The Ascot Vale Cup – 15th April 2017

Ascot Vale

Faster Master

A highly competitive group of runners line up for the Ascot Vale, over 1200m on the Saturday. The majority won or placed at their last start, so there is form and ratings to rely on. The field is loaded with some diverse speed talent and an upset result is on the cards.

One of the top rated ones is Heathens, winner last season of the Golden Slipper from the Allison Racing stable, she will be on a mission to build on his reputation and add further to his already impressive stud-value.

Black Sabbath hails from the Bristol Turks stable and showed top-class pace when just run out of it late in the Golden Slipper. He looks to improve on his three seconds in his career so far. He is fit and ready, and this could be his moment.

Burl Ottosen takes the reins on Queen Of Shades who comes in with a big ask on the handicap, but is loaded with class and speed. The daughter of The Queen’s Affair ran a cracker at her only start when running second to Euphoria last Saturday.

Ezekiel Flyer had his first outing for the flying spurs stable in the Sunday heat, where he finished second. There was little wrong with the effort and he may deserve another chance – if fully recovered. Local hope Lucy In The Sky has shown good form at his last few runs and has beaten Heathens and Black Sabbath earlier on in his career. 

Top rated and heat winner last Saturday, Moonlight Special is in good form, and he also has a big chance of challenging for honours. Euphoria is very effective on this surface and appears to be ahead of the handicapper – and ready to win his first world cup.

Kattegat travels from Tallin Song. The son of I’ve Soiled Myself is quick and could handle the plunge. Kralice has drawn rather wide but comes in with an outside chance on her very best form. Wrecking Ball runs for the junior’s farms stable, and has always been close to the action, do not leave him out of any permutations.

Race field

# Form Horse Stable Jockey Final Odds
1 2,2,2 Black Sabbath Bristol Turks Bree Vascones N/A
2 3,1,5 Heathens Allison Racing Tashia Bichoupan N/A
3 2 Queen Of Shades Ezulwini !Burl Ottosen! N/A
4 1,2,2 Ezekiel Flyer flying spurs Natashia Stenslien N/A
5 1,2,4,4,4 Lucy In The Sky Hareeba Willow Williams N/A
6 1,3,5,1 Moonlight Special Moonlight Stables !Kayleen Emperor! N/A
7 1 Euphoria RCS Locos Shanta Trautman N/A
8 5,4,3 Kattegat New Scotland Yard Adena Quinnie N/A
9 4,8,5 Kralice Yorulmaz Chase Roddy N/A
10 1 Arcadia Jazzman Racing Stripes !Elli Weingard! N/A
11 23,1,4,8 Ashur Mount Olympus Stable Shantel Scholfield N/A
12 8,1,3,3 Wrecking Ball junior’s farms Karl Wasmuth N/A
13 2,15,1,3 Queen Of Meereen WWE STUD Peter North N/A

 

1. Black Sabbath

3yo colt from Bristol Turks, Career earnings: $656,950
Overall rating: Acceptable(42) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 27th Jan 2017, bred by Bristol Turks
Lineage:By Smoke On The Water out of Starlett

Stable comments: -“I’m really looking forward to this race. Black Sabbath was close last time in Slipper and I think I may have addressed the issue. His run in the heat was fine, with ground dead I didn’t really expect any better.
Hopefully Bree Vascones will be able to get the best out of him in the final.”

2. Heathens

3yo colt from Allison Racing, Career earnings: $928,150
Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Troublemaker’s

Stable comments: -“

3. Queen Of Shades

3yo filly from Ezulwini, Career earnings: $130,000
Overall rating: Acceptable(40) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Ezulwini

Stable comments: -“Queen of Shades performed really well in the heat, which was encouraging. She will have a new jockey on board for the final, though, so it’s difficult to know what to expect. It looks like Heathens and Euphoria will be tough to beat.”

4. Ezekiel Flyer

3yo colt from flying spurs, Career earnings: $236,832
Overall rating: Acceptable(42) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Reds Breeding Stud
Lineage:By Cyan Gates out of Lady’s Secret

Stable comments: -“New addition to the stable and had a reasonable first start. I carry no great expectations into the final. If fit I hope he put in a good show, but likely be as 4yo he might shine.”

5. Lucy In The Sky

3yo filly from Hareeba, Career earnings: $969,150
Overall rating: Acceptable(42) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Hareeba
Lineage:By Morpheus out of Spanish Mix

Stable comments: -“Lucy will appreciate a softer track and calmer jock. Think she is capable of surprising in the final? Ersin’s will be the one to beat.”

6. Moonlight Special

3yo colt from Moonlight Stables, Career earnings: $690,211
Overall rating: Satisfactory(46) – Stalker
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Moonlight Stables
Lineage:By Echoes Woman out of Humble And Kind

Stable comments: -“Looks like the mudlarks will have their day in the Ascot with the track heading to slow. And with 9 of them in the final, I think I’m safe saying at least one of them will be in the top 3 lol! Moonlight Stables hopes our Moonlight Special will appreciate the long sprint distance and make something happen on the track. He ran a very nice heat, and if his jockey can manage to keep him from surging out to a early lead I think we can see something ‘Special’ happen.”

7. Euphoria

3yo filly from RCS Locos, Career earnings: $260,000
Overall rating: Satisfactory(45) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by RCS Locos
Lineage:By Dirty Deal out of Samart Jester

Stable comments: -“

8. Kattegat

3yo filly from New Scotland Yard, Career earnings: $173,481
Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by New Scotland Yard

Stable comments: -“

9. Kralice

3yo filly from Yorulmaz, Career earnings: $160,375
Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Yorulmaz
Lineage:By Kartalbatur out of Hawks Posh Fairy

Stable comments: -“

10. Arcadia Jazzman

3yo colt from Racing Stripes, Career earnings: $240,000
Overall rating: Moderate(34) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 20th Jan 2017, bred by Racing Stripes

Stable comments: -“

11. Ashur

3yo colt from Mount Olympus Stable, Career earnings: $224,067
Overall rating: Adequate(37) – Mud-lark
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by Mount Olympus Stable
Lineage:By Apollo out of Athena

Stable comments: -“My thoughts are that I stand very little chance.”

12. Wrecking Ball

3yo colt from junior’s farms, Career earnings: $758,422
Overall rating: Acceptable(44) – Competitive
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by junior’s farms
Lineage:By Je Jedd out of Aquilani Sizzling

Stable comments: -“I’ve been pleased with Wrecking Ball‘s come back from an early injury. But with 10 or so muddies in the field and definitely looking like it will be slow going, I’ll be shocked with a Top 5. Thought about maybe not running here, but hey, it’s the Ascot. Had to be here. If you see me way back, I’m prob on my cell phone with Sinth, asking for advice.”

13. Queen Of Meereen

3yo filly from WWE STUD, Career earnings: $475,600
Overall rating: Adequate(39) – Fast finisher
Born:Fri 6th Jan 2017, bred by WWE STUD
Lineage:By Broken Bones out of Divine Narcos

Stable comments: -“

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