Expect a Perfect run in Viceroy feature
REPROGRAMMED BY trainer Wayne DaCosta for the distance races in the latter half of the year, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR goes up against speedy and super-fit ANOTHER BULLET at 1800 metres in this afternoon’s Viceroy Trophy.
Gary Subratie’s United States-bred BRAWN is the only runner in the line-up capable of splitting PERFECT NEIGHBOUR and ANOTHER BULLET, especially if they get into a wrangle too early in one of the toughest distances on the Caymanas circuit.
At nine furlongs, the horses will break from adjacent the late Valbert Marlowe’s barn and gallop two furlongs out of the mile chute, before hitting the main track, and another three furlongs to the half-mile.
Speedy ANOTHER BULLET will try stealing a march but will have a tough time doing so against PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, especially since DaCosta has straightened out what he described as “some aches and pains” afflicting his stayer.
After finishing a neck behind ANOTHER BULLET on his second start for the year, both beaten by FEARLESS SAMURAI at a mile, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR trained beautifully, one of the fastest five-and-ahalf furlongs gallops in a while, 1:06.4, and returned to romp the Mark My Word Trophy, leaving SUPERLUMINAL eight lengths behind.
Though game and genuine to the core, ANOTHER BULLET should by now start feeling the effects of one race too many within a month. He was twice beaten by DaCosta’s top three-year-olds at a mile, FEARLESS SAMURAI on April 10 and SHE’S A MANEATER last Saturday.
Though he is the lone speed in the event, ANOTHER BULLET has a long way to carry that pace against PERFECT NEIGHBOUR who, along with BRAWN, will relish the additional furlong and should be finishing stronger in the run to the wire.
PERFECT NEIGHBOUR is fresher than both, his fourth start for the year, and is sharp enough to tag the speedster up the lane.