Post-Race Analysis:
Kingston, Georgia - April 10, 2004: Sur La Tete won the inaugural
running of the $100,000 Grade I Georgia Cup, the first leg of the
Steeplechase Triple Crown, galloping to an easy 10 3/4-length victory.
Cherokeeinthehills was a fast closing second, just edging Mauritania
by a neck in the final strides. It was another neck back to Raise
A Storm (Ire) in fourth. The winner covered the 2 miles in 3:36
4/5.
Tom Foley, riding in America for the first time since retuning
from Japan where he rode over fences this winter, set a blistering
pace on Cardiff Arms. The riders of many of the other horses in
the race were suckered into the pace set by Foley, and used their
horses up trying to stay with him. However, when the real running
started entering the final turn, Cardiff Arms quickly dropped out
of it, and those who tried to keep pace with him were left gasping
for air. Mauritania took the field over the ninth of 11 fences,
but was quickly challenged by Sur La Tete, who sat well off the
quick early pace. Sur La Tete took the lead on the final turn, flew
the last two fences and drew away in the stretch to score an easy
victory for jockey Matt McCarron.
“They were flying early on and it ended up setting up perfect for
him,” McCarron, riding Sur La Tete for the first time, told the
National Steeplechase Association. “I was a passenger. He’s the
best horse I’ve sat on – I had no intention of getting to the lead
as early as I did, but he was just galloping easily and the others
were all-out. He won as easy as you pleased – breathtaking.”
The Georgia Cup was the first Grade I victory for Mc Carron, who
was co-champion steeplechase jockey last year. McCarron is the nephew
of Hall of Fame jockey Chris and the son of former flat jockey turned
trainer Gregg McCarron.
Sur La Tete, who won the Grade I Foxbrook last fall, came to steeplechasing
after washing out of a flat career with his breeder Rutledge Farm.
The 6-year-old son of Sky Classic (by Nijinsky II) never raced for
Rutledge because of some rogue behavior, and was languishing when
steeplechase trainer Neil Morris bought the horse for Kinross Farm.
Morris “re-broke” Sur La Tete from scratch, and came up with a star.
In seven jump starts, Sur La Tete has two wins and $77,500 in earnings
and was awarded the NSA Novice Championship last year. For good
measure, the big bay broke his flat maiden at Laurel Park last summer.
Still a bit quirky, Sur La Tete spends considerable time out of
his stall and rarely races far from Kinross’ Virginia base. For
Saturday’s race, Morris sent his charge to an area farm early this
week in hopes of minimizing the effects of an energy-reducing van
trip.
Marilyn S. Ketts' Cherokeeinthehills was content to trail the field
throughout, was set to task coming to the stretch and was up in
time for place while no match for the winner. A stakes winner on
the flat before being converted to hurdles last year, the 7-year-old
son of Grade I winner Cherokee Colony (by Pleasant Colony) has only
one steeplechase victory from seven starts, but ran well in two
allowance races at Saratoga last year. He is trained by Hall of
Fame conditioner Jonathan Sheppard and was ridden for the first
time by Danielle Hodsdon.
Four-time hurdle winner Mauritania chased the pace throughout,
was up to challenge entering stretch but faded in drive and held
show. He ripped off three steeplechase victories in a row last fall
for trainer Richard Valentine. However, the 7-year-old son of Trempolino
(by Sharpen Up (GB)) finished fifth beaten 22 lengths in his only
other start this year. He is owned by Whitewood Farm and was ridden
by Calvin McCormack.
William C. Lickle's Raise A Storm (Ire) settled in to a good good
position early and moved up midway through the race before tiring
to finish fourth. The 7-year-old son of Fourstars Allstar (by Compliance
and a full brother to Fourstar Dave) was second to Sur La Tete beaten
7 1/4 lengths in his United States debut last fall. He is trained
by Katherine Neilson and was ridden by Robert Massey.
Martin Cherry's Serazzo, who had been undefeated in two career
starts over hurdles, raced along the inside but had nothing late.
The 8-year-old son of Kris S (by Roberto) out of the Peruvian mare
Ups sprinted through the stretch to win his debut at Shawan Downs
in September and then romped vs. allowance company in November.
He the spent his flat career with trainer John Kimmel before being
converted to steeplechasing by three-time leading steeplechase trainer
Tom Voss last year.
Serazzo is bred to the nines and, as such, has not been gelded,
which is unusual for a steeplechase horse. He’s a full-brother to
Grade I flat winner You And I (the sire of Grade I winner You) and
a half-brother to Grade I winner Chaposa Springs. Serazzo won five
races and nearly $200,000 on the flat, but was destined for the
claiming ranks when Kimmel suggested steeplechasing. Voss spent
most of last summer getting to know the horse, taught him to jump
at speed at Saratoga and took the wraps off for the two solid wins
last fall.
Mason H. Lampton's Frecuente (Chi) trailed the field while 3-wide
early, advanced steadily to the stretch but was unable to sustain
bid and was outfinished. He was a stakes winner on the flat in Chile
before being converted to a jumper last year. While it took him
five starts to break his maiden over hurdles, the 6-year-old son
of Fappavalley (by Fappiano) finished second three times over fences
last year, and had never been worse than fourth in six career hurdle
starts before today. Trainer Sanna Hendriks gave former champion
jockey Gus Brown a leg-up for Frecuente's first stakes attempt.
Saratoga allowance winner Pressure King raced along near the rear
and was pulled up after mile and half. He looked like a rising star
last summer but ran into some tough luck last fall after leaving
the Spa. The 7-year-old son of Compliance (by Northern Dancer) was
brought down by another horse at Pimlico and gave way to lose by
18 lengths in a tough stakes race at Montpelier last fall. He is
owned by Mrs. Thomas H. Voss and was ridden by veteran jockey Chip
Miller.
Harold Via's Cardiff Arms set pace throughout, tired and was pulled
up before entering stretch. Prior to the Georgia Cup he had never
finished worse than second in three career starts over fences. The
6-year-old son of Woodman (by Mr. Prospector) finished second beaten
1 1/4 lengths by Frecuente last fall before breaking his maiden
at Pine Mountain, Georgia. He is trained by last year's leading
steeplechase trainer Jack Fisher.
Water Hunter (GB) had good position early, retreated after a mile
and was pulled up. The 7-year-old son of Mukaddamah (by Storm Bird)
has registered only one victory from 11 career starts over hurdles
for owner Dale K. Thiel and trainer Toby Edwards. Last year's leading
steeplechase jockey David Bentley was in the irons.
Sir Howard (Aus) was always outrun before being pulled up. In his
only start this year he lost his rider, Leigh Hogben, who had the
return call in the Georgia Cup. The 8-year-old son of Alannon (Aus)
(by Noalcoholic (Fr)) was distanced in his first two attempts at
steeplechasing, but finally caught on last fall when he broke his
maiden at Montpelier. He is owned by Claytonville Stables and is
trained by Jimmy Day.
Pressure Kig
Recent maiden winner Lumiere Sprout (Arg) was scratched.
The 2-mile Georgia Cup is the first leg of the Steeplechase Triple
Crown, which also includes the National Hunt Cup at Radnor May 15th
and the Meadow Brook Cup at Belmont Park June 3rd. All three of
the races feature $100,000 purses. Since its inception in 1999,
no horse has ever captured the Steeplechase Triple Crown.
Click here for Daily Racing Form past performance
charts for the Georgia Cup.
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form
Click here
to play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2004 Handicapping Contest.
The complete order of finish for the Georgia Cup is set forth below.
Results:
|
PP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Sur La Tete |
151 |
McCarron |
Neil Morris |
Kinross Farm |
|
2
|
Cherokeeinthehills |
148 |
Hodsdon |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Marilyn S. Ketts |
|
3
|
Mauritania |
151 |
McCormack |
Richard Valentine |
Whitewood Farm |
|
4
|
Raise A Storm (Ire) |
148 |
Massey |
William C. Lickle |
Kathy Neilson |
|
5
|
Serazzo |
151 |
Murphy |
Thomas H. Voss |
Martin Cherry |
|
6
|
Frecuente (Chi) |
148 |
Brown |
Sanna Hendriks |
Mason Lampton |
|
PU
|
Water Hunter |
148 |
Bentley |
Toby Edwards |
Dale K.Thiel |
|
PU
|
Sir Howard (Aus) |
148 |
Hogben |
James Day |
Claytonville Stable |
|
PU
|
Cardiff Arms |
148 |
Foley |
Jack Fisher |
Harold A Via |
|
PU
|
Pressure King |
151 |
C. Miller |
Thomas H. Voss |
Mrs. Thomas H. Voss |
|
Scr
|
Lumiere Sprout (Arg) |
148 |
|
Kathy Neilson |
Mr. S.K.Johnston, Jr. |
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Pedigree of Winner:
to follow.....
Pedigrees compliments of Thoroughbred
Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
As this is the inagural running of the Georgia Cup, there are no
previous winners.
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
