Whittingham Stakes – Grade II
1 1/4 Mile Turf Stake Purse $200.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st   Spanish Showboat  Mb Stables  Gutierrez Mario

HRP has so very few shining examples  these days that it was great to see the old warrior burn brightly in this race turning in yet another display of tenacity and class. As the three year olds start once again to see off superior horses thanks to a  few pounds this great old horse who has seen it all before just keeps on keeping on. Of course his victory was helped by the fact that no three year olds were in this race but thats by the by and we should celebrate another great win by a horse that is now closing in on $4,000.000 in prize money. Right on the pace from the off he was ridden like the best horse in the race and when challenged pulled out all the guts we know he has to hold on by a neck in a great win.

2nd   Lets Do It Big Boy   Team 7 Illusions  Prat F

Ran his best race for some time closing hard down the stretch but just not having the legs to beat the great Spanish showboat. This was much better from the four year old who is a lot better than the $35.000 he was claimed for in Summer last year.

3rd   Iron Step                Sc Lanciano  Desormeaux K J

The outside gate is always tough and it gets even tougher when you can’t negate the outside speed push with a natural closer. Sure enough the HRP race engine did its job and this one led and faded late to be third. That said he was pretty game to the line and was beaten less than a length by one of the games legends so not a bad effort by a long way.

4th   Maggies Bones                End Run Farm  Bejarano R

Stayed on nicely into fourth only beaten a length this was a much better effort after a failure last time.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES