THE PROMETHEUS GIFT *If their not ready now, they never will be*

INFO - THE PROMETHEUS GIFT - GRADE ONE - All Horses 3yo or older - $600,000 - One Mile - Firm Turf.

The stage is set for a titanic tussle. Several of the best horses around meet in this one race but the big battle is set - Two of the long servers in the SIM. The great Theatrical has 332 Races to his name, 80 winners and a total of 111 places and shows. A truly brilliant record. His opponent is Mrtrav. He has numerous stables, something he has admitted to, something which, in my opinion, is great. This stable has had 95 Runners with 16 winners and 28 total places and shows. A record which may not look as impressive as Theatrical's but he has winners a plenty from other stables.

These two trainers are great servants to the game but the real tussle is on course. School Kris faces off against 11 opposition but his big danger, Shin Brook.

School Kris has a great record - 43/16-12-6 - with $3,625,630 earned. This 4yo is very well bred, being by Kris and out of a Lyphard Mare. School Kris is Four Years of age but he's an old hand, and he's not done yet. He was prepared for this race with a head second in The Cane Toad GII race in week 774. That was over 6 furlongs but he'll obviously fare better over today's distance. School Kris is the 8/5F. Looking at his record is mouthwartering....

Now on to his biggest danger, Shin Brook. I have to admit to being a little biased. Shin Brook has been a favourite of mine since when he suffered his bad injury. I've followed his races since then, and he's looking better than ever. His sire is Blushing Stage and he's out of a Raise A Native Mare. His record isn't quite as impressive as School Kris's but it's top class - 20/7-4-3 - and $508,177. Shin Brook is 7 now and likes to run when fresh. He'll have been prepared for this well by Mrtrav. Shin Brook's last race was a superb second in the Fried Rice Mile in Tokyo. He's not won a Graded race for a while, but this is the time to do it. His best recent SF was 121. That would beat School Kris. Last time Shin Brook ran a 103 and should be running in excess of 112 on Saturday. He is a 7/2 2F for the race.

But this race is by no means a two horse one. Foggy A.P. has a cracking record. This 7yo by A.P. Indy, out of a Riverman Mare, is bred to be one of the top horses around. His last three runs indicate that he's in top form. His Speed Figure's aren't as good as some other's but he's been trained up for this well by crisis. Foggy A.P. looks set to run into the 100's on Saturday. He is a 15/1 shot.

Lucky Light is in really good form. This 6yo has won four of his last five, second in the other. He is by Spectacular Bid and out of a Nijinsky II Mare. Although earning less than his some of his more well known rivals, he has been raced to run a large SF. The last time he ran below a 100 was week 669. Lucky Light ran an 85SF that day and ran a 113 in his next run. I think a similar thing will happen at Vermont with 105+ being likely. He has a 6/1 shot.

Looking at Shy Project's record it looks like he either wins or come nowhere. 32/11-0-2. It looks that way don't ya think? But the fact of the matter is this, Shy Project has won six of his last eight races. He's in the form of his life. He's set to run a big SF. Clearly his trainer sand has found the perfect way of training this son of El Gran Senor, but is he upto the GI standard. His price is 11/1.

My home track is North Carolina. They run Night Grass. The owner of NC is desperado and he trains this 7yo son of Alzao. This was the second option for NC after the first choice, none other than Enough Knock pulled out to run last week. He's in very good form but will be outclassed. Night Grass is available at 72/1.

Tom A.P. is quite inconsistent. But this has to be said - his trainer, james22, seems to prepare him very well for Graded races. This A.P. Indy horse likes running against the best. All you have to do is look at his last two Graded races, a 5th and a 2nd. He is prepared well for these races and runs very good SF's. He looks to have been prepared very well for this. One not to rule out at 10/1.

S.Dance is by Kris S. A 4yo colt who raced below par last time out. He will run much better this time and is another prepared cleverly for this race. He recieved an injury in week 655 but has fully recovered and looks set to run a big race. He is 13/1.

R Haffner rides the next horse, Louis' Fool. Haffner is very well known for his partnership with the brilliant Down The Jazz. Hopefully for Haffner, DTJ will be winning at Vermont on Saturday but i'm sure he wouldn't mind winning this either. Louis' Fool is no slouch. He is a 4yo colt by Nureyev and you'd think a Mile would suit. I think this colt would be best over 10 furlongs. Likely to be outclassed but with Haffner on board you never know. A 33/1 shot.

Hasty Door has been a great credit to his connections. He is trained by theavenger and ridden by M Day. This 4yo colt is a son of Storm Cat. His last run must go down as a big worry because he ran a 51 and may have picked up a slight knock in the process. Each time he runs below standard he picks himself up and battles on but this could be too much of a battle. In with a very big chance at 15/1.

Can Rizzo the big longshot but and has a small chance. His record isn't bad and this race will teach him alot. I like Slip Anchor as a sire and it points towards turf. But this horse doesn't want only turf but also distance. Run him over 1M 2F or maybe further, in starter allowance and go on from their. That is my advice to trainer irishkirk. I would watch for this one in the future punters! A 99/1 shot.

Pleasant Neck is in great form. Last time out he ran a craker to win the GI Big Red Stakes by the distance of 4 lengths. He devastated the field that day but race proved that 10 furlongs is ideal for this 3yo son of Pleasant Colony. Pleasant Neck looks on the brink of peak form so he must be feared. A 14/1 shot.

Writing for the SRF is great and i have to say that my articles at Missouri are great fun to do. Being at a spectacular event like The Equinics is a gift but, for me personally, i'm overjoyed that i was able to write about Shin Brook! I'm off to plan my MIssouri article....I'll see ya for the re-cap. Robb G, in a posh hotel somewhere in Vermont....