Wannabe champs face tough returns to Hastings action

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With two legs of racing’s Triple Crown already in the books, the Classic generation at Hastings is only now shaking off the winter rust, with last year’s leading juveniles slated to make their three-year-old debuts on Saturday.

Mount Doom, last year’s leading two-year-old male, faces six rivals in a valuable Allowance contest as he begins a campaign connections hope will lead all the way to September’s B.C Derby.

It won’t be easy. Despite carrying all before him last season, Mount Doom takes on older horses this Saturday, which is never a straightforward prospect, and particularly tough at this time of year. Four-year-old thoroughbreds are normally bigger and stronger than their junior rivals, and the two generations don’t normally clash until later in the season, when they are more evenly matched.

Fortunately, Mount Doom’s trainer, Steve Henson, who has saddled five winners already this term, remains undaunted by the prospect.

“We have to start somewhere,” he said. “It’s not ideal to run against older horses, but I really couldn’t be happier with him.

“I’d have been happy to go straight into the first Stakes race of the year without a race, but it’s preferable to give him a run.”

Breezin Brianne also faces older horses on Saturday, although her path to the top this season has not been harmed by the absence of last year’s leading juvenile filly, Someday Lady. She is currently based at Santa Anita in California and is slated to run there this weekend.

Trained by veteran handler Mel Snow, Breezin Brianne, named for a granddaughter of the owner, has pleased connections this spring and, like her male counterpart, has thrived during her winter break.

Snow said: “Yes, she wintered good and is training really good. I bought her from the yearling sale and we’ve always liked her.”

Similarly to Mount Doom, Breezin Brianne faces a tough season debut. Her rivals include the four-year-old filly Sunblaze, a leading three-year-old last season, who was third in the B.C. Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap.

However, while Snow would have preferred an opportunity to keep his star filly among her own age group, he remains confident Breezin Brianne (who is a half-sister to the smart Diocles, a Hastings winner last weekend and one of last season’s best three-year-olds), will give a good account of herself on Saturday.

“She could have gone straight to the Stakes race without a prep race,” Snow said this week. “She will be fine.”

Hastings race selections

First race Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Race #4: Fit from a winter campaign in Arizona, THOMPSON looked to have a little in hand when scooting through a gap to win narrowly on opening day. The runner-up that afternoon won last weekend and the selection can make it two for two at Hastings.

Saturday, Race #5: Last year’s leading juvenile MOUNT DOOM faces a tough task on his season debut, but he was a class act last year and he can make a winning first step on the path to bigger prizes.