke who never seems to get it right, but always looks threatening.
RECAP: ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 5
12/24/2016
| Pos | Gate | Horse | Stable | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | No Nukes Hanover | Happy Skipper Stable | Chantel Paolello | 1:15.098 |
| 2 | 6 | Wormwood | trouble racing | Jenifer Markve | 1:15.106 |
| 3 | 4 | Ching Infinity | Manor Park Stud | Ali Messenger | 1:15.233 |
| 4 | 2 | Ride The Lightning | Bristol Turks | Bree Vascones | 1:15.610 |
| 5 | 1 | Bounty Hunter | Angel’s Flight | Virgil Vaulet | 1:15.613 |
1. Bounty Hunter |
4yo stallion from Angel’s Flight, Career earnings: $1,496,200 Overall rating: Excellent(61) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by St Simon Racing
Lineage:By Blue Tyndareus out of Athena
Recent form:1,2,1,1,2
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Stable comments: – “Here we go again, last time all these 4yo short runners met Bounty Hunter captured the Great Sphinx and displayed his talents going away handily. Last weekend heat was a duel match once again between Bounty Hunter and Ching Infinity, with Ching getting the nod. We will be ready to go on Saturday and hopefully we can bring our A-game for the final against this talented field. Good luck to all the runners, may the best horse win.”
2. Ride The Lightning |
4yo stallion from Bristol Turks, Career earnings: $1,825,644 Overall rating: Admirable(58) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by Bristol Turks
Lineage:By What A Rush out of Iced Honey
Recent form:2,5,3,3,3
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Stable comments: – “I’m looking forward to this race. Lightning was close but missed out on the opportunities to win another cup last couple of events. I’m hoping pairing him back up with Bree Vascones will do the trick this time. Looks like a very competitive field this so a place would be a great result.”
3. No Nukes Hanover |
4yo stallion from Happy Skipper Stable, Career earnings: $395,000 Overall rating: Admirable(58) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by Happy Skipper Stable
Lineage:By True Blend out of Sanremo
Recent form:4,5,3
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Stable comments: – “Ho Ho ho…Will Santa give us a top 5 finish? Nukes is very coy, but will be fired up at race time. Looking at the field, I think about six horses will have a chance to bring home shiny cup. Let the best horse win! Merry Xmas.”
4. Ching Infinity |
4yo stallion from Manor Park Stud, Career earnings: $1,462,400 Overall rating: Excellent(60) – Early sprinter |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by JEDIMIND
Lineage:By Kushiel out of Jefferson Starship
Recent form:1,1,2,1
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Stable comments: – “Was amazed to win the heat after the start we got. If we repeat that I fear the worst as Angel has his preferred jock back on board. Race really will come down to the start for my chances. Miss it again and I fully expect a repeat of the Sphinx as we all chase home Bounty Hunter.”
5. Morning Poke |
4yo stallion from Sardean Lodge, Career earnings: $631,311 Overall rating: Excellent(60) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by Sardean Lodge
Lineage:By Pocus Hop out of Golden Dawn
Recent form:3,2,3,6,4
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Stable comments: – “Morning Poke has been running really well at home but on raceday; it seems he is being hamstrung by his numpty owner/trainer. I hope he runs well on the weekend.
The race will be a major battle between Bounty Hunter, Ride The Lightning and Ching Infinity. Any one of the 3 can win and it will be a privilege to be able to sit front row in the owners box to watch it unfold.”
6. Wormwood |
4yo gelding from trouble racing, Career earnings: $1,242,911 Overall rating: Excellent(61) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by trouble racing
Lineage:By Universal Blitz out of Hint Chamakh
Recent form:3,1,3,1,1
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Stable comments: – “Simple equation for Wormwood, finish in front of Angel’s and Manor’s runners and win the cup!! Will be stables greatest achievement so far if he can get up on Saturday.”
7. Tugiri Snip Bongo |
4yo stallion from Fire Stud Farms, Career earnings: $347,000 Overall rating: Reasonable(54) – Fast finisher |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by New Brentford Farms
Lineage:By Sparkle Wise out of Blue Aglaea
Recent form:7,9,1,5
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Stable comments: – “I am not giving him much training this week. Plus a lot of vets. I have not raced him a lot. Trying to bring him along slowly, now he needs to step up his game. I am giving a longer rest the next race and see if that helps him with speed to come home. I believe I can do great things with him, just have to up everything especially more racing.”
8. Centennial Manly |
4yo stallion from Julian Manor, Career earnings: $932,836 Overall rating: Admirable(55) – Competitive |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by JEDIMIND
Lineage:By Kushiel out of The Powder Hound
Recent form:2,3,1,1,2
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Stable comments: – “Centennial Manly is slightly behind the best horses of his age, so I’m not expecting him to be a contender for the win. However, his run in the heats was very strong, so I believe a top 5 finish is a realistic target.”
9. Piperdam |
4yo stallion from Cape Hall, Career earnings: $625,963 Overall rating: Reasonable(54) |
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Bred by:Unknown origins, birthdate Fri 1st Apr 2016
Lineage:Breeding history unknown
Recent form:11,4,2,3,5
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Stable comments: – “
10. Beka Cooper |
4yo mare from Speed Breed, Career earnings: $811,110 Overall rating: Admirable(58) – Stalker |
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Born:Fri 1st Apr 2016, bred by Speed Breed
Lineage:By Hilikus Coop out of Brienne Of Tarth
Recent form:7,3,2,5,4
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Stable comments: – “Beka Cooper hasn’t been able to win big races so far. Is this the race she’ll change that? Odds are: No, but you never know. Track condition will be good or fast on race day, if Beka can be trailing closely behind after the 3rd quarter, maybe she has a chance.”