Woodstock Stakes
6 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $100.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

This turned out to be just about expected from a HRP point of view. We had 4 lengths covering the field making luck in running a major factor, we had a rank outsider who had never won a race on dirt and that had been running on late in route races in second and we had the wide gates going all the way back or all the way forward. Yes’ this was a repeat of so many races with the fourth horse beaten a half length but today the result was with Winning Link Stables with Sharp And Ready, this is how they ran.

1st Sharp And Ready Winning Link Stables Campbell J

After his excellent effort in the Hutcheson from an impossible gate i rather liked this ones chances from the better draw today and sure enough the draw was the difference and this horse did the business. Traveling nicely in the HRP A1 position of midpack he was brave to the line winning by a head. Now a winner of three from four he looks like a real nice sprinter and i wouldnt be surprised to see him in the BC Sprint field at the end of the year.

2nd Healthy Status First Class Stable Kimura K

This horse had been running on late in turf and dirt routes so you would expect this trip to be a little sharp for him but we know the trip means very little at HRP and after racing close to the winner throughout he only just failed in a driving finish after getting badly held up in traffic. This is a fine example of the luck factor in racing as he was by far the best horse at the finish but just kept finding traffic whilst the winner had a dream run. through.

3rd Pink Condor Axeman Da Silva E R

One of the fastest workers in the race he got to the front thanks to the other outside draws going back or not being fast enough. He looked like he was going to last home thanks to the first two doing a good impression of a wall but the two behind just got through in time and he ended up third in the photo finish.

4th At Your Service Mb Stables Hernandez R

Things looked good for a long way for this one as he stalked the lead with an easy and clear run on the rail. As the post came though the late finishers as usual swept by and he ended up a half length fourth. Its hard to imagine where he fits going forward as he is too good for the lower tracks and is just shy of these types of stakes races , a little improvement though and watch out.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded