Post-Race Analysis:
Nashville, Tennessee - May 13, 2006: Sur La Tete won the $150,000
Grade I Iroquois Steeplechase for the second year in-a-row, defeating
the 12-year-old mare Feeling So Pretty by 6 1/2 lengths. New Zealand
import Erin Go Bragh (NZ) finished third. The final time for the
3-mile hurdle stakes was 5:46.40, well off the stakes record of
5:24.20 set by Uncle Edwin in 1985.
Bow Strada (GB) and veteran jockey Chip Miller posed an early challenge
when the pair broke on top and established a huge lead through the
first of two circuits of the course. Winning jockey Chris Read had
Sur La Tete rated as far back as fourth in the seven-horse field,
but had no choice but to kick on from second with a mile to run,
as Bow Strada had bulled his way to a 20-length lead. Sur La Tete
collared Bow Strada at the 16th of 18 jumps, out-jumping his rival
to make the lead upon landing. Erin Go Bragh and Feeling So Pretty
followed Sur La Tete around the far turn and pounced at the top
of the stretch, but neither could match strides with the winner's
late kick.
|
|
|
Sur la Tete, jockey Chris Read and trainer
Neil Morris (right) won the Grade I Iroquois for the second
year in-a-row. J.S. Lee photo.
|
"He's easily the best horse I've sat on," said winning jockey Christopher
Read, who also rode Sur La Tete to victory in 2005. "He's starting
to be put in that elite category."
"Chip and Bow Strada had such a big lead and it was like, 'When
do we start to move?'" Read said. "When we came down the backstretch,
you had to worry whether they were going to stop. Then when we jumped
by them it basically left me giving a lead to Erin Go Bragh, who
was tracking me, but I had to go when I did," Read continued. "I
had enough to hold them off, but I would have rather had something
to run at up the stretch. He was getting tired, but he's a fighter.
If a horse comes to him he's going to try with everything he has.
He'll go until he's done."
|
|
|
Chris Read calls Sur La Tete, who is
undefeated in two Grade I starts this year, "easily the
best horse I've sat on". J.S. Lee photo.
|
With his victory in the 65th running of the Iroquois, Sur La Tete
became the first repeat winner of this Grade I race since Rowdy
Irishman won back-to-back editions in 1998-99. Other horses who
have captured back-to-back runnings of the Iroquois include Mistico
(1993-94), Victorian Hill (1991-92), Uncle Edwin (1985-86), Census
(1983-84), and Owhata Chief (1978-79).
Owned by Kinross Farm and trained by Neil Morris, Sur La Tete is
undefeated in two Grade I races this year while earning $193,825
and has taken a commanding lead in the early race for the 2006 Eclipse
Award as champion steeplechaser. The 8-year-old son of Sky Classic
(by Nijinsky II) has racked up $637,00 in career steeplechase earnings
while winning nine of 18 starts over hurdles, including his last
3 in-a-row.
"He's able to get three miles easily, he jumps for fun … there
are a lot of things that show up on race day that make him [Sur
La Tete] brilliant," said winning trainer Neil Morris.
The Iroquois lost some of its drama when McDynamo, Sur La Tete's
chief rival, was scratched after developing a fever the day before
the race. The 2005 Iroquois runner-up spiked a temperature of 102.9
degrees after arriving Thursday from Pennsylvania, requiring antibiotics
and eliminating him from the race.
The complete order of finish for the Iroquois is set forth below.
JUMPING AROUND: The Iroquois headlined a standout card worth better
than $350,000 Saturday. In other action, Bill Pape's Mixed Up won
the $50,000 Marcellus Frost Stakes for trainer Jonathan Sheppard
and jockey Danielle Hodsdon. Irish import Allimac (Jody Petty) won
the $75,000 Mason Houghland timber stakes for trainer Sanna Hendriks.
Owner/trainer Linda Klein's Orchid Princess (Matt McCarron) took
the $30,000 Margaret Henley Stakes for fillies/mares. Jacqueline
Ohrstrom's Bunt (Rob Massey) won the Sport of Kings maiden hurdle
for Richard Valentine and Cohiba Stable's Mark The Shark (James
Slater) won the amateur hurdle for Jack Fisher . . . Championship
division steeplechasers are off until summer with the Grade III
Zeke Ferguson at Colonial Downs in July and two stakes at Saratoga
in August . . . The final leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown,
the $75,000 National Hunt Cup (Gr. II) for novice hurdlers, is slated
for May 20 at Radnor, Pa.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Sur La Tete |
158 |
Read |
Neil Morris |
Kinross Farm |
|
2
|
Feeling So Pretty |
150 |
Traurig |
F. Lee McKinney |
F. Lee McKinney |
|
3
|
Erin Go Bragh (NZ) |
158 |
McCarron |
Doug Fout |
Brigadoon Stable |
|
4
|
Free Admission |
158 |
Hodsdon |
Jonathan Sheppard |
William L. Pape |
|
5
|
Bow Strada (GB) |
158 |
C. Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Calvin Houghland |
|
F
|
Mon Villez (Fr) |
158 |
Aizpuru |
F. Bruce Miller |
Calvin Houghland |
|
PU
|
Meneef (Aus) |
158 |
Walsh |
Katherine N. McKenna |
Calvin Houghland |
| Scr |
McDynamo |
158 |
Thornton |
Sanna Hendriks |
Michael Moran |
|
| WINNER- Bay gelding, 8, by
Sky Classic - Rutledge Place by Caro (IRE) |
| TRAINER- Neil R.
Morris Bred By Rutledge Farm (KY) |
|
| SUR LA TETE raced along easily
in the opening stages, gained ground with a steady drive
to take the lead nearing the final turn then drew off under
mild urging. FEELING SO PRETTY was outrun for two miles
to trail the field, then advanced around the final turn
while not a serious threat to the winner. ERIN GO BRAGH
(NZ) was nicely rated shortly after the start, stayed near mid
pack to the final turn then failed to offer a serious
bid. FREE ADMISSION raced greenly in the opening furlong
while under tight control, settled to press the pace from
the outside, then tired along the backstretch. BOW STRADA (GB)
was quick from the start to be well clear for two miles,
gave ground on the back stretch to surrender the lead
nearing the final turn, then tired. MON VILLEZ (FR) was
checked repeatedly in the opening furlongs when bothered by
FREE ADMISSION, settled into good position near the second
pace, then faded a bit in the final half mile and fell
at the thirteenth fence. MENEEF (AUS) was always outrun and
pulled up after a mile. |
|
back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
Click
here for Sur La Tete's 5-cross pedigree.
Pedigrees compliments of Pedigree
Query.com
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 1995 |
Sur La Tete |
Read |
158 |
McDynamo (8) |
158 |
Bow Strada (GB) |
158 |
| 1994 |
Tres Touche (7) |
Bentley |
158 |
Snowball Flannagan |
158 |
Duke Of Earl (Ire) |
158 |
| 2003 |
Pelagos (Fr) (8) |
Foley |
158 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (8) |
158 |
Storm Touch (7) |
158 |
| 2002 |
All Gong (GB) (8) |
B. Miller |
158 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (7) |
158 |
Flat Top (9) |
158 |
| 2001 |
Rand (NZ) (7) |
E. Lamb |
158 |
All Gong (GB) (7) |
158 |
Electron (8) |
158 |
| 2000 |
Pinkie Swear (6) |
Clancy |
154 |
All Gong (GB) (6) |
158 |
Greek Hero (7) |
158 |
| 1999 |
Rowdy Irishman (10) |
Marzullo |
156 |
|
|
|
|
| 1998 |
Rowdy Irishman (9) |
Marzullo |
156 |
|
|
|
|
| 1997 |
Correggio (Ire) (6) |
Kingsley |
156 |
|
|
|
|
| 1996 |
To Ridley (6) |
Clancy |
156 |
|
|
|
|
| 1995 |
Lonesome Glory (7) |
B. Miller |
156 |
|
|
|
|
| 1994 |
Mistico (8) |
Thornton |
168 |
|
|
|
|
| 1993 |
Mistico (7) |
S. Neilson |
168 |
|
|
|
|
| 1992 |
Victorian Hill (7) |
B. Miller |
168 |
|
|
|
|
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
