Will In Charge bags Gold Cup
WILL IN CHARGE yesterday ran the second-fastest Gold Cup time ever to floor Horse of The Year SHE’S A MANEATER by four lengths, clocking 1:23.1, two-fifths of a second off EROS’ 24-year track record.
The big chestnut horse raced third down the backstretch, tracking CHACE THE GREAT and HOUDINI’S MAGIC alternating on the lead before shooting to the front a half-mile out.
Breaking sluggishly from postposition one, SHE’S A MANEATER was quickly shifted off the rail by Omar Walker but was briefly kept wide before being able to go in chase of WILL IN CHARGE three furlongs out.
However, the filly failed to produce her usual acceleration off the turn and had to be whipped up by Walker while WILL IN CHARGE, running seven pounds lighter, changed gears and ran off for a resounding victory at odds of 2-1 with Robert Halledeen for trainer Robert Pearson.
A winded SHE’S A MANEATER lost second at the wire to ANOTHER BULLET, who stayed on to deny her second place by a short head.
Vastly improved since last year summer, WILL IN CHARGE has now laid claim to being the best horse in the country with his commanding Gold Cup victory at seven furlongs, a distance to which the filly is more suited.
The Gold Cup was dubbed ‘The Rematch’ after WILL IN CHARGE’s two-length triumph over SHE’S A MANEATER, at nine furlongs and 25 yards, in April’s Legal Light Trophy.
The rivalry is set to continue in next month’s Superstakes when WILL IN CHARGE, who carried 119lb yesterday, will be bumped up to 126lb with the older colts and geldings such as BIGDADDYKOOL, whereas SHE’S A MANEATER, who twice lost to him with topweight, will race off a sex allowance of 121lb in the 10-furlong event.
LEADING RIDER
New apprentice Tevin Foster was the day’s leading rider with a three-timer as he and his peers accounted for six events on the 10-race card.
Foster opened the programme with BLUE MOON, outbattling six-time champion Walker aboard PRINCE SAMMO before returning to make all astride 2-1 chance CONCUR in the fourth.
The hot apprentice moved his tally to six winners overall by completing his three-timer with MY MOM JUSS in the sixth at odds of 9-2.
Trainer Fitzroy Glispie saddled two winners, both ridden by apprentice Reyan Lewis, DEAL MARKER and FRANCIA’S PRIDE, 5-1 and 10-1 shots in the third and eighth races, respectively.