| The Oaks  2200m Turf Sunday, November 28th 2010, 8.30pmLast Season's Final
This Season's Contenders
 2200m is right up her street! Her qualifying campaign has been superb over the trip and personifies consistency. Her effort in last season's classic juvenile final was a tough ask and her inability to see out the 2400m trip caught her wanting. There will be no such trouble here. In her ten races during the series, she was not out of the money in any and was a worthy championship points leader for her effort. For all her consistent runs it is dubious that a sound surface would favour her. Her wins have seemed to come when there has been a soft or muddy surface and I think her final's chance will rely on a bit of cut in the ground, preferably soft, to nail these. She is not without a chance in what is looking like an action packed race. Moletown's Rating : 
A £700 price tag was enough to lure the yard into buying Wonderful Outcome. She is another who is a specialist at the trip and another who found her lungs tighten over last season's extended trip in the classic final. She will have no problem handling a good, firm or soft going but if the rain comes and produces a yielding surface then her chance is about done. I suppose there are horses in the field that can match or even better her on her favoured surface, which makes the task of picking a winner in this field all the more difficult. She will be ready to put her nose forward when the stalls open and has a great chance under the guidance of her yard. Moletown's Rating :
 The yard really wanted to secure her service as a two year old, warranted by the huge price tag paid for her at auction. She has since proved a very good servant and racked up the prize money along the way. She will no doubt pay her way during her career. Can she win this final? Of course she can! Although the more I look at the form lines in this race, there seems to be a distinct lack of yielding lovers in the race, which could prove the brick wall in many of this fields challenge. Her best form has come on a soft or firm going and she may also depend on a favourable draw, coupled with favourable conditions. This is a tough race and probably one of the closest challenge finals in recent seasons. I just can't split the front three, any of them can win, which makes the draw and going all the more important to their chance. Ability alone and I would say, dead heat; but that's just not going to happen. Moletown's Rating :
Last year she was one of a few who could manage a 2400m trip and proved her worth by running away a champion. She has the ability to transfer that form into this final but maybe there are others who will find the sharper distance better suited. If she gets a good draw and avoids yielding ground then she could be in the mix. She seems more at home on a dirt track and this final will pose some unanswered questions if the ground comes up good. I don't see her winning the race but a good effort from a good draw could narrow the field somewhat. Moletown's Rating :
 Last in the juvenile final last season was of no surprise to all. Her weight there was the equivalent of another small jockey perched on the shoulders of Jacob Forrester. This season she will tackle all and sundry on level terms, which will give her a better chance but a chance is all I can see from this one. I think the field will be too strong for her and her future lies in levels and WFA races for the rest of her career. Moletown's Rating :
 Majestic Fantasy just failed to make the frame in the classic juvenile final, won by now stable mate, Queen Of Satan. Team Johansson parted company with the horse this term and her chance in this race is very similar to her compatriot. She will struggle on a yielding surface and may rely too much on the draw and a favourable random. That said, she still remains a force and it wouldn't be too surprising to see one or the other (Queen Of Satan) run a biggie. Her races over the trip so far in her career haven't really been too much to shout about. Is that about to change? Moletown's Rating :
Passion Flower is one of a handful who may be screaming to see a yielding surface. I think if the wish is granted she could be a player but on the basis of overall form, I would have to say that she, like her stable mate, Queen Of Anfield, will struggle in the race. If she gets yielding, then her one star will become four! Moletown's Rating :
She is not a prolific winner and has only two to her name thus far in her career. Incidentally, neither of her wins has come over the trip. It is difficult to make a case for her based on her form lines but she has been consistent in running, mixing The Oaks with The Nunthorpe and she will contest both finals. Whether she is to lift silverware in either is open to debate but I wouldn't put it past her to run well here, even if she is not the force of others. Moletown's Rating :
Classic Cobra ran a good second in the juvenile final but will find it difficult to repeat here. She is not known for her efforts over 2200m and has never won over the trip in all her thirteen efforts. I fear we will not see a change in that statistic in this race and she is easily an outsider in this field. Moletown's Rating :
Xtreme Diva can be considered better at a marathon trip and may find this race a little too hot to handle. She has only managed a best placed third in eight efforts over the distance, firm and good ground being the goings. I don't think we will see fireworks from her in this and she may be best kept for the St Leger Final. Even so, she has placed in this company over the trip and may nick a place at best if all goes in her favour. Moletown's Rating :
If ever there was a horse that craved yielding, then she is it! If she gets her fix in this final, then it could be all over bar the shouting, give or take a random! Ultimately, I have to base my judgement on her overall form and that puts her way down the field in terms of quality and she is considered an also ran, BUT, there is always the chance that she gets her ground and then she will become the favourite for the race. For now though, one star and no hope! (Subject to change of course) Moletown's Rating :
I cannot find anything in her form that will suggest that she is a major player in this race. You could say she was a little unlucky not to get a fast going last term and bombed on a muddy surface. She is far better over a longer trip but has zero chance, in my opinion of gaining anything here. Moletown's Rating :
Lightning Queen has found the top prospects in this race, far too strong in the qualifying series and she may also be found wanting here. She has winning form on good ground over the trip in similar company last season but her chances her are very slim indeed. A good effort could see her in a midfield position but that's about as close to the winners enclosure that she will get. Moletown's Rating :
I don't know whether the hefty price tag paid at auction was for her staying power but I find it difficult to determine that she was purchased with a view to winning this final, which she won't! Soft going on the day is her best chance of making waves and even then, she will face a difficult task. I believe she will be better suited in the St Leger but she is here on merit and will face two finals. Can the Sky Castle magic work wonders? Moletown's Rating : |
Member Submission: Moletown
The future of horse racing is online at RaceClubs.com
horses, racing, championships, sponsorships, entertainment
No comments:
Post a Comment