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Lighter Money Monster a problem for King’s Plate field

Published:Thursday | March 30, 2023 | 1:17 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
Money Monster (centre), ridden by Youville Pinnock, holds off a challenge from Awesome Treasure (right), ridden by Dane Nelson, to win the eighth race over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park on Sunday, February 7, 2021.
Anthony Minott
Money Monster (centre), ridden by Youville Pinnock, holds off a challenge from Awesome Treasure (right), ridden by Dane Nelson, to win the eighth race over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park on Sunday, February 7, 2021.

SINCE CHASING home EMPEROROFTHECATS in the Ash Wednesday Trophy at six and a half furlongs, MONEY MONSTER can be forgiven for his two efforts against foreigners, dismissed by out-of-class RUNAWAY ALGO and outstayed by SISTREN TREASURE, allowing the importee 11lb at nine furlongs and 25 yards on last.

EMPEROROFTHECATS, returning last Saturday to beat open-allowance runners at five furlongs round, stalking YELLOWSTONE and GOD OF LOVE before attacking off the final bend, turns Saturday’s King’s Plate spotlight on MONEY MONSTER, who was six pounds worse at the scale when the pair met in the Ash Wednesday Trophy.

Running with 117lb in the Ash Wednesday, MONEY MONSTER finished a clear second behind EMPEROROFTHECATS. NUCLEAR NOON, who was two lengths off MONEY MONSTER, won his next race, beating EAGLE ONE and MADELYN’S SUNSHINE at five and a half furlongs.

Unlike NUCLEAR NOON, runner-up behind EMPEROROFTHECATS last Saturday, MONEY MONSTER was thrown to the lions after the Ash Wednesday, first slammed by RUNAWAY ALGO, who won at a mile in 1:38.1, proving he belonged nowhere near overnight-allowance company.

Against SISTREN TREASURE, who had finished fourth in the Ash Wednesday, begging for more ground, MONEY MONSTER tried gallantly against the foreigner but topweight took its toll after being dragged by OUTBIDDER for a mile.

Though finishing third, MONEY MONSTER ran a gallant race behind strong-off-the-turn SISTREN TREASURE, relegated by late-closing CRIMSON close home after being involved in the pace from start to finish with the big impost.

Returning at 119lb, MONEY MONSTER gets a deserved break at the scale, which will allow him to comfortably stalk the pace, keeping the likes of FREEDOM STREET, EAGLE ONE and POWER RANKING in his cross hairs before pouncing.

POWER RANKING and FREEDOM STREET, four-year-olds who recently won their fourth races, are new to overnight allowance. However, MONEY MONSTER is a battle-hardened six-year-old at the level, ready to oversee the youngsters’ baptism.