TURF DIARY
APRIL 5, 2006
by Kellie Reilly
This week’s primary theme is the resurgence of two of last
year’s top performers, ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) and KING’S DRAMA (Ire)
(King’s Theatre [Ire]). In addition to noting the breakthrough by SILVER
WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup), we’ll also take a glance backward at the Dubai
World Cup (UAE-G1) meeting.
Last year’s Virginia Derby (G3) winner English Channel
made a smart return to racing in the March 11 Canadian Turf H. at
Gulfstream Park. In the 1 1/16-mile affair, the Todd Pletcher charge stalked
the pace and then surged to the front in midstretch, defeating the one-two
finishers from the Sunshine Millions Turf S., MIESQUE’S APPROVAL (Miesque’s
Son) and SILVER TREE (Hennessy). It was an excellent performance,
especially considering it was his first outing since his fifth-place effort
in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), which incidentally was the best finish by an
American-trained horse in that race. In his start prior to the Breeders’
Cup, he went down by just a head to the older SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical
[Ire]) in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. (G1). Effective from 1 1/16 to 1
1/2 miles, the talented English Channel may really hit his stride this
season as a four-year-old. Not only did his sire excel at four, but his dam
is a full sister to multiple Grade 2 turf star Hap (Theatrical [Ire]), who
was at his peak at four and five.
At Santa Anita, last year’s Sword Dancer Invitational S.
(G1) and Red Smith H. (G2) hero King’s Drama strode majestically to a
one-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile San Luis Rey H. (G2) in his second
start off a layoff. Unlike his previous race in the San Luis Obispo H. (G2),
when he was cooked by chasing a hot pace and faded to third, the Bobby
Frankel trainee rated behind a steadier tempo here and kicked clear without
difficulty. In so doing, the six-year-old gelding turned the tables on the
top two from the Obispo, ATLANDO (Ire) (Hernando [Fr]), who could
manage only fourth, and T. H. APPROVAL (With Approval), who had to
settle for the place again. If there were any lingering questions about how
King’s Drama returned from his dreadful showing in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1)
last November, he’s comprehensively exploded them and signaled his
intentions to be a major player again in 2006.
While Silver Whistle could not in fairness be styled a
leading light of the turf in 2005, he came agonizingly close in a pair of
Saratoga stakes for three-year-olds, the National Museum of Racing Hall of
Fame S. (G2) and the Saranac S. (G3). In last Saturday’s Pan American H.
(G3), Silver Whistle finally won a photo-finish to record his first
stakes victory. Although the Bill Mott pupil has ample scope for
improvement, with only nine lifetime starts under his belt, his ungainly and
inefficient way of going could make life hard for him at the top level. Just
watching him, it looks like he has to expend a lot more energy and work much
harder to match strides with a more fluently actioned rival. The
disappointment of the race for me was the rapidly developing EINSTEIN
(Brz), (Spend a Buck), a Grade 1 winner in his prior outing who wound up
fourth here. Perhaps he was just too far behind the pace instead of tracking
more closely as the winner did. Regardless, he had progressed so quickly up
the ladder before this hiccup that there’s probably still a fair deal more
to come from him.
Finally, a quick report card on our American turf
team in Dubai. In the nearly 1 1/8-mile Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), THE
TIN MAN (Affirmed) put up a terrific front-running display and stayed on
resolutely for second to rising star DAVID JUNIOR (Pleasant Tap) of England.
The Richard Mandella charge is a joy to watch, and let’s hope that the
eight-year-old comes back from his exertions as well as ever. HOST
(Chi) (Hussonet) also emerged with credit for a barnstorming fourth after
being well behind early. Sooner or later, this Pletcher horse will have
things go his way, and it’s only a matter of time before he lands another
major prize. The same can’t be said for WHILLY (Ire) (Sri Pekan), who
unaccountably packed it in after being in a good striking position turning
for home. Our American hopes got nowhere in the 1 1/2-mile Dubai Sheema
Classic (UAE-G1). MUSTANFAR (Unbridled) was always going to be up
against it in this company, but as the race unfolded with absolutely no pace
at all up front, he and the other closers never really had a chance to
overhaul Japanese superstar HEART’S CRY (Sunday Silence). RELAXED GESTURE
(Ire) (Indian Ridge) doesn’t get off the hook so easily, as he has the class
to compete at this level and was forwardly placed. Possibly he failed to
relax, not being dropped in behind horses, or maybe he just wasn’t ready off
his five-month layoff. Perhaps he’ll regroup and return to his best form
later this year.