Thunder Road – Grade III
1 Mile Turf Stake Purse $100.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Atomic Eclipse La Canada Racehorses Fuentes Ru

Despite some vocal dislike of the new race engine it seems this trainer has found a horse and an instruction that seems to suit this new set up. Drawn awkwardly he didn’t mind being wide and sat just off the pace, as they rounded the turn the gelding answered the urging s and quickly put the race beyond doubt going under the wire in an impressive winning time. It is not often we see a horse that is better at four than it was at three but this one certainly looks to have improved and could be an effective turf miler this year.

2nd Plucky Ben Arindel Gonzalez Ru

Got a nice stalk from the one draw but the closing fractions were just too much and he ended just whacking away for second. This was an honest effort from the six year old and despite some cramped odds i felt this was as good as he could’ve hoped for.

3rd Shanghai Nakamura Stables Espinoza V

Whilst the second horse may have been at shorter odds than i imagined this one went off at 100/1 which is mystifying when you consider he had run well and regularly in a better grade. He is a good horse but just seems to lack that turn of foot necessary to win at graded level but if his trainer can find something just a little different i have a suspicion that he could end up having a good season.

4th King Que Niagra D J C Racing Stables Corrales G

Close enough but good enough throughout but just didn’t quicken when it was needed and ended up in the line up for the minors. Not a bad effort but a little disappointing after some high speed figures leading up to this. One feels if he can settle on a campaign trip then he may have a good year.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES