Mall,
in terms of early speed, my view is that the sprint needs to be handicapped twice - 1. what if they kill each other upfront and 2. what if they don't. Doesn't mean you have to bet all the combos (in fact you shouldn't) but I think that in exotics you need to play a bit of both with key horses. as an example at CD 2 years ago this worked beautifully when early speed was diabolical and 8-5 kona beat two late finishers (that were very very playable in the speed self-destructs angle) for a large tri. last year the speed holds angle would have been succesful (I admit last year I got caught in the hype about everyone cutting their throats and forgot about the speed holds scenario). Maybe they will cut their throats this year but what if they don't (check that derby exacta I keep telling myself).
on bonapaw my US experience tells me that I have a slight doubt about him in big fields. I played him in a large-ish field at SAR last year and he was very disappointing (went too fast early). His big numbers have been in small fields. Maybe not enough to toss him but a lingering doubt nevertheless.
