FRONT RUNNER THORNBIRD STAKES
The outstanding filly of yesteryear Thornbird will be honoured tomorrow when the Stakes race named in her honour is down for competition.
Eleven fillies meet over seven furlongs (1,400m) in the Thornbird Stakes sponsored by the Front Runner brand of horse feed produced by Newport Mills, a subsidiary of the Caribbean Boilers Group of Companies.
The following is an analysis of the 11 runners in post-position order.
ACKEE PIE: (3,ch,f. Adore The Gold – Jazzy Jet) — A winner 21 days ago and is the only one in the field to win going beyond 6 ½ furlongs. Ackee Pie, like most of the horses trained by Richard Azan, is not over raced with only two starts to her credit. Ackee Pie’s win at seven furlongs strongly suggests that she will be comfortable and at home in the Thornbird. Progressing at the right time and may be more than just a surprise factor in this one. Watch Ackee Pie closely, she is on the improve.
MY SISTER: (3,rn,f, Taqarub – Lady McBeth) — My Sister is basically a front-running sort who may well enjoy an uncontested lead. The difficulty for My Sister might be effectively getting the Thornbird trip of seven furlongs. My Sister is returning from a 42-day rest and if she is to pose any threat in the Classic races to come, she has to step up tomorrow like never before. Noticeable that trainer Gary Subratie has chosen to go with apprentice Oneil Beckford who claims three kilogrammes.
NADESHICO: (3,dkb.f Natural Selection – First Sushi) — Started well early in last year’s two-year-old season then dropped off, but Nadeshico’s last effort 28 days ago over a mile, when finishing second just ½ a length behind Honey Ryda in a good time of 1:40.0, was a loud announcement that she has mended and is now ready to take on all and sundry. Given expected normal three-year-old improvement, Nadeshico has a really good chance of taking the Thornbird. She will be coming on strong in the last furlong.
LICI’S PEPSI: (3,dkb,f. Blue Pepsi Lodge – First Choice) — Coming to come as evidenced by a good third-place finish behind Band Of Gold and Disability Charm in the six-furlong Hot Line Stakes. Lici’s Pepsi might just be a bit hampered by seven furlongs right now- nevertheless, has a good shot of making the frame.
DREAMING OF MAGIC: (3,b.f. Western Classic – Racee) — Is well held against her peers in this one.
BRANDY: (3,c,f, He’stherealthing – Skittle Queen) — The changes have been made on Brandy as she races with both the tongue tie and Figure 8 on, suggesting that her trainer is still searching for the right combination of equipment to use on this filly. Brandy has not progressed the way she should have and was way behind both Fayrouz and Lici’s Pepsi when they all met on January 31. This is a defining race for Brandy and if she fails this test, her chances will be weakened even in the Classic races confined to fillies, but if Brandy produces her form when finishing second behind Marquesas in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes (Dec 26, 2017), then the rest might be looking at her back end.
FAYROUZ: (3. ch.f. Blue Pepsi Lodge – Princess Geeta) — Showed that she is equipped for the trip of the Thornbird finishing just a length behind Drummer Boy over eight furlongs or a mile. The well- experienced Fayrouz has been well primed for this one and looks sharp and ready on the exercise track. Fayrouz has finished second in her two outings this year and now safely nestled among her own sex, she is going to take a lot of beating here. All indicators are pointing to a victory in the Thornbird for Fayrouz.
DISABILITY CHARM: (3,b,f, Soul Warrior – Runnin On Empty) — Won on debut coming from well off the pace, then the next time out decided to go in front and was nabbed a furlong out by Band Of Gold. That last run over six furlongs can safely be discarded, as the belief is that Disability Charm was simply green and needed the run to gain experience. This time around trainer Patrick Lynch has taken off the tongue tie and replaced it with the Figure 8. Disability Charm is still an unknown quantity and could run surprisingly well in this one.
SHE’S A BANKER: (3,ch,f, Forest Danger – Wap) — Not ready for these right now. Note the blinkers are now on.
BAND OF GOLD: (3,dkb,f. Adore The Gold – Formal Jackie) — On the up tick at the moment. Band of Gold’s win in the six-furlong Hot Line Stakes when beating Disability Charm and Lici’s Pepsi coming from well off the pace indicated that seven furlongs will be right up her sleeves, but maybe just about the limit in terms of distance. Band Of Gold likes to come from off the pace and the hotter the pace, the better it will be for her. Band Of Gold has been beaten twice by Fayrouz and that trend should continue tomorrow.
BREEZY ADLIH: (3,b,f, Casual Trick – See Da Breeze) — Should be safely held by the rest.