January 20, 2015
Top class horses went to the post in the $250.000 SSM Classic at GP on Saturday afternoon and Port On The Horizon got his campaign off to a great start with a huge win over Grade I winner Outward Bound, as well as the distinction of passing both $3000.000 in earnings and outdoing his sire Risen Ruler for earnings as well. Second in the BC Classic but coming off an even effort at HAW, he was able to collar the leader in the final jumps and post a solid 99-speed rating which will set him up for more lucrative events going long throughout the season.
Outside horses going nine-furlongs at GP always get stuck going wide into the first turn and that is precisely why Port On The Horizon (1.10) made a beeline for the early lead, with a wall of three lined up behind him and Mameluke (31.50) taking up the rear at long odds. As the field moved into the backstretch, Outward Bound (6.10) made a run for the lead and actually took clear control while on the opposite end, Royal Prodigy (*0.95) backtracked to last after breaking wide. Outward Bound inched to the rail while more than two-lengths clear past the opening half-mile in a modest 48.99 and as the field behind him bunched up, Cat O Nine (28.60) started to get involved with Royal Prodigy resurgent on the outside. Six-furlongs in a tepid 1:12.55 was still well within the grasp of Outward Bound and he came around the far turn in complete control but as Port On The Horizon tried to decide which way to go, he found himself taking the far path while Cat O Nine made the inside jump. Headlong in the lane, any one of the five with closing ability could have taken down the victory but with straight and strong strides, Port On The Horizon got the better of his older rival in the last strides to score by a neck, with Outward Bound hanging on for second by less than a length from Cat O Nine. Royal Prodigy was wide throughout and could only salvage fourth while Mameluke never got involved and wound up three-lengths behind the winner in last.
Port On The Horizon disappointed at HAW after a long and difficult campaign but got his four-year-old season off to a rousing start with a solid score in the SSM Classic, a race that might set him up perfectly for either the Grade I GP Handicap or the Grade I SA Handicap a week later. Both look to be intriguing races with the potential to show case his talent; add to that, the fact that he is a gelding, and we could be looking at a horse with a huge career ahead of him.
Congratulations goes out to owner D J C Racing Stables and their four-year-old gelding Port On The Horizon, a sharp winner of the SSM Classic at GP!
Prediction Outward Bound / Port On The Horizon / Royal Prodigy
Winner Port On The Horizon
Four-year-old bay gelding
Risen Ruler-Officer Portia (Creative Officer)
Owner D J C Racing Stables
Time 48.99, 1:12.55, 1:36.41, 1:48.62
Overall
Port On The Horizon 1.10 broke sharp, stalked, came on late
Outward Bound 6.10 clear leader, caught in final strides
Cat O Nine 28.60 inside run, too late
Royal Prodigy *0.95 dropped back sharply, no late momentum
Mameluke 31.50 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
