QE II Challenge Cup – Grade I
1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $500.000 Filly 3 Year Olds.

1st      Hawaii County      Mb Stables        Hernandez C J

The form for this race was pretty nailed on and as soon as this horse broke into the comfortable stalk i think everyone knew which filly was going to win. She had all the class and though she was wobbling inside the final furlong not many horses get passed anymore in the run to the line and she held on pretty comfortably by a length. Bred by Royalty Stables she has come on nicely this year and whilst she missed the board in her three previous to this she was pretty close in some hot races. She should make a nice staying four year old and looks to have a bit more improvement in her.

2nd      Chai State         Smokey Stover       Davis D

This one may be late to the party this year but it looks like she has now arrived. Running a little off the pace she came home really strongly and was taking ground off the winner all the way to the post. She looks the sort that is coming into her own now and may be a good prospect for the late season stakes races.

3rd       Amalfi       D J C Racing Stables        Jaramillo E

Being drawn wide there are generally two choices the race engine selects and that is forward or back. I can’t remember the last time this horse decided it was a closer but that was the choice made today and she ended up running into a good third which is where i thought she would end up anyway. She is better than this as was shown in her last two starts from decent draws and i am sure if she gets favors from the random draw next time she will be a contender at this sort of level.

4th       Youcantcatchme      Fractious        Bridgmohan S X

Whilst one wide gate went back the other shot to the lead and weakened and for just a minute i thought we were looking at the old race engine. This filly that had lived up to her name in her last two found some better fillies today and she looked in trouble well before the stretch. Its been a long year for her starting off as a maiden and ending up cashing a small check in a grade one so i think we can say she has had a good year.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES