Double Crown to mow down rivals
AFTER eight solid furlongs, only a length separated the first four past the post on August 15. The three runners-up – NIPSTER, GREEN GOLD RUSH, and DOUBLE CROWN – had a half-length between them in a dramatic bang-up finish, a neck by a neck by a short head.
Returning on Sunday at nine furlongs and 25 yards in the Royal Dad Trophy, none of the three has ever gone two turns in a race, adding to the intrigue of the event. Though DOUBLE CROWN is considered the ‘stayer’ of the lot, much will depend on the pace of the race and, of course, riders’ tactics.
Don’t expect a lazy, bowl-along pace with the likes of NIPSTER, RUM WITH ME, ROY ROGERS, and
GREEN GOLD RUSH scurrying for cosy spots coming off the clubhouse turn. However, riders of the quicker horses all have one crucial decision to make – exactly where to use their respective speed against DOUBLE
CROWN, who closed four lengths inside the last furlong on August 15.
EROY was the fly in the ointment on August 15, partnered by Omar Walker, the six-time champion, who shoots from the three-pole and asks questions in the straight. Slowly into stride in his previous race when finishing third against the same bunch, EROY returned a transformed horse and stunned NIPSTER by tugging to the lead leaving the half-mile.
NEVER BACK DOWN
Never one to back down from a challenge with Walker, Robert Halledeen sent NIPSTER in chase, triggering a similar reaction from GREEN GOLD RUSH, who was lying third with Anthony Thomas. The trio left DOUBLE CROWN flat-footed, pushed to keep up by Shane Ellis.
DOUBLE CROWN lost three lengths between the half-mile and the top of the lane, a result of the pace increased out of a modest 48.2 to 1:12.4, leaving Ellis six lengths off the lead entering the straight. Ellis tried his best to rouse the chestnut gelding but the leaders weren’t quitting, or so it appeared, because the winning post couldn’t have come quick enough for them to repel DOUBLE CROWN’s rush inside the last half-furlong.
A few strides past the post, DOUBLE CROWN, who went two pounds overweight with Ellis, was pulling up alongside EROY and GREEN GOLD RUSH with NIPSTER four wide. Dick Cardenas replaces Ellis astride DOUBLE CROWN in a perfect merger.
Cardenas will be all too happy to watch NIPSTER, GREEN GOLD RUSH, ROY ROGERS and RUM WITH ME go at it before gradually inching down into contention. Pesky ROY ROGERS might not have a ghost of chance but will ensure an honest pace down the backstretch.
NIPSTER carrying topweight 126lb, going two turns, with adamant company such as GREEN GOLD RUSH to pick up the chase, puts a bullseye on his back for DOUBLE CROWN to gun him down.