No foreseeable trouble for Billy Whizz
DERBY RUNNER-UP BILLY WHIZZ has been gifted the non-winnersof-four O&S Tack Room Trophy by conditions which make him eligible to compete two rungs lower than his peersby-ability, CALCULUS and FURTHER AND BEYOND, the first two past the post in the Gold Cup a week ago.
Reverting to six furlongs should pose no problems for BILLY WHIZZ, who won pulling a train at the distance in July before going down by a neck to CALCULUS in the derby a month later.
NUCLEAR NOON is the only other class horse with speed in the event. However, he’s a far cry from the horse who had placed second in June’s 2000 Guineas behind MINIATURE MAN, beating FURTHER AND BEYOND into third place.
Ridden flat to the board by Robert Halledeen at five furlongs straight, two Tuesdays past, NUCLEAR NOON was left standing by the filly SECRET IDENTITY, who, though no pushover, is no match for BILLY WHIZZ.
The handicaps are clearly in BILLY WHIZZ’s favour, Dick Cardenas is up at 121lb, only two pounds heavier than NUCLEAR NOON, whose best chance is to try stealing a march, hoping the class horse has an off day.
Cardenas should close the return of Sunday meets by landing the late double. The Panamanian is aboard Anthony Nunes’ GO DEH GIRL in the nightpan at six and a half furlongs after the United States-bred filly’s brave run behind fellow importee LURE OF LUCY at a mile.
Since taking a month off after a pair of disappointing performances in June, the three-year-old returned with a fast-time win at five furlongs straight and three creditable performances against quality opposition, including her stubborn second behind LURE OF LUCY.
Philip Feanny’s EXCESSIVE FORCE is out for the third time in 12 days. He was well held in fourth behind LURE OF LUCY before returning on Monday to finish fast for fourth again, beaten by CAPTUREMYSHIP at five furlongs straight.
EXCESSIVE FORCE returns at the exact weight difference, five pounds, which he had allowed GO DEH GIRL when both were beaten by LURE OF LUCY. GO DEH GIRL had actually motored from behind problemplagued EXCESSIVE FORCE in her brave run. A similar performance should see her being unsaddled in the winners’ enclosure.