McKnight Stakes – Grade III
GP Race #8 1 1/2m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Jacks Courage Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario 124 —

On paper this race begins and ends with this horse who would not look out of place in both the Pegasus World Cup races. The winner of the grade one Travers and beaten under a length when fourth in the BC Classic he proved that surface can mean very little when they have ability by going to the HOL Derby for his first ever run on grass and finishing a close second. On form this one cannot be beaten but this is HRP so all sorts of scenario’s could play out for a beating to happen. The line in the sand must be drawn though and this one looks the bet of the day.

2 Martinez Royalty Stables Husbands P 124 —

Close up in the BEL Derby the winner of the SAR Derby it was all going great until a wide draw threw a spanner in the works and saw him a well beaten second last in the BC Turf. It really is as simple as that when you don’t hit all the buttons on the day you can go from hero to zero at HRP in the blink of an eye. The closing style may be his biggest enemy as it is almost impossible to find consistency when closing on this engine and it can be so hit and miss. A clear run and he may be the biggest danger to Jacks Courage.

3 Calling All Angels D J C Racing Stables Silvera Ru 124 —

Not a bad sort but a typical HRP conundrum as he is out working the two favorites despite form that is inferior. It has been a long time since work times won races but there is a glimmer here as we saw this one very nearly win the Secretariat last year coming from a mile behind to end up third. The problem with this one is clear, you don’t keep winning races if you are a closer these days. You can win a BC and then get stuck in traffic in a slow run claimer, so like the horse inside him he will have to rely on the race engines help if he is going to win.

4 Dragon Brearh Mojica Racing Gonzalez El 124 —

A lightly raced five-year-old who like his name takes a bit of working out. He has won his last three and is unbeaten in routes so he just maybe a superstar in the making but he has to take a big step up to start that journey today. If he wins add him immediately to your BC short list.

5 King Z Mb Stables Dettori L 124 —

A claimer a race ago and working faster than one of the stable superstars who he meets today, only at HRP ay! That is however one of the things that keeps us playing the hope of finding that diamond in the rough or hitting the slot machine button and hoping it turns up a winner. Well, very possibly the champion trainer after claiming a good few at the end of last year has indeed come up with a diamond, but of course we won’t know until he has proven it against other horses. On previous form forget him BUT…….

6 Cherokee Raj Night Rider Stables Gaffalione T 124 —

The seven-year-old certainly proved in his last couple of starts how little there is between a high level overnight and a top stakes race with thirds in the Woodford and the HOL Turf Cup. A tough old nut who may be finding his improvement curve late in life he has the look of one of those long-priced winners the stable can find so I wouldn’t be writing him off.

7 One Twenty Five TwinTowersRacing Beschizza A 124 —

This stable has made me look a fool plenty of times when I say one of their runners has no chance so, here I am giving them yet another opportunity to laugh at me. This isn’t a bad sort and his dirt work last time has me worried, but I just cannot see him beating the top picks.

8 Command Class Riggins Racing Corbett G W 124 —

Riggins Racing keeps showing us why he was one of the best trainers in the game and they are certainly building up their stable to reach those heights again. On paper this one has something to find with the wide gate, but he has been improving at home since being bought for $50.000 and is as fit as a flea with a tough win last time. He wouldn’t be my top choice, but a win would not surprise me either.

9 One Eyed Man Fractious Wilson E J 124 —

When the trainer of the moment claims one for $100.000 you have to sit up and take notice. He has some fair form, but it is his works since being with Fractious that makes me sit up and take notice. The player certainly has found the Midas touch recently and it looks like they have applied it to this five-year-old who may just use his outside gate and surprise them all.

SUMMARY

Well, I can see Jacks Courage settling on speed whilst some of his main rivals go back and if the pace is controlled, I just cannot see him being beaten. BUT and this is a big BUT, there are a few here that seem to have found something that looks a lot like rapid improvement, and we could just see a winner from left field.
One Eyed Man, Command Class, Calling All Angels and Kings Z have all been setting the track alight at home and you have to say Martinez, Dragon Brearh and Cherokee Raj or no slouches either. This is a lot more than a one-horse race if pathways open up at the right time for Jacks Courage’s rivals.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES