Race 7 - IRT BREEDERS CROWN SERIES 20 (3YO COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)

Ruling out some Grand Circuit classics there is little doubt this Breeders Crown Final for 3YO boys is not only the race of the night but the race of 2018. Between them this group have won every major classic-age feature for the season and this will decide the nation’s premier 3YO for the term. Despite the fact those who thrive on maps will strongly espouse the virtues of COLT THIRTY ONE (1) and KONAN (8) from their likely lead and trailing roles the cold hard facts would suggest this Championship bout will be won by one of three emerging legends off the second row; they being POSTER BOY (9). IGNATIUS (10) or RIDE HIGH (12). First of all, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room; IGNATIUS (10) as good as he is and as amazing as he was last weekend will start from behind a slower beginner than his two chief rivals and once he gets well out of his ground it will take something quite extraordinary to overwhelm Emma Stewart’s five horse light brigade tonight. That leaves us with POSTER BOY (9) and RIDE HIGH (11) and quite clearly little separates them. If anything, one tends to lean on RIDE HIGH (11) for two reasons. One is the fact that he has at least as much speed as his multiple Group 1 winning stablemate and the other is he is probably capable more labour if required. Outside of the top trio the previously mentioned duo of COLT THIRTY ONE (1) and KONAN (8) will obviously have their supporters though the one who may fly under the radar is MAJOR TIMES (5) who has always promised the world but is delivering far more than an Atlas at his two most recent outings.