Eroy the focus in overnight allowance
Published:Saturday | November 7, 2020 | 12:16 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
Imported three-year-old, EROY, has become the marker horse for rising local stars this season, beating the Jamaica Derby and St Leger winners in two of his last three races, both at a mile, making him an automatic choice for this afternoon’s overnight allowance for the Kenneth Mattis Memorial at nine furlongs and 25 yards.
Though his winning time at the distance back in March, 2:00.3, is nothing to write home about, especially compared with CRIMSON’s consistent losing efforts in 1:56.2, EROY is much improved and relishes the handling of Omar Walker.
In addition, EROY will only carry 117lb, getting weight from the speedsters such as ROY ROGERS, SUPERLUMINAL and UNCLE VINNIE, who won’t have any answers when Walker unleashes the relatively light foreigner.
ROY ROGERS is as pesky as they come and often a nightmare to slower runners in middle-distance races. However, placing second to back-to-form MARQUESAS, at eight and a half furlongs, has earned the wrath of the conditions, slapped with topweight. His connections have summoned claiming apprentice Raddesh Roman to slip five pounds. However, he was cut down by BIG BANG with the same weight, going a mile, on August 29.
COCO CHANEL beat non-winners of an overnight allowance, going seven and a half furlongs, slipping past GRAYDON at the top of the lane on September 13. However, she has her work cut out among non-restricted company in which the pace is unrelenting and the closers unforgiving.
BIGBANG will relish the distance and the hands of a patient apprentice. However, sitting level with EROY sentences him to the runner-up spot.
SUPERLUMINAL ran what must be the worst of his 52-race career on last, finishing down the track. It was a run too bad to be true. However, he is being betrayed by his ageing legs. Has to lead to win, which will be difficult with ROY ROGERS and EROY around.
CRIMSON needs the perfect race for him to come charging inside the last half-furIong. He lost by a neck to SUPREME SOUL in a fast time at the distance in July, clocking an individual 1:56.2, which he repeated when fifth behind stablemate SENTIENT in September. If EROY fails to stay the trip, CRIMSON could capitalise.