Father Patrick to discipline all rivals today
Published:Saturday | August 1, 2020 | 12:11 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
A STRONG winner at six and a half furlongs a month ago, FATHER PATRICK’s form dwarfs his 11 rivals in Saturday’s Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy at five and a half furlongs in which he returns at the exact handicaps with DUKE, his runner-up at six and a half.
DUKE is again sitting level at 117lb with FATHER PATRICK after taking forever to wear down TRULY AMAZING for second place, by a neck, and will now run a furlong shorter against his razor-sharp rival.
FATHER PATRICK had easily stalked TRULY AMAZING before taking over coming off the home turn and was two and a half lengths clear of third-place DUKE up to a furlong out.
Though DUKE returned eight days later to beat stablemate SOUL CURE by two lengths at five furlongs round, the race would have been far closer had ROY ROGERS not been blocked when charging along the rail.
FATHER PATRICK’s class is undeniable, beaten only by stablemate MAHOGANY in his previous race and returning to gallop 1:13.0 for six furlongs at exercise upside the poorly ridden Guineas runner-up on July 14.
There isn’t much contending speed to bother Omar Walker aboard FATHER PATRICK, who has matured as a stalker and should comfortably track the likes of PEKING CRUZ, DUNROBIN and GOD OF LOVE before kicking for home.
CHANGE IN LUCK
Meanwhile, Wayne DaCosta, dethroned by Anthony Nunes last season after sitting atop the trainers’ ranks for 13 consecutive years, amassing 18 titles along the way, has only won four races in nine meets, but could spin his luck with a two-timer, FAKE NEWS and EAGLE ONE.
Standing down Anthony Thomas, who was declared on the overnight programme to partner EAGLE ONE with 126lb, DaCosta has clipped nine pounds off the American speedster by calling in Spencer in the eighth event at five furlongs straight.
EAGLE ONE had finished ahead of SHE’S A HIT, chasing home fellow American, RACE CAR, at six and a half furlongs, but will still have to be at his sharpest to outfinish the quick filly at five furlongs straight, even though he is better drawn.
Walker will be trying to go all the way with Louis Richards’ speedy filly, SHE’S A HIT, who returns with blinkers refitted and breaking from the one hole.
Richards’ speedster got off the mark at four furlongs straight on debut last November and has hardly been led in a race since. As zippy as they come, SHE’S A HIT won’t be badly inconvenienced with the main gate centred for the small field of seven.
However, DaCosta’s EAGLE ONE could sprout wings in midtrack, running from post-position five with claiming apprentice Romario Spencer.