HAW Gold Cup – Grade II
1 1/4 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $250.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Macht Nights, trained by Eastern Equine
To say this winner was a surprise would be unfair as he is a very nice three year old
but with a BC Classic runner up in the field i have to say this was another in a long
list of lottery type results we have seen this year. The pace was the key here as it
really never got past a below average pace but despite that Macht Nights managed to sit
behind and come witha  late run for a quarter length win. It did seem to be the change
in tactics that paid dividens for ths is one although the pace wouldve suggested the speed
may hold which makes this performance even better.

2nd Flying Warrior, trained by Axeman
Was sent up from the wide draw and managed to get his nose in front and set a fairly sedate
pace. It looked for a while that a threepeat was on the cards but he got run down late.
Second from the wide draw was pretty good and when you consider he beat the BC Classic
runner up it looks a very good performance on paper. If only it was that easy!

3rd Have A Seat, trained by Mb Stables
Also came late and managed a decent enough third, not bad for a horse with only 8 races under
his belt. Its difficult to say how good he will be but he goes into Winter with every
chance of improving at four.

4th Port On The Horizon, trained by D J C Racing Stables
I have no real idea as to why this one finished fourth. Running close up throughout the
race looked set up for him but for some reason he was weak down the stretch and could
only manage fourth. The only real explanation could be that he was tired from a very busy
season and lets just hope that is the explanation rather than anything else.

5th Galveston
Got on the lead early but fell away very tamely and finished way behind. He managed to finish
in front of Have A Seat last time out and seem to fade very quickly off a slowish pace
so like Port On The Horizon i have no real explanation as to why he finished last other than someone had to.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES