January 3YO Power Rankings

This week might be the week for the 2YO's to shine with the Karaka Millions coming up over Auckland Anniversary weekend at Ellerslie. I will cover that race and the 2YO's in general later in the week, but today I will have a look at the 3YO's with another rendition of my completely subjective 3YO Power Rankings. There have been a lot of events for the 3YO's over the Christmas period since my last rankings, there have been six races above listed level (including the Gore Guineas, which for the purposes of this list we wont include) and we are well into our build up for the New Zealand Derby (39 Sleeps!).

The big 3YO stories over the past month include;

Story: Planet Rock's impressive Boxing Day win, and then following up with a pretty close forth on New Years day over 2000m.
Conclusion:  She looked great on Boxing day, and looked good New Years day as well getting caught in the last 100m, it might have just been the wear and tear of two runs in seven days combined with the first 2000m effort, but I would still consider her one to watch over that distance.

Story: Burgundy's question marks. Looked to have a great position on Boxing day, just couldn't finish. Had a disaster last Saturday at Wellington, started poorly, raced wide and back, moved forward and was blocked at about 600m, then showed a good finish for third.
Conclusion:  Ocean Park looked fantastic in that race on the weekend and is the story to focus on. Burgundy still seems to have the talent but just cannot put it together in these big races.

Story: Emerging Derby Contenders
Conclusion: Knights Tour was amazing on boxing day, it was a great finish and showed the ability to go over more distance, particularly given he caught and passed Burgundy and fought hard against Ocean Park.  Ocean Park looks to have gone to another level in Wellington smashing them in a good Group 3 field. I am certain other contenders will come to light as we approach March 3.

Story: My man-crush (?) on Silent Achiever
Conclusion: I figure if I mention this horse in everything I write over the next couple of months good things will happen. She is now the Oaks favourite and why not with that explosive finish. She was great on Boxing day in a race which where she was screaming for a bit more distance, then took on the fellas over 2100m which had the advantage of having an extra 100m over the 3YOF race that day. She was basically last on the turn and really smoked them. Looking at those Oak's odds $5 seems short to take this far out, $9 for Planet Rock is still tempting.

Onwards to the 3YO rankings.

Power Rankings
Dropped from Rankings: Dowager Queen (8), Zurella (9)
Honourable Mention: Testa Secret (hardest omission) Burgundy (what to expect?), Artistic (on a series of 4ths against good opposition), Shuka (always solid), Nashville, Xanadu (not sure I agree but I know she would be discussed before any big race). 

Number 10 - Duckworth Lewis (8) - Just found the Zabeel Classic slightly too hard, but he was far from the worst with a strong 7th, he will show a lot more against his own age group. 


Number 9 - Distil (6) - We wont see him again in New Zealand so is slowly drifting down this list.

Number 8  - Silent Achiever (HM) - Moved up from honourable mention with her impressive finishes since the last rankings.

Number 7 - Rock'n'Pop (2) - he is a Group 1 winner. He resumed with a last in a small field over 1600m and will look to improve from that if he is to contend in the Derby.

Number 6 - Knight's Tour (N/A) - his fortune is now closely linked to the fortune of number 5 on this list, he is the only horse to have beaten him. Then why is he not higher? he is not getting the same buzz.

Number 5 - Ocean Park (N/A) - Almost by definition he needs to be this high on the list. If everyone is talking about your amazing performance and you have improved to derby favourite then you have the Power.

Number 4 - Anabandana (4) - Now has not raced since the Guineas, it is not evident when we will next get a look at this classy filly.

Number 3 - Antonio Lombardo (3) - I still see him as a Group 1 winner in waiting, less than impressive last start but should bounce back fresh when we next see him. 

Number 2 - Sangster (1) - Diminishing in these rankings because he is not in the forefront of our minds, can't see any nominations for him so he might be looking at an extended spell before the Queensland winter. I would still consider him a Derby favourite (if he was nominated) even  after the impressive Kinght's Tour and Ocean Park performances.

Number 1 - Planet Rock (5) - The big Group 2 win pushes her up, you can excuse the following week, she still has the power. 

Value Derby Proposition: Shuka ($31)
Long shot Derby Proposition: Shanghai Bund ($51) (longest shot I can see winning at this point)