Commonwealth Derby – Grade II
1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $200.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st The Land, trained by Wolf Ridge Stables
If you look at this ones works and his win in the Pennine Ridge back in June it is fairly easy to see he may win a race like this. However when you look at his poor efforts in his last two starts it was easy to write him off. Whatever the reasons for those two runs today he was on fire taking up the running and sprinting away for a very easy three length win. Inconsistency, a random event, some peculiar reason i cannot think of or he finally found something that must make him among the best turf routers of his generation. Make up your own mind but it will be very interesting to see what he does next time.

2nd Jolly Fog, trained by Gdp Inc
Another with little to go on from the form book he tried to make all and kept on pretty gamely for a surprise second. Both his wins this year have come in lower level allowances but this performance must put him in with a chance of a black type win before the season ends.

3rd Gallivant, trained by Joshua Stables
I must admit you could tell me a million times that this horse would be beaten by the first two in this race and pretty easily by all accounts and i would never believe it. But that is the nature of HRP at the moment, it seems you are only as good as your current race and nothing you have done before counts for much. He whacked away for third but never looked like getting near the winner.

4th Yankee Baseball, trained by TwinTowersRacing
Got a lot closer to Gallivant this time but was no match for the winner. A decent run but he has still to win from eight attempts this year.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES