The Very One – Grade III
GP   Race #9   1 3/16m   Turf   Graded Stake
Purse $150.000  For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Pip Kadabra, trained by Chili King Stables
Won the Via Borghese over this trip at GP and did well in an allowance on her seasonal debut. The key for her is her stamina which she has in abundance but she will have to be at her very best to beat the best of these.

2 Lady Lucy, trained by Crocker Cgs
Beat Pip Kadabra in that Allowance last month with a strong display. She too has a big gas tank and it should again be pretty close between the two of them.

3 Kama Sumatra, trained by TwinTowersRacing
Bought for just $4.000 she was also in that Allowance against Pip Kadabra and Lady Lucy finishing third but running on strongly from well back. That was her first route after a career of sprinting and it looks fairly obvious her previous trainer missed the boat because that was a huge improvement. Should again get close to the top two.

4 Volare, trained by Axeman
The real class in the race she is a super mare but at seven years old there may be a few doubters as to whether she can live with the youngsters. She ran well on seasonal debut in the Connally BC Turf but hasnt got much early pace anymore and could only finish third. It would be great to see her win and there isnt too many reasons she cant.

5 Plucky Emo, trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy
She had a good three year old career placing third in the American oaks and winning the Commonwealth Oaks. She was a little one paced in the Suwanee River on seasonal debut but will come on for that. She has a decent chance in an even looking field.
6 Congratulations, trained by Blushing Meadows
She had a pretty inconsistent year last year running a cracker in the BC Fillies and mares turf to be beaten just a neck into second from a  horrible draw but also ran a shocker in the American Oaks. She has plenty of class though and if she is on a go day she will be very hard to beat.

7 Charged Adage, trained by John Henry
Won the grade one Taylor last year and was then bought by John Henry for a cheap looking $150.000. She had a break before finishing nicely into third in The American Oaks and is working well enough to suggest she will be ready for this.

8 Swarley Kapai, trained by Our Athletes
Another with plenty of upside she was in strong form last year leading up to the BC but was a little disappointing on te bug day running a one paced seventh. She finished strongly in The Endeavour on seasonal debut to be second so is clearly still in a good frame of mind and once more has a lively chance of success.

SUMMARY
This is a typical race at HRP. Great older horses multiple stakes winners and ex sprinters who were running in claimers until recently but all with a similar chance once you cross reference all the work times and recent performances. On paper there is about two lengths between them all so it will come down to pace and trip. With no obvious front runner it may be the gutsy tactical call that wins the race so i am going for Swarley Kapai to get the wide gate speed push and a soft lead.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES