Gallant Bob Stakes – Grade II (P7)
6 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st      Grande Geek       Mb Stables       Bridgmohan S X

Not one of the three runners from the stable went to the lead which was a brave move by the stable tactically but one that paid off very well. This gelding has now won seven from fourteen and we must not forget that that includes a second at grade one level and a BC start.
So this is a nice sort and with the ace draw which he just about got away with after just an average start he was always going to be very competitive. I for one, however, was impressed with his final furlong to the point of saying that is the best final furlong i have seen in a sprint this year. In a fast run sprint with no real let up he pulled two lengths clear in 200 yards which is very good at this level.
He stands 19th on the qualification list for the BC Sprint so may just squeeze in but it looks more likely he will need to find at least two more points from somewhere. That looks like a real possibility and he will be a good representative for the three year olds should he make the field.

2nd       Tko        Fractious       Cedillo A

Such is the qualification process for the BC that the horse that gets beaten will run in the BC and the victor may not. Its not a perfect process but one we are stuck with and despite being beaten today this rejuvenated sprinter ran a very good race and deserves a shot. Drawn wide he was pushed forward and had to go very hard to get on speed and that will have blunted his finish. He kept on well for second though separating the Mb Stables runners.

3rd   Golden Treasure      Mb Stables        Gonzalez Ru

Has a tendency to go back which is tough in a sprint these days but ran through them pretty well for third albeit well enough beaten by the first two. Here is another that was beaten but sits in a better position to get in the BC than the winner i feel he may be sacrificed if it means his stable companion can get in.

4th      Rotarian        Mb Stables      Saez G

He is a difficult horse to weigh up with form over just about every race distance in the game. I am not sure he races any different over any trip so it is hard to say whether this was his best form or not. A bit of a difficult horse to weigh up but he is in the right stable to find a length or two as he grows and matures and i am sure he will eventually find his niche.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES