Nuclear Noon takes victory as Billy Whizz blunders
Published:Monday | November 1, 2021 | 12:10 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
BILLY WHIZZ, considered the safest horse to peep through a blinker on yesterday’s nine-race card, sent bets crashing by losing the only way he could, rearing at the start of the six-furlong O & S Tack Room Trophy, effectively handing the event to second-favourite NUCLEAR NOON.
Derby runner-up to CALCULUS, who won the Gold Cup a week ago, BILLY WHIZZ went off at odds of 1-2 in his bid for back-to-back wins after easily turning the tables on SANTORINI to cruise home in the October 9 Royal Dad Trophy.
The last of seven horses loaded after REGNANT held up the start, BILLY WHIZZ reared so high that his head almost touched the top of the gate, leaving him a distance behind the field.
REGNANT, returning off a near six-month lay-up led an easy-going NUCLEAR NOON down the backstretch while a brave BILLY WHIZZ motored from a hopeless position to straighten fourth, eventually improving into third.
Up front, back-to-form NUCLEAR NOON, partnered by Robert Halledeen, easily disposed of REGNANT to clock 1:12.4, registering his first win since May. BILLY WHIZZ placed third, losing no marks in defeat.
Meanwhile, Philip Feanny’s United States-bred EXCESSIVE FORCE finally beat overnight-allowance company after graduating to the level in April, straightening seven wide in the closing event to sweep past a wall of horses a half-furlong out.
A talented importee, who blew away non-winners of four races by nine lengths in April to register his third victory, EXCESSIVE FORCE afterwards raced six times among overnight-allowance rivals but was haunted by consistently running wide coming off the home turn.
Though he again blew the turn with Linton Steadman, restricted overnight allowance rivals was no match for him, unlike open company which he had faced six times prior.
Racing continues on Saturday, followed by a Monday meet, with the annual Yearling Sale replacing Sunday’s programme.