BC Fillies & Mares Turf – Grade I
1 1/4 Mile Turf Stake Purse $2,000.000 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.

With on speed runners doing so well at SA on the turf it was essential to be drawn wide and get the HRP wide gate speed push. That was pretty much it as after a furlong or so 5 of the first 6 home all drawn wide were vying for the lead. Fair? well maybe, maybe not but there was no way an inside horse was going to lead and there was no way a closer was going to win so you could say the field was immediately cut in half before the gates opened.
This is how the first six home ran and how we saw a famous win by arguably the best turf female HRP has ever seen.

1st Attraction, trained by Mm Racing
Passing the winning post for the first time this amazing filly was poised nicely in a close stalk in between two others fighting for the early lead. As they went down the back nothing much changed as three horses lined abreast fought for the lead with Attraction in the centre. As they rounded the home turn with two to run she started to put pressure on the other two and nosed ahead and as they entered the final furlong a cheer went up as the great mare started to assert. Others were closing though and she still hadnt fought off Congratulations and Dragonville who were fighting bravely. This was her day though and she went past the post in front to become the first filly to ever win two BC Filles and Mares turfs.
It looked all over for this great mare after her terrible run in The Rodeo Drive but she bounced back to her brilliant best today to take her earnings over the $5,000.000 mark. Can she make it three next year? Well with a wide draw she just might!

2nd Congratulations, trained by Blushing Meadows
As they passed the stands Congratulations was three wide heading into the first turn and pushing for the lead. That didnt change at all round the turn as she was forced to race three wide and carried that on all the way down the back stretch as three filles fought noses and necks for the lead. Wide again round the home turn she was still right in it with two to go but everyone was waiting for the wide trip to find her out. To her credit she never gave up, responding to the whip very gamely to fight the winner all the way to the line. She was even getting some ground back as they hit the post and you have to say that with an inside run she may well have won.
This three year old ran an amazing race today and she looks like she will be around for a long time.

3rd Tropics, trained by Australia Wide
Used the speed push to get herself into a loose stalk behind the leading three and pretty much stayed there running three wide all the way round the turn and down the back stretch. Four wide with two to run and out of the home turn she looked to have the best chance of finding a run and going past the leaders but as she needed to quicken she flattened out a little and though she tried hard could not find a turn of foot. She battled bravely into third beaten under a length in a great effort.
This wonderfully versatile three year old will be back next year either on the dirt or turf.

4th Ghost Runner, trained by Pumpkin Racing
The best of the inside draws she found the rail just in behind the wide horses who were fighting for the lead. The rail opened up with two to run and she started to make ground but was under pressure. She looked like she may go past the leaders at the furlong pole but she too started to drift off the rail and was clearly all out. Driving to the line she was a spent force with yards to run and had to settle for a close fourth.
This was a great effort by a three year old who has been the bridesmaid a good few times this year. She ran her best race today and will be back next year for some more.

5th Dragonville, trained by Drabfantasy
A narrow leader through the first three furlongs she was the first of the wide runners to find the rail and used it nicely round the turn to hold a slender lead down the back stretch. With two to run she was the first to start to show signs of distress and began to drift off the rail. She was still right in it inside the final furlong and was brave to the line beaten only a length at the end.
This brave filly will have a well earned rest now after running the race of her life in the best fillies and mares turf race of the year.

6th Mo Ki Missy, trained by Spankys Barn
Seemed to find the perfect position early stalking the three wide drawn fillies who were cutting each others throats in a fight for the lead. She travelled well behind the three leaders all the way down the back stretch and with two to run was horribly boxed in and still pulling her jockeys arms off. She remained boxed in and was clearly cantering but her jockey seemed almost happy to let her run to the tail of those in front and made no real effort to move. The split came with yards to run but it was all too late.
One feels this defeat must land squarely on the shoulders of DE Centeno who had plenty of filly underneath him but never put her into a spot where she could run her race.

SUMMARY
What a great mare Attraction is. True she was favoured by the speed bias and her draw and it is doubtful she would have won if she had been drawn one but no filly or mare has ever won this race twice and noone can take that away from her. A handkerchief covered the first five and they were all three year olds apart from the winner but the big question in this race will be why Mo Ki Missy was given no chance of winning. A terrible ride? A betting sting? A corrupt jockey? we wont know until she meets the fillies that finished in front of her again and i am pretty sure she will be a different prospect next time.

Categories: BC 2015-17, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP