Bluegrass Cup Turf – GP2
The Bluegrass Cup Turf – GP2 proved on Saturday that there’s is no certainties in racing; Rain God was the short priced favourite and was expected to make a one act affair of it by winning easily. Earlier in the day the crowd witness the favourites go down in the Bluegrass Cup Classic – GP2 and Bluegrass Cup Sprint – GP2 and felt the tide was about to turn. The betting ring was a buzz with excitement as all punters, big and small, clambered over each other to take the $1.40 the bookies had on offer for Rain God. The problem was that no one told Ballisodare about this and in a surprise was able to hold on to win by a quarter of a length from Rain God and Flushing Waters (IRE).
Early races had proven that it was an even surface with both sweepers and front runners sharing in the spoils. So when Ballisodare jumped straight to the front everybody expected that it was only a matter of time before Rain God pulled alongside him before his class dominated. But not this time, in a gutsy display Ballisodare fought all the way to the line to hold on by a quarter of a length to win with a speed rating of 104. Rain God never gave up in his in pursuit and was taking ground of the winner but just ran out of room as the line approached. Flying home at the end in third was the three-year-old Flushing Waters who made up so much ground towards the end that he would have won if the race had been a furlong further. Flushing Waters certainly met the challenge asked from his connections and ear-marked himself as a future superstar. The remainder of the field had no answer to the top three as the fourth placed Gucci to Try finished over ten lengths off Ballisodare. Of the remaining entrants only K’s Katatumbo was able to take ground off the winner but was too far back in the early stages to have any chance.
In winning Ballisodare how joins the ranks of Group Two winners and after his performance here will have collected a few supporters for his future races. Rain God may have disappointed the punters but lost no admirers as he now heads towards the Breeders Bowl Turf – GP1 as he strives to atone for his second placing there last year. As for Flushing Waters he has come a long way in just seven starts and it will be with much interest that his progress is followed as he stamps himself at the elite level.