Obviously disappointed. That was the word from Graham Beck Stakes winner National Park’s part-owner Hedley McGrath after his smart son of Gimmethegreenlight had run a modest fourth behind Hawwaam in Saturday’s Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein.
One of the top 2yo’s during the Eastern Cape season, the Yvette Bemner trained gelding had swooped on to the classic scene with verve in a sensational 5,80 length victory (granted in receipt of a kilo) over dual stakes winner Chimichuri Run in the Graham Beck Stakes earlier this month.
National Park – wins the Graham Beck Stakes
That’s the same Chimichuri Run who stretched unbeaten Cape star One World to a half length in Saturday’s Gr2 Concorde Cup.
After substantial offers from the USA and Hong Kong had fallen through with National Park failing a Piroplasmosis test, it was all systems go for Saturday after the 3yo had stayed with the Alec Laird yard after the Graham Beck Stakes.
“Yvette Bremner, Carl Hewitson, myself, our whole team – we are all entitled to be disappointed I think,” said Hedley McGrath in a chat with the Sporting Post on Monday.
The gelding is also owned in partnership by Bryn Ressell, Mark Wright and Rob Knuppe.
“I know we went hard and fast early. And some have suggested that there are acclimatisation issues over time. But I don’t want to make excuses or take anything away from the winner. Mike de Kock’s horse looks very smart. And excuses don’t help. National Park is coming back home on Wednesday. We will freshen him up and bring him back to Joburg in March for the Gauteng Guineas. Depending on how he goes there, we may stay for the Classic. We are down but not out. We will be back!” laughed the leading owner, who flies out on Sunday with Yvette and their daughter Kayla to enjoy the Longines International Racing in Hong Kong.
Hedley McGrath and Yvette Bremner – disappointed but determined to return
He confirmed that offers from Mauritius and Dubai could still be considered, but said that the very reason he raced horses was to enjoy the good ones.
In our book National Park clearly ran below best in the Dingaans.
One wonders why the Stipes did not enquire into the run as a routine measure?
It is worth noting that all four of National Park’s successes have come over 1400m and the only race in which he was beaten over the trip, he was first past the post and lost the race in the steward’s room.
It was also raining very heavily during the race prior to the Dingaans and during the interviews after the Dingaans there was light rain. It could be that the ground softened a bit and all of National Park’s previous runs have been on good ground.
In the Graham Beck Stakes, Chimichuri Run was a length and a quarter behind National Park going through the 400m and Chimichuri Run was a length behind One World at the 300m in the Concorde Cup on Saturday. We gave the third-placed Twist Of Fate 97, which makes Chimichuri 100 against the 94 recorded behind National Park.
Another point of interest is that In Cahoots, who finished third beaten 8,6 lengths by National Park in the Graham Beck Stakes was only beaten 2 lengths by National Park on Saturday. In Cahoots recorded a very similar rating in each race. Yet more proof arguably that National Park ran below best on Saturday.
Either way, we probably haven’t seen the best or the last of National Park!
