The GP Sprint Championship – Grade III
GP Race #6 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $100.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Cadillac Eldorado John Henry Gallardo A A

This four year old certainly knows how to win and has won his last three with some gutsy performances albeit not in this grade. I liked the way he raced from a wide gate with a sizeable penalty last time and still managed to win suggesting to me that he has continued the improvement he showed as a three year old. With a stalking style, the one gate and an in form jock he may be an attractive bet at decent odds.

2 L A Raw D J C Racing Stables Beschizza A

He did well as a four year old last year running probably his best race in the Fayette when second beaten a length but that was over a mile and an eighth and he drops back to sprinting today. He disappointed in the mud on seasonal debut but he can be forgiven that and is better judged on his pacey win over six furlongs on his last start of last season. An honest sort he is drawn to advantage but may find one or two too fast today.

3 Poisoned Chalice Asgar Landeros C

Put up a really fast work a week ago suggesting that he has found some late improvement as he comes into his four year old season. He was pretty competitive at lower grade last year and has actually won three ungraded stakes races so has some form on the board to back up his work time. A good draw in what looks like a race where the bets trip will win.

4 Socraties T Boy Racing Castellano J J

I know this one is a real stable favourite and has had some great form over the years over a variety of trips. He was pretty close up in both the Crosby and the True North last year and has kicked off his five year old campaign pretty well taking the Phoenix Gold Cup last time out. This will be a tough race to win but this one is right in the mix.

5 Thomas Anne Court Jester Racing Bravo J

Lightly raced with only nine starts as a four year old his works and form say he is improving and he is yet another with a lively chance. His last four starts have been on turf but his works suggest he may be better on dirt and it will be interesting to see how he does back on a surface that he was won thee from four on.

6 Rebel Force Wolfs Den Gaffalione T

Another that has run a fair amount of his career on the turf but he looks at home on either surface. He may need a bit further than this and will almost certainly get back early on but i expect him to be finishing strongly whether he will get there quick enough is another question.

7 Psychotic Ruler D J C Racing Stables Wilson E J

A winner of only three from sixteen he is another who has run well in similar company. The winner of the Sanford and third in the grade one Hopeful as a two year old he hasnt really gone on from that form and may again find a few too good here.

8 Owl Candy Rock Creek Castillo I

This winner of six hasnt done much wrong in his career but may find this company a little hot from a sticky draw. The stable looks for his sixth career win and will no doubt have a good sight as this one tries to step up on his previous efforts.

9 Moon Landing Mb Stables Velazquez J R

A very close second in the BC Sprint last year you would have to say that this ones form looks head and shoulders above the rest here but his trainer is out of form at the moment and he may have to work hard from this draw to take this race. Wherever you look this 11 race winner of nearly $4K looks nailed on to start favourite and ignoring an average effort on seasonal debut when unsuited by the mud he will take all the beating.

10 Controlled Lion Our Athletes Bejarano R

This is not a bad sort and after trying for the TC last year he seems to have settled into his niche as a sprinter. He looked pretty good on seasonal debut when gamely taking an overnight at GP and even with a nasty draw he could be a surprise package.

11 Valiant Phan Angelos Stable Ortiz I Jr

This really tough sort won 8 races last year and really thrives on his racing. A poor effort on seasonal debut may have been the fact he didnt stay a mile so he is worth another chance here after some very good work times. He is an on pace type so will have to work hard from this gate but he will be in it for a long way.

SUMMARY

Take out Moon Landing and this could be a ten horse dead heat. So the obvious choice is the Mb charge but the only question mark maybe his ability to keep his form at age 7. I still expect him to win but what will be second is anyones guess.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES