 King George Classic Final  2200 Dirt 29th March 2012 |
This Season's Contenders
| Horse : Earthquake Mcgoon, Service Resumes, Beat The House, Northern Tropics | Trainer : Sky Castle Stables |
In all of his thirty-nine efforts on the dirt, remarkably, Earthquake Mcgoon has never scored a victory, that could be a combination of intention and hard luck, yet his performances have been rather consistent. I think the edge may be to favour fast but he has shown some tidy form on muddy also. In a race where the draw has little or no effect, his inside berth will almost secure him a nice pitch in the race and with no added weight, he could go well. Between the two maestro's of the game they saddle eight runners and both have strong claims in this. Service Resumes has a 100% record on fast ground, that win came over 2400m and although impressive, I get the distinct feeling he will favour muddy. He has struggled a bit over 2200m and maybe his niche rests with an extended trip and he may find this a little on the swift side for his liking. Beat The House, on the other hand, will have no worries with the distance. He looks something of a specialist at the trip and will contest his first challenge final of his career. It is likely that he has been kept back for this race in mind. The final runner of the foursome, Northern Tropics, is no stranger to the challenge scene, this race will mark his fifth appearance and he will be looking to add to his juvenile success. The three finals he has competed, beyond his Ladbrokes Monthly Final win, have not been too fruitful. He has finished midfield in them all, including a run in last seasons King George. He will probably laugh in the weatherman's face, as he appears to get to grips with either dirt surface and a bold show could be on the cards. His consistency on the dirt has not yet brought a win his way, all that could change here.
| Horse : Running Mearas | Trainer : Bury New Road |
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| Horse : Blazing Diablo | Trainer : Squeaky Clean Stable |
Fast ground will certainly enhance his ability here and I get the impression that anything other than that and the yard will be planning next season with this charge. His best races have been witnessed over the extended classic distance and even though I think he will need to go some to trouble some of these, if conditions suit, he may surprise a few. A place is not beyond him but everything will have to fall into place for that to happen.
| Horse : Running Cruz, El Canto Del Loco, San Crispino, Chef No More | Trainer : Shotgun Mike |
It has taken twelve qualifying race to get Running Cruz into this final and only then did he manage to scrape in by the skin of his teeth, proving how competitive the four year old division is these days. I really like this horse and his chance in this but all will depend on fast ground. He will be one of the likely favourites if that materialises. El Canto Del Loco will line-up in his first challenge final of his career, when they go to post. He has been ever the consistent performer in the series and has placed a number of times this season but I think he is a little below the par of some other runners in this field. San Crispino is another horse to have never secured a win on the dirt. He will show his best on muddy and will need every ounce of his weight pull with some of these to figure. He has a bit to find with some of today’s runners. Strong on a fast going, Chef No More will rely a lot on the rain giving the track a miss. He is likely to better suited to 2400m but is no slouch over this finals trip. He would have to be the yards second string behind Running Cruz on fast ground but that is not to say he won't be wound up for his chance at the prize. If there is rain, forget it, this one will already be looking towards next season.
| Horse : Turner | Trainer : Osyth Lodge |
4lb appears to be a penalty that Turner will have difficulty in shouldering. His dirt form doesn't read the best in the race, he has only ever placed once in this company. That was in a Derby trial on muddy ground. He will need a rocket up his behind to figure amongst these and looks one of the weaker runners of the race. I can't find any reason to suggest that this one will upset the formbook, safely omitted as a potential winner of this race.
| Horse : Qui Gon Jin, Grand Cruz | Trainer : Derekw10 |
Derek appears to have the ground covered with his pair in this. Grand Cruz will enjoy mud, Qui Gon Jin will step to the fore on fast ground. Grand Cruz is the top weight in the race, 6lb penalty awaits, making him a difficult proposition to weigh up. He is obviously classy but you get the impression that a few are also as good, who run off a lower weight. He will relish a return to the dirt after a poor show in last seasons Derby, a race in which Derek excels. Connections would have been disappointed with that and he will be out to make amends. I'm not 100% convinced that he can carry top weight to victory in this but he is certainly not without his chance. Qui Gon Jin looks a far easier prospect to surmise. If fast ground comes, his low weight will help him no end. I expect he will be ready for this and I have no issue saying that he will run a big race, if he gets his ground, that is!
| Horse : Rachels Paradox | Trainer : Jemchipsa Magic |
The distance is right for the horse, 2200m seems to produce his best. Four of his six wins have come on muddy ground, during his career but even with that in his favour and a relatively small penalty, it may not be enough to get amongst them here. It would take an incredible effort to overturn the form book in this final and it is safe to say, it is a difficult ask. I think the yard will concede and be happy if the horse gives his all.
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