The GP Mile – Grade II
GP Race #11 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
This race is filled with interest and intrigue as the two kings of HRP clash with two of their best horses. Will they fight out the finish or will one of the kings in waiting take a points victory.
1 Jumbo Bite Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
You wouldn’t think in normal circumstances that this ones form could ever match up to a BC winner but this is HRP and you can never write off anything from any of the top stables. With a 1.36 and 1 work for the dirt mile you would expect better form but the level of racing doesn’t mean so much. He won his allowance race in the same time as Black And Red won the BC Dirt Mile so make of that what you will. The ace draw, a trainer and jockey in form….just maybe.
2 Black And Red Australia Wide Alvarado J
The trainer doesn’t exactly have a barn full of horses but their success credentials even as a part time player these days speak volumes. Drawn perfectly this horse must have a huge chance considering he came from the 13 box and still managed to fly home and win the BC Dirt Mile. A recent 1.10 flat work suggests he is ready to go.
3 Broken Tap Arindel Jaramillo E
A real tough six year old he has had tremendous success over a good career and also has the big advantage of a recent start. He was pretty good in the Hooper last month winning by a half length and if he can take that fitness edge and run his best race he will be a danger.
4 Jolly Rook Angelos Stable Beschizza A
The winner of the grade one Travers and the Haskell as a three year old he has struggled against older horses since which has been a bit of a mystery. Some poor draws haven’t helped and a recent 1.36 and 1 dirt mile work suggests that he may still have something to give. He is hard fit with two runs this year so maybe we may see the old Jolly Rook today.
5 Mojave Rattler John Henry Bahen S R
Another that peaked in his form a while ago he too has struggled recently. The winner of Shadwell Turf Mile and the BC Mile in 2019 he had a go at dirt sprinting to try and wake him up but more recently went back to the turf for a win in the grade three Tropical Turf. Back to dirt and a mile today we know he has the class we just have to rely on the HRP Gods as to whether he can run to his best.
6 Charleys Latte Estero Farms Velazquez J R
Adds another tremendous angle to this super race. Last year he won the biggest race f them all the BC Classic at over 20/1. That was a huge performance and he was given plenty of time to get over it before reappearing the in the Pegasus World Cup where he raced from a terrible draw and showed early pace before fading to ninth. He has worked a 1.36 flat since and looks to be the one to be the biggest hope against the top two trainers.
7 Bellamango Wood Duck Stables Gaffalione T
Deserves a go but faces the toughest field in his career here and will do well to get into the top four. The nasty draw wont help either but he was very good in the Jockey Club Gold Cup last year and a reproduction of that at least gives him a hope of some of the purse.
8 Tactical Mb Stables Davis D
The five year old son of Cherokee Sunset rounds off the field in what could be his last race if he doesn’t reproduce his best. His worth at stud must be nagging on Mb’s mind and i don’t think another defeat will see him return to the track. Having said that he would already be retired if the trainer didn’t think there were still wins left in him and as the reigning champ in this race he must be given a chance even with this horrible draw.
SUMMARY
What a mouthwatering race this is A BC Dirt Mile winner, a BC Mile winner and BC Classic winner and a multiple grade one winner and all the top trainers bar one or two. Its a race to savor rather than try and pick the winner for but if you held a gun to my head i would have to go with Charleys Latte.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
