Beach Bomb winning the Gr 3 Very One at Gulfstream Park back in March. (Ryan Thompson photo)
Graham Motion is the trainer of the SA-bred stalwarts One Stripe, Beach Bomb and Gimme A Nother.
He provided updates on their progress and targets, which can be read below.
One Stripe. After starting his career with six wins from nine starts in South Africa, the 4-year-old son of One World is 0-for-2 for Motion, finishing fifth in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and 13th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. “Obviously his race was disappointing in California. We drew the 1 post, which I thought was probably a good thing. But in the end I think it probably worked against us because he broke quite sharp, which we thought he needed to do, and then he ended up making the running, which I don’t think is how he wants to run, and they went very quick. So we asked an awful lot of him to get him to the Breeders’ Cup. My idea with him is we’ve kind of freshened him up a little bit here at Fair Hill. He’s going to go down to Palm Meadows today, and I’ll try and pick out a spot for him at Gulfstream in January, probably.” One Stripe was nominated for the Hong Kong Mile (G1) but will not be sent there.
Beach Bomb. The 5-year-old mare by Lancaster Bomber started her year with wins in The Very One (G3) and the Orchid (G3) but hasn’t won since, though she was second three times and third last out in the Long Island (G3). “Beach Bomb ran well the other day. We haven’t actually decided if she’s going to run next year or not. I’m just waiting to make a decision with the owners.”
Gimme a Nother. The 5-year-old mare by Gimmethegreenlight also started her career in South Africa and began racing for Motion in March, compiling a 5: 1-3-0 record. In her latest start, she won the John C. Mabee (G2) in September at Del Mar and was on her way to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. “She had a sore splint that we thought we’d gotten her through, but then it flared up again before the Breeders’ Cup. And she’ll have time off, and she’ll start back in January with my other grass horses up north.”
