Sensational Move marked for War Zone Sprint

THOUGH HE appears to be in a tough spot against legitimate sprinters, going five and a half furlongs in Saturday’s War Zone Sprint, SENSATIONAL MOVE will benefit from the cheap speed of VOLATILITY, BAZINGA, and LADY ABHIMALA, who will all be making their bids on the lead.

SENSATIONAL MOVE returns quickly to the trenches of the front line after his brave fourth-place finish behind impressive CAPTAIN CALICO at seven furlongs on Mouttet Mile Day.

Runners-up RHTHYM BUZZ and NORBLAR were both beneficiaries of SENSATIONAL MOVE’s stretch bid, which almost brought him heads-on with CAPTAIN CALICO approaching the final half-furlong before Frenchman Julien Leparoux went into his reserves to fend off rivals, winning by three-quarter length.

Ridden by sparingly used Rudolph Paige, a reward for a stunning 62-1 upset aboard the Sensational Slam-Money Move colt at six and a half furlongs, SENSATIONAL MOVE proved he was no fluke, swinging four-wide into the lane in chase of St Leger third-place PRINCESS SHARON making her bid at CAPTAIN CALICO while NORBLAR sought a rail run coming off the turn.

Similar to his November 11 stunner, SENSATIONAL MOVE ran past PRINCESS SHARON, mounting a last-furlong challenge at CAPTAIN CALICO, briefly giving Paige hopes of outfinishing multiple Breeders’ Cup-winning Leparoux. However, the Frenchman had an ace, or two, up his sleeve, rousing CAPTAIN CALICO to fend off SENSATIONAL MOVE and NORBLAR, who were both relegated at the wire by RHYTHM BUZZ, who was switched wide for a late run.

CAPTAIN CALICO’s victory was a solid one, franking his October 21 victory over Canadian ATLANTIC CONVOY and avenging his unfortunate November 11 third-place finish behind SENSATIONAL MOVE and PRINCESS SHARON. The chestnut colt made every yard of the running in strong splits, the first five furlongs in 59.0, correcting his previous effort when he had reared at the off on November 11.

Having chased CAPTAIN CALICO from the furlong pole to the wire, SENSATIONAL MOVE’s vast improvement with the tongue tie for a second consecutive race must be noted.

Sitting level at 123lb with CAPTAIN CALICO, who was ridden by a jockey of world-renown, highlights SENSATIONAL MOVE’s effort with Paige.

Blessed with good mid-race pace and a kind draw at post-position 10, keeping him out of the scramble at the half-mile bend, SENSATIONAL MOVE should be picking off rivals at will, swinging into the lane before hitting overdrive with Dane Dawkins in the stretch run.

Going a furlong and a half shorter in the War Zone, Gary Subratie has summoned champion Dawkins to replace Paige aboard SENSATIONAL MOVE, one of only two runners in the event with three wins under their girths, the other being MILOS, who won a four-furlong straight race the second time out as a two-year-old.