The GP Handicap – Grade II
GP   Race #8   1m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $500.000  For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Wild Spirits, trained by Blushing Meadows
Looked like a TC contender in the early part of his three year old career but couldnt amass enough points to make the field. He struggled a little after a heavy early season campaign last year and was sold for $225.000 in August. Since being with his new yard he has continued to struggle to put the performances together but did win his four year old debut at SA in a fair time. He is a difficult one to weigh up and whilst there is little doubt he has plenty of ability you have to take on trust that he is back to his best form.

2 Awesome Ruler, trained by D J C Racing Stables
This is another who had a crack at the TC chase last year but just failed to get in. His trainer took the foot off the gas after a tough early season campaign and unlike Wild Spirits he found his mojo with three straight wins in the latter part of the season. He ran a sound seasonal debut to close to fourth over a mile and looks to be ready to peak for this. A similar chance to his rival inside him the stables form recently may be the difference.

3 Sinissippi Eagle, trained by Grimley
He hasnt won a race since July 2014 which is not really a recomendation but he has run some fair races in defeat and is not without a hope. His recent efforts have been a little below his best but a recent track work says he is ready to run a big race.

4 Divine And Broke, trained by Sanny Village
The winner of the BC Juvenile as a two year old he was aimed at the TC and managed to get in the field after a great run in the Wood Memorial. He ran creditably in both the KYD and The BEL but didnt make the frame in either and then failed to improve in the Travers and JC Gold Cup before ending the season. After a good break he ran his first race as a four year old in an FG open allowance and was an eye catching second to the graded stakes winner Mass Debatable. He certainly has plenty of ability and gets in here with a low weight so may be worth another chance.

5 Unsuited, trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy
Won the grade one FL Derby on the way to decent efforts in both the KYD and PRK last year. He was bought by his current owner for $450.000 after that PRK effort but has been a bit in and out ever since. A great win in the grade two WV Derby and close second in the PA Derby was sandwiched between two poor efforts in the Queens Plate and BC Classic which underlined some consistency problems that he may have. He won his seasonal debut and then got thrown into the lead by the wide gate push in the grade two Santa Anita last time and inevitably faded into fourth. Another that is tough to put a line on but top weight may be enough to scupper his winning chances today.

6 Magnifico, trained by Night Rider Stables
I hate to say it but a seven year old with only five wins from thirty one races with only one of them over a route trip may be the answer to a tricky handicap. My evidence for this confidence has nothing to do with form which in his case is not good enough, it has nothing to  do with his meteoric rise from cheap claimer but has everything to do with the sort of ridiculous result that has happened all too often. There is nothing that says this horse can win which is probably the best reason he can!

7 Joie de Bleu, trained by Riggins Racing
A decent three year old he took on the best of his generation at three but spent most of last year racking up the wins in overnights. He always runs an honest race and records good speed figures so he has a chance in this if the draw doesnt beat him.

8 Gma Is My Hero, trained by Aer Stables
A lightly raced four year old he has shown ability most notably with a close fourth in the Grade one BG Stakes. Tha trainer took him back in grade to find his winning mojo after a tough three year old career and he seems to have got him back in form with two wins in his last two starts. I am not sure he can win from this draw but he like being on the pace and certainly has hopes of a big run.

9 Visa Vice, trained by Mb Stables
This evergreen nine year old started his amazing rise to stardom back in 2013 when claimed for just $25.000. Since that day he has won two grade ones and a grade two stakes and has also placed in some of the best races on HRP. He is undoubtably the most accomplished racehorse in the field and gets in here with a very fair weight so you cannot write him off just because he is older than my Grandad. A great seaosnal debut saw him just fail in the Toboggan but his next and last start in the Santa Antonio was just a little lack lustre. You want him to win if nothing more than he is twice the age of most of these but the head and the heart are disagreeing here. If you want some evidence to back up your hopes then he has the fastest mile work in the field and did it just a month ago so couple that with an awesome record and the only thing that may beat hi is the car park draw.

SUMMARY
It seems as ridiculous as Donald Trump being President that this can be called a handicap with only three pounds covering grade one winners and very average horses but it is what it is here at HRP and what we have is pretty much a non handicap race. I would go for Visa Vice in a shot if he didnt have the dreaded wide draw but everything else is much of a muchness. So as usual, and i have been very successful in picking out huge priced winners by doing this, i am going for the least likely winner to win this race. So its Magnifico for me by a nose with a half a length covering the rest.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES