Redemption day for Trevor’s Choice
Published:Friday | July 23, 2021 | 12:09 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
AFTER picking their own pockets on last, forsaking a claiming rider for TREVOR’S CHOICE, who carried topweight 126lb against five-straight specialist SALVATION and losing by three-quarter length at the wire, redemption day has arrived for the speedster’s connections in Saturday’s non-restricted overnight allowance at five and a half furlongs.
Despite still burdened with 126lb, TREVOR’S CHOICE’s main rivals are also near top of the scale, none more than five pounds lighter, as opposed to last time out when he had allowed SALVATION 14lb and ran his heart out, beaten in 58.2 seconds on a track made fast by overnight rain.
In addition, TREVOR’S CHOICE is better suited to the round course on which he had finished second in his previous race, shaking loose of FATHER PATRICK before being caught by NIPSTER a furlong out, going six and a half on May 15.
FATHER PATRICK responded with three cracking runs, winning twice, beating return-winner EROY in the Lady Geeta Trophy and Saturday’s victory over EAGLE ONE in the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.
CAPTUREMYSHIP, who shared topweight with TREVOR’S CHOICE and led for the first three furlongs when both were outfinished by SALVATION, reports three pounds lighter but is out of his comfort zone of five furlongs straight.
In contrast, the trip of five and a half furlongs is actually TREVOR’S CHOICE’s sweet spot, having clocked 1:05.1 and 1:05.2 in his last two victories at the distance.
The run-on sprinter to fear is United States-bred SOLID APPROACH, who reports off a four-month lay-up but has impressed at exercise with a bullet 59.4 for five furlongs round two Saturdays ago. SOLID APPROACH was on a four-timer when last raced in March but the four-year-old’s bid was foiled by DUKE, who clocked 58.2, beating her into third place behind CAPTUREMYSHIP at five furlongs straight. TREVOR’S CHOICE was also in that event but got bumped at the start and had no chance of getting back into a five-straight race, allowing course-specialists such as CAPTUREMYSHIP weight.
Renewing rivalry with SOLID APPROACH, TREVOR’S CHOICE has race-fitness in his favour, a better record on the round course, plus the handicaps, only three pounds heavier than his foreign-bred rival, who can’t match him for speed and will have to make her bid from off the pace.