Sprint G3 Keeneland Cup preview
Tuesday, 22 August, 2023 22:00
In this article, we will introduce the three main contenders recommended by the netkeiba's AI, along with notable past trends.
In the last 10 years of the Keeneland Cup, fillies have dominated with seven wins, and in four of those races resulted in a fillies' quinella.
Let's introduce the top three contenders predicted by our AI.
Namura Clair
In her seven races over 1200m, she has won four, once second and one third, a testament to her consistency. The only time she finished outside the top three was in last year's Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes. In that race, she was significantly inconvenienced by draw bias, yet she still managed to secure fifth place. Even in challenging conditions like the heavy track in this year's Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, she demonstrated her strength and ability by finishing second.
While she finished eighth in her previous race, the Grade 1 Victoria Mile, can be excused because of the race distance. With solid form over 1200m and a proven record in Hokkaido summer races, she's well-prepared to take a prominent role for this sprint Grade 3.
Sonnig
In her first foray over 1200m on turf, the Seikan Stakes, she showed plenty of early speed and comfortably maintained her position in mid-division. Upon entering the straight, she unleashed a strong finish to secure victory. Despite it being her first attempt over this distance, her performance indicated a high aptitude, and the tight turns of the Hakodate track appeared to suit.
She boasts five victories so far, mainly at Nakayama and Kokura, as well as a Hakodate success. However, she hasn't won on the longer straights of Tokyo and Hanshin. Two starts ago, in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup, despite a good position turning into the straight, she lacked a turn of foot, indicating her affinity for tighter courses.
Kimiwa Queen
She achieved her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes last time out and is riding high on momentum. Her last race saw her starting from an outer stall, leading to a different race strategy from her usual tactics of racing at the sharp end. Despite the change, she still finished well, making a sharp move from the outside and securing a dominant victory.
This time, with the race over 1200m at Sapporo, her strong affinity for the conditions can be inferred from her resounding victory in last year's Sapporo Sponichi Sho after a break. Furthermore, she remains unbeaten at Hakodate and Sapporo. With these factors in mind, she appears well-equipped to pursue consecutive graded stakes wins.
In the last 10 years of the Keeneland Cup, fillies have dominated with seven wins, and in four of those races resulted in a fillies' quinella.
Let's introduce the top three contenders predicted by our AI.
Namura Clair
In her seven races over 1200m, she has won four, once second and one third, a testament to her consistency. The only time she finished outside the top three was in last year's Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes. In that race, she was significantly inconvenienced by draw bias, yet she still managed to secure fifth place. Even in challenging conditions like the heavy track in this year's Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, she demonstrated her strength and ability by finishing second.
While she finished eighth in her previous race, the Grade 1 Victoria Mile, can be excused because of the race distance. With solid form over 1200m and a proven record in Hokkaido summer races, she's well-prepared to take a prominent role for this sprint Grade 3.
Sonnig
In her first foray over 1200m on turf, the Seikan Stakes, she showed plenty of early speed and comfortably maintained her position in mid-division. Upon entering the straight, she unleashed a strong finish to secure victory. Despite it being her first attempt over this distance, her performance indicated a high aptitude, and the tight turns of the Hakodate track appeared to suit.
She boasts five victories so far, mainly at Nakayama and Kokura, as well as a Hakodate success. However, she hasn't won on the longer straights of Tokyo and Hanshin. Two starts ago, in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Spring Cup, despite a good position turning into the straight, she lacked a turn of foot, indicating her affinity for tighter courses.
Kimiwa Queen
She achieved her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes last time out and is riding high on momentum. Her last race saw her starting from an outer stall, leading to a different race strategy from her usual tactics of racing at the sharp end. Despite the change, she still finished well, making a sharp move from the outside and securing a dominant victory.
This time, with the race over 1200m at Sapporo, her strong affinity for the conditions can be inferred from her resounding victory in last year's Sapporo Sponichi Sho after a break. Furthermore, she remains unbeaten at Hakodate and Sapporo. With these factors in mind, she appears well-equipped to pursue consecutive graded stakes wins.