Highlander Stakes – Grade II
WO   Race #9   6f   Turf   Graded Stake
Purse $200.000  For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Torres Bounce, trained by Night Rider Stables
This seven year old has won his last five in a row culminating in a three
quarter length win in The Lennyfrommalibu Stakes. This ex claimer has really
come into his own at the veteran stage although with 14 wins he has never
really been tested and has been placed to win very well. He is by no means
just an old timer and has bags of pace so if he gets away from the inside
box he will be hard to beat.

2 Lizard Luck, trained by Choppy Inc
Was doing nothing much until a claiming win back in February. Since then the
six year old has run two nice races in black type company and is working very
fast. Whilst his form is not up with some of these he has a live chance.

3 Silver Bullet, trained by Joseph Racing
Has nine wins over a mile plus but showed in his last start that he can sprint
as he took the McKay Turf Sprint by a half length in a swift time. With a grade
one win to his name he is certainly the class horse of the race it just remains
to be seen that he can run at this level over a sprint trip. At six he is in the
prime of his life and could well emerge as a BC Sprint prospect if he wins this.

4 Smooth Linquist, trained by Canadian Racing
Had been running very well in overnights and was given his chance to step up in the
Jaipur last time and he took the chance well finishing a strong second. Going to the
front he just failed to hold on but is a consistent sort who should again run well.

5 Brumeii Bachelor, trained by Eastern Equine
Was looking good at the end of his three year old season taking the Better Talk Now
and the grade three Jefferson Cup before a close second in the grade two Seabiscuit
Handicap. She hasnt been asked so serious a question this season and has been strangely
campaigned over trips between five furlongs and a mile and a half. To be fair to the
tough gelding he has run equally well at both extremes, which can happen here at HRP
and with a last start win in the Lure Stakes he may have found his ideal discipline.

6 Swamp Fox, trained by Blushing Meadows
Closing in on the thousand dollar mark in earnings he has been running at the top
grade for a long time now. Although he hasnt won in over a year he has run some great races
in top contests including a very close second in the grade two Arcadia Stakes. He is
another who has been over a variety of trips and surfaces but has been pretty consistent
and with some smart sprinting works he will be closing them down at the end.

7 Badgerland, trained by S Dot Farm
A lightly raced sort who has shown enough in ungraded stakes to give her a chance in this
competitive sprint. His works are a shade worse than the best of them so his best hope may
come from a minor prize.

8 Seattle General, trained by Spankys Barn
Too the Turf Dash at the start of the season and has done well enough since. Not sure he
can win today with a  difficult draw but he has bags of pace and stamina so with a bit of
luck in running he may get in the mix.

9 People Want To Know, trained by Mb Stables
Has been taking advantage of the fact that three year olds with a weight allowance have
been cleaning up the three’s and up race taking both the TS Turf Sprint and the Sawgrass
Stakes. In a normal world you wouldnt think 5 Lbs would be enough against some speedy
older horses but this digital world is very different and even with a horrible draw he
has a winning chance.

SUMMARY
I very rarely tip a horse in a wide gate but i would be tempted by any three year old
in stakes race these days and People Want To Know is the only one in the race. If he was
a four year old with the same form i would be going for Silver Bullet to win from maybe
Swamp Fox or Torres Bounce but even with a wide draw i cant go against People Want To Know.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES