BC Sprint – Grade I
6 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $1,500.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

Well I said this would be a close race and with five lengths covering the 14 runners and pretty much a length covering the first 6 it was. Plenty of bad trips and good trips, the draw as expected had a huge part to play and the three year olds dominating were all things we expected so it remains to say congratulations to those that came out on top today and here is how they all ran.

1^st Trench Admiral, trained by Grimley

This three year old has had a huge season and was available early season for anyone to buy as he won two claimers on his way to victory today. This was his fourth graded stakes win of the season and like a good few BC winners in the last couple of days he used an ace draw to his full advantage.

A good start saw him able to take up a super position behind the four horses who were having a speed battle up front and all he really needed from then on was a Hardline type miracle gap. That gap did open but it took his jockey a worrying length of time to spot it and I can imagine his trainer shouting at the screen as he went a good half furlong before being switched back inside to take the offered hole. He ran on well to get the lead and clung on in a desperate finish for a gritty win in the end.

2^nd Chit Chat, trained by Team 7 Illusions

Back in the third group after a quarter mile he tracked the winner into the stretch but Trench Admiral had got first run and the short straight just wasn’t long enough for the brave three year old. He kept giving all the way to the line and only just failed. After two big late finishes to win his last two in graded class he very nearly did it again today and will go into a new year as a leading sprint prospect for next year’s sprint or mile.

3^rd Tequila Ruler, trained by Mb Stables

Hung out wide and taken way back early on he was taken wider and wider into the straight but still managed to finish like a train for third. This was pretty much a mirror image of the SA Sprint Championship when he flew late for the same position and you have to wonder how good he could be if he ever gets a decent trip.

4^th Moon Landing, trained by Mb Stables

Raced with the winner just behind the early speed dual but as the winner was switched inside to take a yawning gap he was left behind a weakening leader. He did find some free space in the end and managed to nab a dead heat for the last paying place

4^th Wild Glory, trained by Paradise Stable

Did the best of the early speedsters but was fighting an uphill battle after he was put into an early speed dual that was only going to end as most HRP speed duals do. He made the lead in the stretch but couldn’t find anymore and ended up in a brave dead heat for fourth. This was a great effort after a couple of closing efforts in his lead up races and considering how the rest of the speed collapsed he did exceptionally well to end up where he did.

6^th Blame Ratman

Taken way back early on and was still as good as last and stuck behind a wall of horses as they hit the short stretch. As it was he finished very strongly and can definitely have the unlucky tag attached to his name.

7^th Kiwiw Ripoff

Despite being part of the early rush for the lead he held the rail and looked to have the best chance of the front runners. Entering the stretch he had every chance and was just about in the lead but it all proved too much for the four year old and he faded quickly from a furlong out.

8^th Hathersage

Held the rail and didn’t have a bad spot after a quarter mile but had nowhere to go when they hit the stretch and had no chance in the traffic

9^th Investment Grade

Thrown forward by the outside speed push he was in a cut throat battle for the lead early on and the writing was soon on the wall for him.

10^th Rule The Roost

Was taken back from his wide draw and to be honest was never given a chance after the engine made him fall back so far to try and find the rail that he would’ve needed rockets on his hooves to ever get back in it. The old warrior tried hard from wide on the track but could never get involved.

11^th Sweep The Event

Taken back early and had no chance after

12^th Speedballz

The wide draw saw the speed push throw him into a 4 way speed battle for the lead and to be honest his race was over from that moment. He managed to head the field in a fast first split but could never clear the gate and was on a hiding to burn out in true HRP wide draw style.

13^th Five Star Five

Was stuck wide early on in the group chasing the early speed. But weakened quickly in the stretch

14^th Miss The Mummy

Was always facing a wall of horses and never got in the race.

Categories: BC 2015-17, THE BREEDERS CUP