05/27 The Gold Cup – Grade I
SA Race #4 1 1/4m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Centerpiece Mb Stables Gaffalione

With no three year olds in the race it gives these great old warriors another chance to thrill us and this one will once again be right in the thick of it. Second to Pretty Ferro in the KYD last year he has started this campaign off very well narrowly going down in both the Pegasus World Cup and the SA Handicap before a game win in the Alysheba last time. He is as good as ever and has the advantage that he can go on any going and is as game as they come. I dont think the one box will worry him too much and i expect a comfortable place just off the pace to see him through to the sharp end of the race.

2 Celebrate Riggins Racing Castellano

Its great to see Riggins Racing back in a grade one and this could be a sneaky little entry running from the ideal draw. He didnt show much at two or three in fact he didnt win his maiden until his penultimate start this year but he did that nicely and followed up with a good win in the ungraded Marathon at CD. Its true that form is nowhere near that of his rivals but if you are looking for long odds you could do worse than this one.

3 Fire Mission TwinTowersRacing Contreras L

His form doesnt match up to his 1.36 and 1 work but it seems these days just about anything can work those times so you have to treat it a little wearily. A winner of only 2 from 18 and beaten in his last three starts at much lower level i cant see a scenario where he can win.

4 Champion In Action Night Rider Stables Maragh Ro

As i said earlier work times are a bit crazy at the moment as we see this up and coming grade three winner working the same times as Fire Mission who struggles to win one win allowances. The class gene seems to be the seperating factor these days and this one proved in the Skipaway last time that he has it. He was good enough to take part in the Belmont last year and didnt run badly so there is some ability there and this stable often finds a longer priced winner in these sorts of races. He has a good draw compared to some of the principals in this race and i must admit he could be a surprise package in this race.

5 Having A Blast Mb Stables Beschizza A

Almost 50% of his races have seen second places so its clear whilst being consistent he can find one or two too good. He took a while to clear maidens but has been pretty good since winning the Lukas Classic last year and finishing runner up in the New Orleans Handicap this. His best form doesnt match up to some of these but he is certainly here and is consistent enough to make his presence felt.

6 Achilles Diablo Diablo Ortiz J L

He was very brave in winning the grade one SA Handicap from Centrepiece and that improved form was franked when he ran very well in the CT Classic from a difficult draw. A recent work of 1.35 and 3 says he is still improving and he will be a major player here from a nice midpack draw.

7 State Police Smokey Stover Bejarano R

His form is very closely intertwined with that of Centrepiece and i doubt there will be much between them again. He is without a doubt a major force in this race and his draw is the same as when he won the Pegasus World Cup earlier in the year so the planets line up for him nicely here. I think this trip which saw him win the JC Gold Cup last year is just about his best trip and i am sure he will be right at the sharp end come the end of this race.

8 Range Of The Sun Team 7 Illusions Franco G

Another that comes out of the SA Handicap he was almost in a line with Centerpeice and Achilles and with the weights as they are has every right to be close to those two again. He didnt quite get home over a mile and a half last time but back to his favourite trip today he is another who is sure to be in the mix at the end. Last year he won this very race from a draw a little inside todays so that may be the only sticking point but this tough as nails five year old could easily get a famous race double.

9 Pretty Ferro Estero Farms Velazquez J

Who could forget just how dominant this horse was in the lead up and in winning last years KYD and to be honest whilst his form looks to have dropped off there isnt much in there that would put you off his winning today. He bounced back to his best last time when running second in the CT Classic and this may well be the time that he emerges as his old self to take on the similarly impressive Beach Dandy in November.

10 Dastardly Havoc Maxmillion Farm Baze T C

He has run the odd disappointing race since being bought from Smokey Stover but bounced back in game style last time to take the OP Handicap. My worry for him is that the few times he has been drawn wide he has gone up onto the pace and weakened and the wide draw today may be tough for him to overcome. His works are as good if not better than ever though and coming from a stable in great form you have to respect his chances.

11 Splash Mountain John Henry Talamo J

Its sad to see the BC Classic winner stuck out in the cheap seats and it certainly makes it much harder for him to win this race against some very very good horses. His two starts this year have been great a close second to State Police in the Pegasus and then dead heating with pretty Ferro when second in the CT Classic so he is carrying his form well and certainly has the touch of class required to win this race from the horror draw.

SUMMARY

What a great race we have in prospect here with the BC winner and KYD winner from last year along with the KYD runner up and the Pegasus World Cup winner from this year. Put all those together with the SA Handicap winner and the current holder of the Gold Cup and we have a mouth watering race on our hands. Any of seven could win but i am going to go for Achilles in a driving finish from Pretty Ferro, Centrepeice and State Police.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES