US expert Tom Collins plumps for familiar names at Gulfstream and Golden Gate

Hartling
8.34 Gulfstream Park
2pts win

Gratzie
11.24 Golden Gate Fields
1pt win

Mulhima
11.54 Golden Gate Fields
1pt win

It has been just four days since Gulfstream Park last hosted racing, but Thursday marks the beginning of a new meet, which is great news for the in-form Luis Saez.

Saez has been riding like a man possessed in the saddle since Irad Ortiz decided to sit out during the coronavirus outbreak, and although he narrowly failed in his quest to win the jockey title last week, he can start this meet on the front foot thanks to Hartling in the $32,000 claimer (8.34).

This mile contest looks pretty competitive but Hartling has won her last four starts and appears to be firmly on the upgrade.

This daughter of Mucho Macho Man showed plenty of pace in three good maiden special weights at this venue to begin her career last summer without troubling the leaders, but made amends when dropped into maiden claiming company on December 26 – a victory that seems to have boosted her confidence no end.

She followed that win with claiming victories over a mile on the dirt and turf, prominent throughout in both before drawing clear late on, and then added a starter optional claimer to her tally last time.

Again, that victory came on the dirt and she made an impressive move round the bend to sweep past the leaders, but it's fair to say she is equally as good on turf (similar speed figures) and the return to that surface shouldn't be marked as a negative.

Hartling has drawn reasonably well in gate five and should be able to sit just behind the leaders. Saez replaces Tyler Gaffalione and her recent works suggest she's ready to rack up the five-timer.

Golden Gate Fields join the fray on Thursday and a couple of interesting ex-British-trained horses catch the eye, beginning with Gratzie in the $20,000 claimer (11.24).

Formerly with Mick Channon and rated 95 at her peak, Gratzie is a nine-year-old now and undoubtedly regressing. However, she seems to have found her level for this stage of her career and is in peak condition with two wins and two seconds from her last five outings.

Usually held up early, Gratzie has demonstrated she retains her potent turn of foot and with plenty of pace expected in this race thanks to Crazy Sexy Munny, who seeks a six-timer, Gratzie should get a good pace to chase. I'll take a chance on her running down that rival.

The other to put in the betslip is Mulhima, a novice winner for Marco Botti in October 2018 before moving to Dubai and now the US.

A pacey filly, Mulhima didn't quite cut it in the UAE but was highly tried (ran in the UAE Oaks on her final outing) and then took a while to get acclimatised stateside.

However, she looks to have done that now is well worth following as she tries to climb the grades. Her latest victory, when beating a short-priced favourite, was impressive and the speed figures posted looks good in the context of this race.

Although she takes a jump up in class to contest this $19,000 starter allowance (11.54), Mulhima is the horse to beat and can provide William 'Billy the Kid' Antongeorgi with another winner.

Place bets on international races with the Racing Post app. Log in to your bookmaker accounts in the Accounts tab in the bottom right and then click cards to view the racecards