As season 14 comes to a close, we take a look at the top horses from the season and unwrap all the secrets hidden within.
Welcome to the first ever UNWRAPPED.
The biggest Major of the year, the Virtual Kentucky Derby, culminated an absolutely breathtaking season of racing. This was taken out by Sol Big Brain’s (Big Brain Stables) Arrow of Time (Lussi Juice) who had a barnstorming run to beat Fig (Elvis) by a length. This took Arrow of Time’s career earning’s to over 492,000 DERBY ($6,150 USD) at the end of her 3yo season. In the feature race, she led from the final 200m mark, barrelling down the middle of the track, as Fig chased her down out further wider. With conditions to suit, she managed to hold on and add another win to her already impressive record. This win pushes her winning strike rate to 37.5% and a jaw-dropping place rate of 80%, all from only 24 starts. Fig lost no admirers, but he obviously just wanted further. Why? Well he capped off the season with a Group 2 win in the Thunder Breakaway over 12f. Defeating Arrow of Time by 6 lengths. That makes it 42 wins for Fig (13-6-6) and 961,000 DERBY in prize money ($12,000). In the Kentucky Derby, conditions just weren’t there to suit fan favorite Debt Collector (Lower Expectations). She just couldn’t handle the sloppy conditions finishing back in 12th position. After notching up some impressive wins, on a fast track, in the Road to Kentucky Derby series. She definitely wasn’t disgraced and is one to watch in S15.
Kentucky Derby Contender: Debt Collector (Lower Expectations) build up to the Kentucky Derby (above)
In other races, Gaiai v2.0 (Hot Sauce) took out the Group 1 Antiquity Challenge. After a frustrating string of seconds, she added another 146,000 DERBY ($1,825 USD) to her already impressive career earnings of 1.4M DERBY ($18,000+ USD). She is an RDF sprinting machine and eats up 6f like it’s nothing. At 6f her stats are unbelievable, with a win rate of 55% and a place rate of a gobsmacking 83% (10-4-1). There’s a reason why she’s here and competing in the upper echelon of Photo Finish Live. Her season 14 earnings couldn’t be matched by any other horse, earning 986K DERBY ($12,325 USD).
High Hopes (Son of Lussi Juice) had an unbelievable season too. Notching up wins in the Group 1 Territory Commemorative (9f), The Antiquity Trail (7f Group 1) and finally the Twin Spires Gallop (Group 1 8f). The final being his biggest purse to date, an unbelievable 300,800 DERBY ($3,760 USD). The versatility in distances this horse shows in unparalleled, with wins at every distance between 5-10 furlongs. There’s talks of the big punters black-booking this 3yo colt as he charges into his 4yo season (season 15). He was only 50k DERBY behind Gaiai v2.0 in season earnings and will be looking to go one better in S15. Take a look at his win by a long nose against Blinded by the Light (Lussi Juic) in season 14’s Group 1 Thornburn Dash across 9f LD. This horse has a serious will to win.
Other notable horses in the top leaders, were As Real As it Gets, notching up 832,000 DERBY ($10,400 USD) this season alone. With Slipper Ringer, Zeron and Mr. Wonderful not far behind.
With the start to season 15 right around the corner, one thing’s for certain. And that is this. It’s not getting any easier. With record number of new stables entering the game and the multi-year partnership with Churchill Downs taking centre stage, the game’s growth is not slowing down.
What will season 15 bring?
Will a new champion rise to the occasion? Will our top horses of season 14 peak? Or will it all come crashing down.
I’ll see you next time as we unwrap the previous season and count down the next all over again.
Cheers,
Hidden
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