Just nine days after he won his first ever qualifier, Gnb Racing saddled his star filly Bank Note in an attempt to add a Juvenile Classic Qualifier to the sprint equivalent he has already captured. Considering this is the first time he has owned such a virtual equine talent it would be hard not to be impressed with the handling of the stable star who has never finished out of the money in eight previous career starts.
However, as noted, that was a Juvenile Sprint Qualifier which she won that day and she had so far failed to collect in both her attempts in classic qualifiers, one over 1600m and the other at 2200m. I would hazard a guess that her optimum trip is probably around 1600m, possibly even 1400m and so if she is ever to win a classic event then today’s 1800m probably represents her best chance.
The horse that won both of those two events and re-opposing today was Chrisman’s Chromium, beaten only once in this type of event when finishing an unlucky in running fifth. Also in the line-up was dual stayers qualifier winner, Rock Kingdom owned by Karl Khoder and expensive auction purchase, Pool Party, representing Filante Stables.
On this occasion though it was to be Bank Note who had too much in the locker for any of his rivals to cope with. Mystic Falls almost stole the race given an enterprising ride by Jack Ford but in the end even she had to concede best to Gnb Racing’s Bank Note who was notching up her third win here. Chromium stayed on well to take third and she has done her claims for the final no harm here with an extra two furlongs to take into account.
Chromium indeed holds the lead in the overall standings, four points ahead of Bank Note who is in turn a further six points ahead of third placed filly, Mystic Falls, owned by Flying Stable.
Earlier on the card we were treated to an intriguing clash between auction-topping Rule The Air and the top class Dakota Celery in the Juvenile Classic Qualifier Colts. Inx’s bay colt, Dakota Celery has already managed to win qualifiers at both classic and stayers distances but has produced his best form in the mud. Rule The Air has also bagged a classic qualifier but has managed to find one too good in each of his most recent attempts in qualifiers.
Nothing could stop Rule The Air on this occasion though and he was impressive in taking this event a shade cosily under the guidance of Yusoff Chia. There is little doubt this colt is amongst the most talented to hit the virtual racetracks so far this season and is going to take some stopping in the final. AP822‘s Ap Gorilla Killer got closest to him today and Evil Racing Ltd’s Ap Quick Draw took third.
The standings for November’s final still show Dakota Celery up top but Karl Khoder‘s Rule The Air has now closed the gap to just a single point. Ap Gorilla Killer has joined Karl Khoder’s Excites in equal third place, four points further adrift.