Speaker’s Corner puts it all together in G3 Fred W Hooper Stakes

Speaker’s Corner produced a bold front-running display to register a first G3 success in the Fred W Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park, USA, on Saturday, 29 January.

The Street Sense four-year-old, making his seventh career appearance for Bill Mott in the mile contest, disputed the early running in between Liam and Girolamo’s Attack before establishing a half-length lead after the first two furlongs.

Officiating loomed up to press Speaker’s Corner passing the three-furlong pole but could not get on terms, with the Godolphin homebred opening up daylight over the field at the top of the lane.

Speaker’s Corner found plenty for Junior Alvarado to see off Fearless in the closing stages and score by a length and a quarter, with the first two home pulling nine lengths clear of Officiating in third.

Bill Mott said: “We didn’t really plan on being on the lead but Junior said he crossed the chute and was travelling easily between horses. He didn’t want to get jammed up so he let Speaker’s Corner go on. It worked out very well.

“They took a nice run at him from the three-eighth to the quarter pole and he was able to get away from there. He is a very nice horse, who did his job today.

“Speaker’s Corner broke his maiden as a two-year-old and then we missed most of his three-year-old year with baby issues. He is coming back and hopefully we can have a good four-year-old season. His whole future is ahead of him.”