Sydney Cup 2017 – A look at the International horses

Here at Justhorseracing, we’ve put together a preview of the key international runners that are indeed nominated for the 2017 Sydney Cup (3200m).

Clondaw Warrior

Breeding: Overbury x Thespian
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Nationality: Irish
Career Stats: 42: 13-6-7
Min/Max Distance Wins: 2414m/4024m
Career Best Win: Galway Hurdle (3219m), July 28 2016, Galway, Soft Surface
Dry Track Stats: 22: 6-5-1
Wet Track Stats: 18: 5-1-5
Championships Target Race: Queen Elizabeth/Sydney Cup
Short Summary: Star jumper, but very good on the flat and not to be underestimated.

Fifth Last Start (2nd)- Group lll St leger (2716m), August 13 2016, Arlington, Anti- Clockwise Direction, Dirt Track.

Thought it might be worth showing this replay given his recent form has been over the jumps. This is world class form. He sat last in the run but looked to be going comfortably before Heffernan made his move around them but by the time he did that, Da Big Hoss was off and goen for the prize, but to his credit, Clondaw Warrior stuck on very well and I say world class because Da Big Hoss is a multiple Stakes winner and has form around Highland Reel and Found.

(No replay available)

Second Last Start (2nd)- Group l Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (4800m), December 28 2016, Leopardstown, Anti-Clockwise direction, Soft surface

He’s the horse back off the pace in the white silks. Very tough effort in defeat. Katie Walsh looked to have the horse going sweetly before taking the splits on the turn and trucked up beautifully behind brother Ruby Walsh on Vroum Vroum Mag. The leader fell at the last, and I think that allowed Ruby to pinch the break on the eventual winner, but Clondaw Warrior was very game and was surging the last 75m.

Last Start (3rd)- Group ll John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle (4800m), January 26 2017, Gowran Park, Clockwise Direction, Soft Surface.

Looked to be given every chance in the run by Ruby Walsh. Had it out the back and gave it plenty of time to find its feet. He steadily crept up to the leaders and was in a stalking position with around 600m to go but he just whacked away and couldn’t quite finish it off. Game effort, but for favourite backers he was disappointing.

(Replay Unavailable)

Final Summary: Might be ten years old, but he is a very good horse for Willie Mullins who rarely, if ever, runs a bad race. The two miles of the Sydney Cup looks perfect and if we do get rain for the race, his chances will only be enhanced further. Predominately a jumper yes, but his flat runs, most notably that one at Arlington, tells you he is quite capable on the flat.

Max Dynamite

Breeding: Great Journey x Mascara
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Nationality: Irish
Career Stats: 11: 2-3-1
Min/Max Distance Wins: 2200m/3308m
Career Best Win: Group ll Lonsdale Cup (3308m), August 28 2015, York, Soft Surface
Dry Track Stats: 8: 0-3-2
Wet Track Stats: 12: 3-1-1
Championships Target Race: Queen Eizabeth/Sydney Cup
Short Summary: Has had is issues, but when he is on song, he’s high class as we saw in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.

Second Last Start (3rd)- Group lll Henry ll Stakes (3298m), May 26 2016, Sandown Park, Clockwise direction, Good surface

This was his first run since the Melbourne Cup and given his effort at Flemington, he was a very short priced elect. Ryan Moore had him perched up outside the speed all the way and he looked to travel well as he went past the leader but no sooner had he done that, he was pressured by Pallasator and that horse put him away quickly and he just plodded on for third.

(No replay available)

Last Start (10th)- Group l Ascot Gold Cup (4000m), June 166 2016, Ascot, Clockwise Direction, Soft Surface.

Just didn’t run the trip out. Went to be going well in the run but a brutal 4000m against top class gallopers, that of course being Order Of St George, was just too much. That, and I just don’t think he came up that prep, so Mullins immediately tipped him out for a good spell with an eye towards Sydney.

Final Summary: If you go on his Melbourne Cup run, he’ll be a serious contender. But his two runs last year were poor to the eye and that does leave me with some doubt about his credentials. The good thing going for him is that we know he has made the trip to Australia previously and lapped it up.

Rainbow Line

Breeding: Stay Gold x Regenbogen
Trainer: Hidekazu Asami
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 14: 3-3-3
Min/Max Distance Wins: 1600m/1800m
Career Best Win: Group lll Arlington Cup (1600m), February 27 2016, Hanshin, Firm Surface
Dry Track Stats: 14: 3-3-3
Wet Track Stats: Untried
Championships Target Race: Queen Eizabeth/Sydney Cup
Short Summary: High class four year old who will make sure his rivals know he is here.

Second Last Start (2nd)- Group l Japanese St Leger (3000m), October 23 2016, Kyoto, Clockwise direction, Good surface

Tracked up beautifully under Fukunaga and looked to be a real threat at the top of the straight, but he just didn’t have the turn of foot the winner did. To his credit, he came late and snatched second in a very good performance. That form  was franked with Satono Diamond beating the Japan Cup winner Kitasan Black.

Last Start (6th)- Group l Japan Cup (2400m), October 27 2016, Tokyo, Anti-Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface.

This was just an enormous effort in defeat for a three year old to take on the top of the top. Had no right to finish as close as he did given the leader and eventual winner Kitasan Black had it all his own way on speed and made it hard for the backmarkers. Rainbow Line did an huge job to get as close as he did.

Final Summary: He is right up there in terms of the top seeds for the Japanese that are nominated. He’s newly turned four, he has a brilliant finishing burst, he’ll stay, he can be ridden forward and back…not sure about the Queen Elizabeth, but I definitely want a ticket each way for the Sydney Cup.

Tanta Alegria

Breeding: Zenno Rob Boy x Tanta Suerte
Trainer: Sakae Kunieda
Nationality: Japanese
Career Stats: 14: 3-5-0
Min/Max Distance Wins: 200m/2200m
Career Best Win: Group ll American Jockey Club Cup (2200m), January 22 2017, Nakayama, Firm Surface
Dry Track Stats: 14: 3-5-0
Wet Track Stats: Untried
Championships Target Race: Sydney Cup
Short Summary: Has had her issues, but when she is right, she is very good.

Second Last Start (4th)- Group l Tenno Sho Spring (3200m), May 1 2016, Kyoto, Clockwise Direction, Firm surface

She’s back in the predominately black colours with the noseroll, number 11 saddlecloth. Ripping run from this mare given how far back she was and the ground she had to make up. Wasn’t beaten that far by a high class horse in Kitasan Black…and yeah we won’t mention Curren Mirotic.

Last Start (1st)- Group ll American Jockey Club Cup (2200m), January 22 2017, Nakayama, Clockwise Direction, Firm Surface

Big effort from the mare to win. On replay, she was the only horse you wanted to be on. It was just a matter of getting the split, and once she did, she strode out beautifully for a superb win, her first run in nearly eight months.

Final Summary: Her 3000m+ form is similar to that of Curren Mirotic. The big difference is that this mare has so much upside with her whereas he was bottomed out. She will eat up the Randwick two miles, she has a turn of foot, she’ll stay all day…I like her alot as a winning chance here.