Earn Your Stripes in Race Six
PHILIP FEANNY’S fouryear-old grey colt MESSI, with veteran jockey David McKenzie aboard, should have all the answers in tomorrow’s Race Two, the opening event of the Sunrise-Six.
By American Dance - Winning Spirit, MESSI was highly fancied to make a winning debut on March 17 last year over 1600 metres but ended up fourth by seven lengths to ANNA LISA. Something must have gone wrong after that race as he has waited almost 11 months to make his second start. All appears to be well now, however, as he worked 1200 metres flat in a very good 1:15.1 on February 1, and that should be good enough to slam this moderate field.
In his only race, MESSI led for 1200 metres in good splits of 47.0x1:12.3, and with the distance now reduced to 1300 metres, he is expected to lead all the way for connections the MS Stables.
The third race over 1000 metres round is tailored for MAKHI. He tackled 1400 metres on January 19 and weakened in the last 400 metres but still held on for second behind GENERAL MUBARAAK. With the distance now reduced significantly, MAKHI will be difficult to beat. Apprentice Romario Smith has the ride.
STRAIGHT BATTLE
Race Four is the second section of the John Clifton Wright Memorial Cup, a 1200 metres race for maiden three-year-old fillies. This should be a straight battle between the Philip Feannytrained CRYPTOCURRENCY, with the sparingly used Orlando Foster aboard and REGGAE GONE GRAMMY, to be ridden by former champion jockey Dane Nelson for trainer Fitznahum Williams.
With the experienced Nelson aboard, REGGAE GONE GRAMMY will have a host of supporters. He placed third in a fast-run 1500 metres on January 1, clocking 1:33.4 behind winner DUKE, who crossed the line in 1:33.2, and the connections must be confident of getting off the mark tomorrow.
However, she finished two lengths behind CRYPTOCURRENCY, in a race won by ENEDINA, when the two met over a sprint distance (1100 metres) last December 22, and Feanny’s charge is the firm choice.
The handicaps are strongly in favour of SMASH ALERT in the fifth over 1000 metres straight. In her last run over the distance, the five-year-old mare finished fourth by just under four lengths to STANISLAUS, toting 54.0 kg. She has now dropped to 50kg and should use her good early speed to go clear of rivals in the first 600 metres.
The DUKE clocked a fast time on January 1 while PHENOM is working well, but the one they all have to beat in Race Six is Anthony Nunes’ EARN YOUR STRIPES. The latter is highly fancied for the opening colts Classic, the 2000 Guineas on April 14 after a bullet work, 1:12.3 for 1200m on February 3. Based on this, he will only be racing the clock tomorrow. Robert Halledeen has the ride.
Close the Sunrise-Six with COPPERFIELD in Race Seven. He is seeking his second consecutive win over the distance after an impressive late run on December 8 last year. Female 4kg claiming apprentice Samantha Fletcher retains the ride.
SUNRISE-SIX SELECTIONS
2. MESSI
3. MAHKI
4. CRYPTOCURRENCY
5. SMASH ALERT
6. EARN YOUR STRIPES
7. COPPERFIELD