Deadly frontrunner Runaway Algo to test I am Fred

THOUGH GOING a furlong longer and bumped to topweight 126lb, nine pounds heavier and allowing I AM FRED five pounds, RUNAWAY ALGO returns as the controlling speed in Saturday’s She’s A Maneater at a mile.

RUNAWAY ALGO will be able to dictate the pace without having to worry about I AM FRED’s stablemates, OUTBIDDER and MINIATURE MAN, similar to his gate-to-wire run in the Eros Trophy at seven furlongs.

Having turned the tables on I AM FRED, who had beaten him at six and a half furlongs in April and was eyeing a fifth straight win in the Eros, RUNAWAY ALGO has the conditions in his favour to make it two in a row over his fellow American.

Speed is RUNAWAY ALGO’s best friend, yet worst enemy when directed against him. MAHOGANY failed to raise a gallop in the Eros, leaving I AM FRED to try keeping RUNAWAY ALGO honest in a four-horse race.

When RUNAWAY ALGO increased the tempo a half-mile out in a 34.0 split, sailing towards the three-furlong marker in 46.0, I AM FRED had to be put to the stick by Reyan Lewis to give chase, effectively ending his race with four lengths to find coming off the home turn.

I AM FRED will find himself in the same position as he did in the Eros, having to chase a cruising speedster, who will be hardly out of first gear for the first half-mile, waiting to kick off the final turn.

Though his class is undeniable, I AM FRED will again be asked early questions by lone-speedster RUNAWAY ALGO. If he has no answer leaving the three-pole, it will be three in a row for ALGO.

RUNAWAY ALGO leaving I AM FRED for dead a half-mile out in the Eros, confirmed the foreigner’s status as one of the deadliest front-runners in training at any trip, especially if allowed an unmolested lead as he enjoyed in his last two races.