The Gold Cup – Grade I
1 1/4 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Spankersville The Sidley Stud Moore R L

In a field with so many closers, it was always going to be a matter of which AI got the timing right. In the end, although it was only a head at the line it was the AI that is called Ryan Moore that got it right and this brilliant six-year-old was a willing partner. With 12 wins now on his record he is closing in on 4K in winnings and who is to say that he cannot go better than the closing eighth that he finished in last year’s BC Classic. The best son of Ginger Haggis he is a great advert for that horse and runs a similar style to his Dad and with two grade one wins already this year is heading for his best season ever.

2nd Noble Faerie Riggins Racing Lopez P

I think there is little doubt that last year BC Dirt Mile ninth will stay on the Classic trip after this brave display it is now just a matter of getting him in the field for the championship race. He has plenty of time and as a four-year-old still has some improvement to come so I expect to see him a real factor in the grade ones this year.

3rd Pennine Way Pan Farms Gallardo A A

The five-year-old may have just found this trip a little far as he looked pretty good entering the straight but couldn’t find the energy to stay with the first two. This was a good effort though and he looks to be back to his best form as a five-year-old.

4th Lion Lake Mb Stables Velazquez J R

As expected, the Mb runner pushed the pace and as we saw last week that tactic very often results in a win. This weekend however those on speed types were getting caught though to be fair to him it was a big ask to hold off this strong field of closers. I am pretty sure he will continue to be a factor wherever he goes next.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES