Ability upsets at 17-1 in Jamaica Derby

ABILITY made a meteor-like move from three furlongs out in yesterday’s Jamaica Derby to zip past 6-5 second favourite MOJITO approaching the home turn, scoring a shocking 17-1 upset with Allen Maragh, handing trainer Patrick Lynch his third derby winner in 16 years.

Racing fifth down the backstretch while MONEY MISER, HUNTSMAN and St Leger-heroine THALITA took turns at stubborn 2000 Guineas winner MOJITO, ABILITY, appeared the most unlikely derby upsetter.

However, the Lion Tamer-Disability Charm colt produced a devastating turn of foot leaving the three-furlong pole when asked to run by Maragh, streaking past HUNTSMAN then THALITA, before leaving MOJITO standing two and a half furlongs out.

MONEY MISER, runner-up to THALITA in the 10-furlong St Leger, went second past MOJITO coming off the turn but was no match for ABILITY, named after his dam, DISABILITY CHARM, the 2018 Guineas winner trained by Lynch.

ABILITY stayed on strongly in the stretch run to give journeyman Maragh a second Jamaica Derby winner after partnering one of the country’s best-ever thoroughbreds, MIRACLE MAN, to victory in 2005 for late Hall of Famer Alan E ‘Billy’ Williams.

Despite winning by three and a half lengths for Lynch, adding to his trainer’s derby résumé of THE BOMBER (2007) and DRONE STRIKE (2018), ABILITY clocked the slowest-ever time in the 103-year history of the 12-furlong event, coming home in a pedestrian 2:42.3, three-fifths slower than SUNNYDENE in 1960.

MOJITO, trying to steal a march on his 13 rivals after finishing inexplicably last in the St Leger, led to a collapsed pace as MONEY MISER, HUNTSMAN and THALITA were all dragged off their bridles, trying to chase the speedster on the far side.

Maragh, on break from the Florida circuit, stayed off the fray with ABILITY, who was considered a sprinter after starting his career with a pair of six-furlong victories in March and April before being outclassed in the Kingston at seven and a half furlongs and one-mile 2000 Guineas, both won in runaway fashion by MOJITO.

MONEY MISER was nine lengths clear of 95-1 outsider SECRET ADMIRAL, who was ridden flat to the board to get past a tiring MOJITO, whose woeful St Leger run, followed by suspect training tactics heading into the derby, confirmed the grey colt has not been himself since romping the June 4 Guineas by 10 lengths.

THALITA weakened into fifth, seemingly distressed, eased close home by Reyan Lewis, after giving it her best shot when MOJITO quickened a half-mile out.

Lewis’ derby disappointment was tempered by opening the 11-race card with a hat trick of winners - MILKMAN, RICHIE RICH and ULTIMATE MACHINE - maintaining his stranglehold on the jockeys’ title race.