Afternoon stroll for Mahogany
AFTER being spanked by FATHER PATRICK at six furlongs in the Hall of Fame Stakes, Fitzgerald Richards’ pair, PATRIARCH and GOD OF LOVE, return for a crack at today’s Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy. However, another Ian Parsard runner, MAHOGANY, awaits them with the handicaps in his favour.
Parsard’s move in the Hall of Fame Stakes, three weeks ago, entering MAHOGANY at topweight 130lb, only to be declared a late non-starter (sick), ensured FATHER PATRICK ran with a featherweight 110lb after Jordan Barrett slipped seven from 117.
FATHER PATRICK, at 110lb, was able to turn back PATRIARCH, who was slowly into stride and failed to dominate the lead on a rare occasion in his 32-race career. GOD OF LOVE, carrying 119lb, got burnt trying to chase the leaders too early, found nil up the lane and finished third behind runner-up EAGLE ONE.
Though PATRIARCH is back at his pet trip of five and a half furlongs, he has topweight 126lb, two higher than GOD OF LOVE, whereas MAHOGANY, due to some deep-rooted condition of the event, comes in at 118, 12lb lighter than when he was entered to face basically the same horses three Saturdays ago.
In a show of confidence, Parsard has not even bothered to summon a claiming rider, keeping Dane Dawkins aboard the speedster, who transformed at exercise on Tuesday, July 27, posting the fastest five- furlong gallop seen since the days of She’s A Maneater, an eye-popping 58.4 on the round.
If PATRIARCH was turned back by FATHER PATRICK, he’ll have hell with a tuned-up MAHOGANY carrying 118lb. MAHOGANY made his seasonal debut on June 21, returning off a six-month lay- up, clocking a lazy- looking 1:13.3.
Preparing for his aborted Hall of Fame Stakes run, MAHOGANY went through the motions at exercise, 1:09.3 for five and a half furlongs, only to turn up with a three-digit, five-furlong spin three weeks later, an ominous warning for rivals.
SALVATION and DEEP BLUE SEA should make it interesting on the lead, even more to the liking of MAHOGANY, who is more of a middle-distance quickster but can be destructive, especially with the weight in his favour.