Nothing to fear in Thalita’s Labour Day Trophy quest
IGNORE THALITA’S near 10-month lay-up off which she reports for Thursday’s Labour Day Trophy. The St Leger winner has worked too good to be questioned among overnight-allowance runners. The two foreigners aside, SISTREN TREASURE and her stablemate, FRED THE GREAT, THALITA has absolutely nothing to fear from any of her local counterparts in the seven-furlong event.
Galloping six furlongs flat in 1:14.0 a week ago, THALITA must have left the clockers gawking at her sharpness though not raced for almost 10 months. However, reporting off a lay-up in great shape is nothing new to the Soul Warrior-Luminous Trieste offspring.
After starting her two-yearold career late 2022 with a thirdplace run behind LEGIT BOSS at three furlongs straight, THALITA sprang to life on the round course, dismissing ROULETTE BOSS at five furlongs round and turning the tables on LEGIT BOSS at five and a half.
She ran luke warm in the season’s top two-year-old races, back-to-back fourths in the Cash Pot and Pick 3 Super Challenge before placing sixth in December’s Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes won by MOJITO.
Returning early April, last year, as a three-year-old, THALITA chased home speedy BOOTYLICIOUS at seven furlongs before landing May’s Portmore Guineas trial a month later, beating stablemate MAMMA MIA, who turned the tables in June’s 1000 Guineas, rallying on the lead a furlong out.
A month later she bubbled to the boil with a five-length victory in July’s 10-furlong Jamaica St Leger, leaving colts standing at the top of the lane. However, she sputtered at 12 furlongs in the Jamaica Derby won by ABILITY in August.
Unraced since finishing a distant fifth in the derby, THALITA’s class places her among open-allowance company where the likes of ABILITY and MAMMA MIA have shone this season. Reporting off a lay-up with a five-pound advantage on topweight GET A PEPSI takes enough burden off the classic winner, who should stamp her class on the line-up.
SISTREN TREASURE is down in class from open allowance, reporting off a four-month lay-up. Don’t expect anything greater than a half-mile in 48.2 from Gary Subratie. However, at times, his penchant to leave too much in reserve doesn’t work off the break, especially against fit everyday runners.
FRED THE GREAT’s late burst got him home ahead of HUNTSMAN among non-winners of four races on last. However, stepping up in class will be a sharp reminder not to miss the break against quicker and classier runners.