Speedy Patriarch set for vigorous victory
PATRIARCH and ANOTHER VIGOROUS clash for a second time in six weeks, going 1400 metres in this afternoon’s Pick-3 Super Challenge, with strong arguments in favour of either - clearly the top two-yearolds seen so far this season.
They debuted within a week of each other in September, PATRIACH first electrifying punters with a 10-length win, clocking 58.3 at 1000 metres straight. ANOTHER VIGOROUS popped up the following Saturday to post 1:05.4 for five-and-a-half furlongs, setting tongues wagging as to which was the better horse.
When they met in October’s 1200-metre Cash Pot Only One For me Trophy, ANOTHER VIGOROUS’ superb winning time on the round course found favour with punters, who made him the 3-5 favourite in the first leg of the Supreme Ventures Limited TwoYear-Old Series.
However, PATRIARCH left the gate like a gunshot, opened a commanding lead, coasted to the turn with Dick Cardenas literally awaiting ANOTHER VIGOROUS, who pulled alongside a furlongand-half out, but got scorched when his rival turned on the afterburners and won by almost a length in a driving finish.
SHOWING OFF
ANOTHER VIGOROUS hasn’t raced since but PATRIARCH was back at the races two weeks ago, showing off and toying with Wayne DaCosta’s pair of BRANDY and GREEK GODDESS at 1300 metres. Cardenas hardly broke sweat and had enough time to ease the Casual Trick-Electrifying colt close home in a four-and-ahalf length win clocked in 1:19.1.
Though he hasn’t raced in six weeks, ANOTHER VIGOROUS has trained really well, 1:06.0 for five-and-a-half, out the mile chute, the last five in 59.0, fitted with a tongue tie. That workout convinced trainer Rowan Mathie to use the equipment for the Pick-3 Super Challenge rematch, plus he has replaced apprentice Dane Dawkins with three-time champion Dane Nelson.
However, PATRIARCH’s pace is terrifying and almost effortless, somehow reminiscent of TALENTED TONY K, the 2014 Guineas and Lotto Classic winner, horses who refuse to be led, and can run the best of their peers into the ground.
Even at 1400 metres, ANOTHER VIGOROUS needs a horse to take PATRIARCH out of his comfort zone. When they met in the Cash Pot Trophy, PATRIARCH was drawn at post-position one but was still able to separate himself from the 10-horse field within a furlong, racing to the home turn by himself.
When ANOTHER VIGOROUS pounced, PATRIARCH was still good enough to not only stay on but to win by almost a length after being all but joined a half-furlong out.
ANOTHER VIGOROUS has a more relaxed running style to suit seven furlongs. However, without a horse to challenge PATRIARCH on the lead, he could again spend the afternoon chasing his speedier rival, not to mention if it rains again, as it did on Cash Pot Day and has been doing almost every day since.