SSM Sprint
GP   Race #4   6f   Dirt   Stake
statebred  Purse $100.000  For Four Year Olds And Upward Foaled In FL.

1 Hit The Switch, trained by Maletto
A five year old with 8 career wins he has been a consistent sort. His form peaked in the Bold Venture Stakes last year when he got home by a neck from Bay Of Plenty and a repeat of that sort of run would make him a live chance from the inside draw today. Sold fairly cheaply at auction his first and only start for the new stable was a fairly weak effort in the Gravesend Handicap which was a worrying effort considering it was Mb Stables that sold the horse and they tend to know when a horse is in decline. He did carry top weight that day so we may be able to forgive him and his works dont suggest a big loss in ability.

2 Saturday Khartoum, trained by Rousse
A lightly raced four year old with only the 8 starts he has won two and performed well enough in black type company to make him a decent entry. Racing from a  wide gate he tried to make all in the Bold Ruler Handicap and only went down by a half length and was strongly fancied after that effort to win the Marrion Stakes last time out but could only finish third of five. He is working strongly and has improvement on his side so with this nice draw he will have a chance.

3 Scripted, trained by Mb Stables
An interesting entry from the champion trainer he has been running over route trips on the turf in his last 4 starts and has won both his races on the grass suggesting this is a bit of an experimental entry. It seems as though Mb Stables can get a horse to work fast whatever its form though and he  managed to get a sub 58 second work out of him on the dirt in December so who knows what we will see today. He has speed and a measure of ability but is really hard to weigh up.

4 Single One, trained by Running Farms
Looked a little out classed in his two efforts in back type company and may find a couple of these too fast for him today. Never write anything off at HRP but he looks held.

5 Bolkonski, trained by Fractious
Not the best of win records but he is a fast worker who could probably beat them all if this was a work out. Although he was only eighth last time out in the Mr Prospector he ran pretty well from a  wide draw and was taken too far back to have a chance. I liked the way he made ground though and a smaller field here will negate the outside draw a touch. I doubt he will start favourite but he does have upset winner written all over him.

SUMMARY
I rather like Bolkonski for this winning at good odds from Scripted, Saturday Khartoum and Hit The Switch.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded