United Nations Stakes 2011

10.59 Monmouth Park

United Nations Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) Winner £288,462

Pick: Stacelita (win)

Belle Watling: A sensation in her native Chile (on 13 of 16 career starts in her native country, culminating in a hard-fought success over an international field in the Gran Premio Latino Americano), she is yet to win in four US starts for Patrick Biancone; Possible excuses for poor showing but lot to prove here.

Pulsion: Pacemaker for Belle Waiting.

Bourbon Bay: Versaitle (has won four graded stakes at distances ranging from 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 miles) and as good as ever when beating and chasing home before a slightly below par effort latest (had never won at that venue, having tried more than once); Should make a bold bid at this trip.

Teaks North:  perfect 3 for 3 over the Monmouth turf; Never even placed above Grade 3 company before a shock 25-1 victory in the Gulfstream Park turf handicap latest but needs more still and he has never run beyond 1 1/8 miles, so seems up against things.

Eldaafer: Claimed for $20,000 earlier last year and came with a late stretch run to pull off a 17-1 shocker in the $198,500 Brooklyn Handicap in slop at Belmont before taking Breeders Cup Marathon.; Not recovered same form since which means others get the vote.

Sleepless Knight: Despite having four of 11 starts none of his form matches up to his fast finishing second to n the Monmouth Stakes; Now badly in to the tune of 5lbs with that horse, so others preferred.

Bold Hawk: Winner of the Hawthorne Derby but was out of action for nearly three years after that and has lost four straight since returning last fall; No real betting proportion.

Stacelita: Developed into a top class 10f – middle distance filly in 2009, romping him in Prix Saint Alary and French Oaks before very respectable efforts in Vermille and Arc (1m4f not suiting); Not as good last year but still good enough to claim another Group1 before second in the L’Opera, and bumped into class act/progressive horse on reappearance (needed it) and should post a big effort here.

General Perfect: Monmouth specialist  (10-for-20 in his career at Monmouth on both turf and dirt and zero-for-22 elsewhere) who comes off a repeat win in the 5 furlong John McSorley Stakes;  All form seems to be at lower level and over shorter trip so hard to fancy.

Chinchon: Top class on his day, as he showed when winning last year’s renewal of this event; Has struggled since but all in better races, and set for a big show here to retain his crown.

VERDICT: Last year’s winner Chinchon is respected in his bid to land back to back runnings of this race but 4 time Group 1 winner STACELITA should prove immensely hard to beat here in her bid for a fifth Group 1. Best of the home team is Bourbon Bay.