Ascot Graduation · 26.10.08

The last stakes race of the 2008 Hastings racing season was the Ascot Graduation Stakes for two-year-olds. As the name implies, the race is a coming-of-age of sorts for the youngsters, as they stretch out beyond the sprints to a route of 1 1/16 miles for the first time.

The race brought together the top juveniles currently based at Hastings, with the exception of Jack Diamond Futurity winner Almost Time, who was a late scratch. El Sinaloense, the young speedster who ran like a tired horse in the Futurity, was back to redeem himself. Also returning from the Futurity were Gotta Find Bubba, Diamond Quest, Millwright, and Tommy Danzigger.

El Sinaloense, made the 8/5 favourite by the punters, was gunned out of the gate by Pedro Alvarado, and held a comfortable lead through the first six furlongs. After that he faded quickly, eventually finishing last in the field of eight. Gotta Find Bubba took over and led into the stretch, but 10-1 outsider Tommy Danzigger made a big move going four-wide on the final turn and took the race by 3/4 of a length. Final time: 1:46.41.

So who will win top two-year-old honours for the year at Hastings? El Sinaloense won everything but the last two races — the biggest races — of the season. Those last races were split between two horses who had done little else during the year. The question does remain whether El Sinaloense was actually ailing or not fully fit in those last two races, or whether he is simply a pure sprinter. Either way, his dominance earlier in the year should be enough to earn “El Sin” the two-year-old championship for 2008.

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What do you think?

  1. Horses are more honest than people and El Sinoloense was telling handicappers that he was either tired, or the distances were getting too long. I vote for the former..The results of Sunday, as regards that one, were no surprise.

    — Dr. Timothy Yatcak · Oct 27, 09:54 AM · #

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