Mon, 06/07/2021 - 10:52
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, June 09, 2021)
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DRF Past Performances
Adayar, second by less than two lengths in two stakes in April and May, rallied on the rail in the final quarter-mile to record an attractive win in Saturday’s Group 1 English Derby at Epsom Racecourse, south of London.
Adayar, who paid $36.80 in American pools, finished 4 1/4 lengths clear of 50-1 Mojo Star in the field of 11.
More than two years have passed since Gran Alegria lost a one-mile race, one of many reasons the 5-year-old mare is an odds-on favorite to win the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen at that distance at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday.
St. Mark’s Basilica already has won one French Classic race this year and he is back from Ireland seeking a second one Sunday in the Prix du Jockey Club, the French Derby.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, who drew forth a star performance Friday from Snowfall, 16-length winner of the Oaks at Epsom, St. Mark’s Basilica on Friday was solidly favored in early fixed-odds wagering to beat 17 rivals in this 1 5/16-mile fixture at Chantilly.
A drop in class nearly put the Australian gelding Muswellbrook in the winner’s circle for the first time in 12 starts at Cranbourne Racecourse on May 21.
The losing streak covers many starts, but not necessarily a lot of time. Muswellbrook won a seven-furlong handicap at Sale Racecourse in May 2020. Since then, Muswellbrook has largely raced in tougher company than he faced at Cranbourne, or that he will meet in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on Sunday.
There was nothing in Media Award’s race record in Australia last November and December to suggest she would be part of a field of 14 in Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane.
Media Award was eighth, second and third in maiden races before she was given a three-month break between starts. Media Award has not lost since, winning a maiden race at Kyneton on March 29, a handicap at Geelong on April 20, and the Group 1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville in a 60-1 upset on May 1.
Hurricane Lane is one of four leading contenders for Saturday’s Group 1 English Derby at Epsom Racecourse with an unbeaten record this year.
Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin Racing, Hurricane Lane vaulted into the upper list of English Derby candidates with a win in a key prep, the Group 2 Dante Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at York Racecourse on May 13.
Tread Softly won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Kyneton Racecourse in Australia in her debut on May 3, a performance that may translate favorably in her first race against winners in a six-furlong handicap for fillies and mares on the synthetic track at Pakenham Racecourse on Friday.
Tread Softly does not face a tough field and is expected to be a solid favorite. Of the other 10 fillies and mares, three are unaced on a synthetic track and seven are winless on the surface.
In her 2021 debut on May 2, Santa Barbara was well placed to win the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas for 3-year-old fillies at Newmarket, England, only to falter through the uphill run to the wire. Santa Barbara finished fourth by 1 1/4 lengths as the 5-2 co-favorite.
Bettors seem willing to forgive her loss in advance of Friday’s Group 1 Epsom Oaks, run at 1 1/2 miles at Epsom Downs, south of London. Once again, Santa Barbara will be favored over a track with a testing uphill finish.