Dahlia spent most of her career racing in Europe and winning their most prestigious stakes. A champion grass horse, she was also the first female Thoroughbred to earn $1 million. At 3, Dahlia won the Irish Oaks, England's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and the Washington, D.C. International at Laurel. As a 4-year-old Dahlia won England's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes again, as well as the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup (UK), the Man o'War Stakes (US) and the Canadian International. She was then named Champion Grass Horse of 1974. The highlight of Dahlia's 5th year was her repeat victory in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup. At 6 Dahlia defeated males in the Hollywood Invitational. Dahlia was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1981.
From the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame
#1 From ASR
JONATHON'S COZZENE (Cozzene x Gold Stage x Victory Stride) Trainer is Lhdk2
Jonathon's Cozzene has found a certain amount of success on turf routes, but is unproven over this distance. A mare that likes to make the running, she will be a danger only if she is allowed to dominate her opposition. Her last big win was here in Hong Kong - but that was only over ten furlongs. Rating : 77
#2 From Nexis -
Ascot Racing UK (Seattle Slew x Mr. Prospector x Al Mamoon) Trainer is Ascoteer
Ascot Racing UK has been a disappointing homebred for her trainer. Her last big win was in a residents race at Ascot over eight furlongs - none of the other residents turned up! Her breeding does not suggest that she will handle this distance any better, so I predict that a visit to the breeding barn awaits her 5th birthday. Rating : 76
#3 From Minnesota -
Her Tenants(FR) (No Attention(FR) x North Pole x What A pleasure) Trainer is Supertoy7
Her Tenants(FR) is a very experienced mare who is capable of stealing a place here. She's seemed a little out of sorts of late but she has done this distance before and may improve on that performance. Rating : 83
#4 From Nebraska -
V. Ton (A.P. Indy x Tarleton Oak x Ribot) Trainer is Coroner
V. Ton is pretty lightly raced on turf. She also hasn't won since week 984. Whilst she has shown a preference for the longer distances I think she may well struggle here. Rating : 74
#5 From SERA -
Molly (Northern Spur(Ire) x Nashwan x Never Bend) Trainer is prppanther
Molly is a much better proposition than her odds may suggest. She's proven at the distance on turf and in fact won at Utah last time out. Another front runner she will certainly work to set the pace, but she will be struggling to hold on by the end. Rating : 85
#6 From Terrapin -
Afro Rae (Blush Rambler x Draft Card x Roberto) Trainer is handily
Afro Rae is the big outsider of the field and rightly so. Her only win to date was in a maiden claimer so this step up in class must be quite dizzying for her. No matter - her trainer should be applauded for entering her despite this. Rating : 60
#7 From NWRC -
Dance Bubba (Halo x Green Dancer x Bold Bidder) Trainer is tips
Dance Bubba is the old lady of the party but also, paradoxically one of the most lightly raced. She really does look a bit out of place here as a mile looks to be her maximum trip. She'll be up there for the first half of the race but I would expect her to fade rather badly from then on. Rating : 65
#8 From EWC -
Traveling Tyler (Nureyev x Glitterman x Sadler's Wells) Trainer is Calumet
Traveling Tyler is very lightly raced and another well bred 4yo homebred. She won a big ASR Trophy race a few races back over just 6 furlongs on a yielding track and despite a reasonable allowance run over 10, there is nothing to suggest that she will meet with much success over this increased distance. Rating : 70
#9 From Queensland -
Assembly Robin (Alzao x Holy War x Dock Robbery) Trainer is holyghost
Assembly Robin won a very nice 12 furlong Allowance race a few races back and on that form could make the frame, thus belying her long-ish odds. Rating : 85
#10 From Viking Racing -
Mama Door (Notebook x Stage Door Johnny x Sham) Trainer is Jacobsson
Mama Door will certainly be a major threat in this race. Whilst her best races seem to have been on dirt this distance will certainly not be too much trouble for her. Her one major fault is her lack of wins - especially recently - and that may be just beyond her yet again here. As soon as her trainer makes a decision as to where he should be entering her I'm sure he winning habit will return. Rating : 90
#11 From Germany -
Cold Minstrel (Trempolino x The Minstrel x Dancing Count) Trainer is joe2000
Cold Minstrel seems to have struggled recently and hasn't won for a long long time. Another mare who can't seem to find her distance I don't think she'll have too much luck in running here. Rating : 80
#12 From Ireland -
National Hope(IRE) (Barathea(IRE) x Academy Award x Sagace(FR)) Trainer is Spudeater
National Hope(Ire) has every chance of making the frame in this field as, unlike most of her opponents, she has run over these marathon distances many times. Trainer Spudeater has confined most of her efforts to allowances and starter allowances up till now, but the step up in class is purely illusory. Rating : 94
#13 From Vermont -
Our Bell (Affirmed x Inherent Star x Quadrangle) Trainer is Crystalluv
Our Bell is another mare whose odds do not seem to reflect her true chances. She's proven at the distancee and recently was runner up in a Vermont Equinics prep race, so sh'e on a high at the moment. She's also quite capable making the running or coming late so her tactics will be very interesting to watch. Rating : 88
#14 From New South Wales -
Cecil Roo (Affirmed x Blushing Groom(FR) x Bold Bidder) Trainer is toplight
Cecil Roo is the shortest priced favorite in the whole Equinics this year and in fact is the only odds on runner this year! Hence the big prices for the rest of the field. Is she good value? Well, you only have to look at her earnings and the fact that she has posted 9 consecutives 100+ SP#'s over long distances. She's ranked Number one older mare in the sim, has won 9 Graded Stakes races so far in her career and this looks a real certainty to be number 10. In a relatively weak field she should win extremely easily, so would you bet against her? Rating : 100
#15 From Team Independant Unity -
Tizdaring (Dare And Go x Cee's Tizzy x Dancer's Image) Trainer is arazi99
Tizdaring is a lightly raced mare of quality. Her only real problem here today is that Cecil Roo is in the same race, otherwise she would be a a good thing to follow up a very nice Rhode Island Stakes win over two miles last time. Still, second place is certainly not to be sniffed at! Rating : 95
WIN: CECIL ROO
PLACE: TIZDARING
SHOW: NATIONAL HOPE(IRE)
ANALYSIS & BET: This is not a very popular distance hence the slightly shorter field. Many of the entries are purely filling spaces (and no shame in that), but the whole race looks to be a walk in the park for CECIL ROO who looks a very good thing indeed despite a poor draw. TIZDARING will be trying hard to peg her back at the end but may be more involved in a dour battle of her own with NATIONAL HOPE(IRE) and MAMA DOOR. Whether you choose to bet on the outcome really will be decided by how much you can afford as the very short odds on offer for the favorite are a little prohibitive - but then she is the nearest you'll get to a dead cert at the Equinics!
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