MTH Cup – Grade III

1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $350.00 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st        Classic Look             Nakamura Stables          Centeno D E                  1:47.26

The mysterious rain clouds at MTH today only managed to dampen the grass leaving the dirt track nice and dry which would’ve come as good news for the owners in this race.

It was to be a tough race to win and, in the end, this five-year-old proved to be the toughest with a dogged head win. He was coming off a poor run in the Dominion Day which was run in similar splits but today he put his best foot forward showing what a difference three weeks can make at HRP.             

This was his eighth win and he now creeps closer to the magic $1,000.00 mark and who is to say he won’t achieve that this year.

2nd       Tehran                              Mb Stables                     Santana R Jr                   1:47.29

The wide gate and an on pace sort it was no surprise to see him lead. He was going well too, still holding a clear length at the furlong pole but in the end he was just collared close home. The seven year old may not be as good as he once was but merely being in this stable seems to be enough incentive for him to keep on running well and though it’s been a while since he last won at this level his works and form certainly suggest there may be another one in him.      

3rd        El Gran Cambio           Bears Stable                                Corrales G       1:47.40

He may have won ten races, but his running style certainly doesn’t help his cause at this level. Getting way back in the early stages he flew home for a brilliant third but one just feels that his record could be so much better if he was an on-pace runner on this engine.            

4th        Brave Storm                   Simmer Down Stable               Marin S              1:47.72

El Gran Cambrio, ditto. Running on from a mile behind for a good fourth he never looked like reaching the first three but must’ve pleased the new owner after they claimed them last time out. Like the third horse winning at this level as a deep closer is far from easy and if the trainer can find some early pace from somewhere he could end up being a good investment.    

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES