ONT Derby – Grade III

1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $175.00 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st        Strike                  D J C Racing Stables Moran P                            1:47.85             

Well the pace for this race was, as expected, just average. But I must admit I expected this horse to be closer to the pace than he ended up although that may have been down to just an average start. In the end the race engine Gods were on his side and by the mid part of turn one he found a nice spot just behind the speed, one off the rail. That in effect won him the race because he was close enough and had enough class to get the job done. This was a nice consolation prize for the home bred three year old who has been contending the top three year old races this year and the manner in which he won today suggests there may be some more success in his future.

2nd       Neon Twist      Serenity Stables          Singh Su                          1:48.01

Stalked a slow pace and kept on well enough to hold second which is pretty amazing when you consider this is still a maiden and one that has only managed a top three finish once before in seven appearances. Such is how things work at HRP but looking past the seemingly odd finishing place this wasn’t the surprise result it perhaps would’ve been in real life. The horse has always worked like a horse that is stakes grade and had run in three stakes races as a maiden before so rather than an anomaly it may be that the trainer finally got this one to click when they asked the vet to perform a gelding operation a couple of weeks ago. It was maybe the last HRP hack before this one found a paddock but as it can at HRP it proved to be the piece of the puzzle missing.          

3rd        Its A Wonderful Life   TwinTowersRacing      Moran D            1:48.20

As expected went to the front from the car park and held a fairly soft lead for a long time, In the end his stamina gave out but he managed a creditable third in the end.           

4th        Ripple Effect   Family Racing               Walcott R W                   1:48.36             

Stayed on well off a pace that wasn’t quick enough for the closers and just wasn’t suited by this race shape today. Fourth in the end was just a pass mark but with this running style his value will continue to be judged on what others do than what he does.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES