Post-Race Analysis:
Camden, South Carolina – March 27, 2004: Polaris Stable’s Preemptive
Strike caught Hirapour (Ire) and Al Skywalker in deep stretch to
win the $50,000 Grade III Carolina First Carolina Cup, his second
stakes victory of the young season, and establish himself as one
of the top American-based steeplechase horses in training this year.
Considered somewhat of a surprise when he won the March 7th Little
Everglades Stakes, Preemptive Strike confirmed his talent with a
gutsy effort in the Carolina Cup. The 6-year-old son of Roanoke
(by Pleasant Colony) set the early pace, gave up the lead to two-time
Cup winner Al Skywalker after a mile and dropped back to third leaving
the backstretch the final time as Hirapour swept to the front. Preemptive
Strike was third over the second-last of 14 fences at the top of
the stretch, but found another gear on the run-in, splitting horses
to hold off Hirapour by three-quarters of a length at the wire.
Al Skywalker, bidding for an unprecedented third win in the race,
finished third. Ridden by Robbie Walsh for trainer Paul Rowland,
the winner covered the 2 3/8 miles over a firm Springdale Race Course
in 4:23.
After getting passed, Walsh figured he was destined for third.
“I thought I was in trouble and thought about folding up so I could
save him for another day,” the jockey told the National Steeplechase
Association. “He winged the second-last, and I gave him a shake
up and he opened up. They went, but they didn’t open up on me so
I thought ‘maybe.’ The way he jumped the last two made it for him.”
Bred in Maryland by Klo Carroll, Preemptive Strike was converted
to hurdling in 2002. The Carolina Cup was the fourth win of his
career, and his first graded stakes victory. He picked up $30,000
for the victory and now leads all jumpers in 2004 earnings with
$54,000. Undefeated in two stakes starts this year, Preemptive Strike's
Carolina Cup performance most likely stamped his ticket to Keeneland
for the $150,000 Grade I Royal Chase on April 16th.
“I have to think about Kentucky now because it’s another once-in-a-lifetime
thing like this was and I think the horse deserves to try to prove
himself again,” said Rowland, who worked for noted trainers Michael
Dickinson and Barry Hills and now manages Polaris Farm, located
in Unionville, Pennsylvania, for Gail and Dixon Thayer.
Preemptive Strike's victory snapped Hirapour’s six-race winning
streak, which started with five in a row in England and included
a victory in the Grade I U.S. Championship Novice Stakes at Calloway
Gardens last fall, his United States debut. The Carolina Cup was
Hirapour's first start over fences this year. The 8-year-old son
of Kahyasi (Ire) (by Ile de Bourbon) is owned by Eldon Farm Racing
Stable and is trained by Doug Fout. He was ridden by New Zealand
champion jockey Clayton Chipperfield, who recently signed a contract
to ride for Fout in the United States this year.
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Al Skywalker failed in his attempt to
become the first three-time winner of the Carolina Cup in
the 72-year history of the race.
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11-year-old Al Skywalker failed in his attempt to
make history by becoming the first horse in the 72-year history
of the Carolina Cup to win the race three times. Owned and trained
by Jennifer Majette, Al Skywalker won the Carolina Cup in 2001 and
2003 and finished second in 2002. The son of Skywalker (by Relaunch)
has now lost five races in a row. Bred in California by Evergreen
Thoroughbreds and trained on the flat by Jenine Sahadi before switching
to steeplechase racing, has earned an impressive $436,841 (13th
all-time) from a dozen career victories over fences. David Bentley,
the 2003 champion jockey, was aboard for the ride.
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Michele Marieschi, shown here with exercise
rider Tiffany Meuller, was pulled-up in the Grade III Carolina
Cup.
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Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr.’s Mulahen (GB) was in contention for the
first two miles of the Carolina Cup but faded to finish fourth and
last on the run-in. The 9-year-old son of Robellino (by Roberto)
won an allowance race at Saratoga last year before finishing third
in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Steeplechase and fifth in the Grade
I Colonial Cup last fall. He is trained by Kathy Neilson and was
ridden by Robert Massey.
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Mulahen, shown here leading Pelagos over
the last fence of the 2003 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase, finished
fourth in the Carolina Cup.
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Michele Marieschi (GB) settled in mid-pack for the first 1 1/2
miles and was pulled-up shortly thereafter. Beaten just once in
his American career, the rangy 7-year-old was making his 2004 debut
for Whitewood Farm and trainer Richard Valentine. The son of Alzoa
(by Lyphard) won a pair of allowance races last spring but had been
away from the races for almost a year. He was ridden by Calvin McCormack.
Imperial Gold (NZ) rated in good position for mile before being
pulled-up. The 7-year-old son of Imperial Seal (by Habitat(GB))
won the Grade III Temple Gwathmey last spring prior to being pulled-up
in his last two starts over fences last fall. He is trained by Doug
Fout and was ridden by Mark Griffiths.
The Carolina Cup Races, established in 1930, are hailed as one
of South Carolina's most popular sporting events. More than 70,000
fans jammed the Springdale Race Course to witness seven races sanctioned
by the National Steeplechase Association.
Click here
to play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2004 Handicapping Contest.
The complete order of finish for the Carolina Cup is set forth
below.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Preemptive Strike |
146 |
Walsh |
Rowland |
Polaris Stable |
|
2
|
Hirapour (Ire) |
146 |
Chipperfield |
Fout |
Eldon Farm Racing Stable |
|
3
|
Al Skywalker |
158 |
Bentley |
Majette |
Jennifer Y. Majette |
|
4
|
Mulahen (GB) |
154 |
Massey |
Neilson |
Mrs. S.K. Johnston |
|
PU
|
Michele Marieschi (GB) |
146 |
McCormack |
Valentine |
Whitewood Farm |
|
PU
|
Imperial Gold (NZ) |
154 |
Griffiths |
Fout |
Eldon Farm Racing Stable |
back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
to follow.....
Pedigrees compliments of Pedigree
Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 2003 |
Al Skywalker (10) |
Foley |
150 |
Tres Touche (6) |
142 |
Turkish Corner (7) |
142 |
|
2002
|
Canta Ke Brave (6) |
Massey |
146 |
Al Skywalker (9) |
154 |
Lord Zada (9) |
154 |
|
2001
|
Al Skywalker (8) |
Foley |
142 |
Campanile (7) |
150 |
Assurance (9) |
146 |
|
2000
|
Invest West (6) |
Kingsley |
154 |
Snuggle (NZ) (8) |
142 |
Darn Tipalarm (7) |
146 |
|
1999
|
Lonesome Glory (11) |
B. Miller |
154 |
Assurance (7) |
154 |
Romantic (7) |
154 |
|
1998
|
Master McGrath (11) |
Kingsley |
146 |
Brigade of Guards (6) |
146 |
Fifth Creek (8) |
142 |
|
1997
|
Lonesome Glory (9) |
B. Miller |
154 |
Hudson Bay (7) |
154 |
Prime Legacy (8) |
154 |
|
1996
|
To Ridley (6) |
Clancy |
146 |
Eskimo Cove (8) |
146 |
Leandro (7) |
140 |
|
1995
|
Mr. Yankee (8) |
Delozier |
140 |
Mistico (9) |
166 |
Victorian Hill (10) |
154 |
|
1994
|
Moonstruck (11) |
Thornton |
151 |
Castleworth (8) |
144 |
Victorian Hill (9) |
156 |
|
1993
|
Mistico (7) |
Thornton |
160 |
Victorian Hill (8) |
158 |
Woodlast (8) |
145 |
|
1992
|
Castleworth (6) |
Clancy |
139 |
Timely Encounter (9) |
141 |
Moonstruck (9) |
154 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
