Jordon to reign in Maneater mile
Published:Thursday | August 25, 2022 | 12:09 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
LEADING RIDER Dane Dawkins and champion Anthony Thomas square off on Saturday aboard JORDON REIGN’S and KING ARTHUR, respectively, in what should be a cracker for the She’s A Maneater Trophy at a mile.
Dawkins has been unrelenting in his quest for a first riders’ title, recently landing his first Jamaica Derby with Gary Subratie’s filly ATOMICA, plus he is first call for Ian Parsard’s MAHOGANY, arguably the country’s top sprinter and middle-distance runner.
Thomas, stable rider at Jason DaCosta, hunts a fourth title but has found Dawkins equal to the task, picking up rides from every corner of the Caymanas Park compound. The rival jockeys’ She’s A Maneater showdown could bring the house down if the race goes according to the script.
JORDON REIGN’S, a sparingly raced four-year-old gelding, has one over KING ARTHUR, a two and a quarter length win over LURE OF LUCY at six furlongs on July 16. Unable to cope with the pace and topweight 126lb, KING ARTHUR ran evenly, but was outsped, finishing fifth in the sprint.
However, KING ARTHUR rebounded with a win on his next outing, stretched out at seven furlongs in the Eros Trophy. Running 11lb lighter at 115lb, KING ARTHUR got first run on RUNAWAY ALGO approaching the last half-furlong to hold off topweight CALCULUS at the finish.
United States-bred RUNAWAY ALGO returns for the She’s A Maneater, a pound higher at the scale, 120lb, whereas KING ARTHUR has moved up by seven, lugging 122lb from an inside draw. JORDON REIGN’S comes in at 121lb, two pounds lighter than his last win, dominating stablemate SHE’S A WONDER and CURLIN’S AFFAIR at five furlongs straight.
Dale Murphy fitting RUNAWAY ALGO with a visor at a mile suggests it will again be catch-me-if-you-can after shaking off EROY and I’VE GOT MAGIC in the seven-furlong Eros Trophy before KING ARTHUR and CALCULUS pounced. Though finishing fourth, RUNAWAY ALGO was only a length and three-quarter behind KING ARTHUR at the finish.
DaCosta entering speedy filly SHE’S MY DESTINY at 108lb to counter RUNAWAY ALGO might be in vain. In her two brushes with matching speed, SHE’S MY DESTINY backed up, finishing fourth on both occasions earlier this season.
RUNAWAY ALGO has already shown what he is capable of, taking down the likes of off-the-break MAHOGANY before being caught on the line by I’VE GOT MAGIC in his next race, with FURTHER AND BEYOND behind him in third.
JORDON REIGN’S, looking better with each run this season, four wins from five starts, could be called into action earlier than Dawkins might like due to RUNAWAY ALGO’s terrifying speed. However, JORDON REIGN’S has twice shown that he can be regulated before attacking, as he did at six furlongs when humbling LURE OF LUCY with KING ARTHUR down the track.
RUNAWAY ALGO has an extra furlong to contend with plus EROY and SHE’S MY DESTINY keeping him honest for at least the first half-mile, which could leave him running on fumes midway the stretch run.
A big, strong gelding, JORDON REIGN’S has worked well, galloping seven furlongs out the chute in 1:28.3 before his last win. He has superior pace to KING ARTHUR and should get first run on a tiring RUNAWAY ALGO.