Money Miser to prove chin in Winston Griffiths Classic

THOUGH THE August 7 Jamaica derby was one of the slowest-ever run at Caymanas Park, 2:42.3, MOJITO’s mile was the tale of the tape, a measure that can be used to gauge MONEY MISER’s chances with topweight at nine and a half furlongs in Saturday’s Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths Classic.

Chasing a torrid derby pace set by MOJITO, MONEY MISER tried moving as a team with ABILITY, who left the three and a half furlong marker like a rocket-propelled grenade. MONEY MISER straightened third behind ABILITY and MOJITO, who ran a cracking first eight furlongs, a half-mile split of 48.1 heading into 1:16.1, 1:29.2 for seven and a mile in 1:42.1.

A Triple Crown bridesmaid, clearly second best in the 2000 Guineas, St Leger and Jamaica Derby, MONEY MISER has one problem – losing the three classics to as many horses – possibly exposing a glass chin when faced with consistent pace.

Carrying topweight 126lb, allowing stablemate PRINCESS SHARON 14lb after finishing only a length ahead of the filly in the 10-furlong St Leger won by THALITA, MONEY MISER could be asking for trouble should he not reproduce his Jamaica Derby form behind upset-winner ABILITY.

Should MONEY MISER report short of his derby form, improving filly, POWER FROM ABOVE, who stepped straight from winning a maiden race on her third start to second in the Jamaica Oaks a month later, beating PRINCESS SHARON by eight lengths, could be even more dangerous at 119lb than his stablemate.

COLT ON THE IMPROVE

However, MONEY MISER’s derby run points to a colt on the improve with only five outings under his girth. His second-place effort behind MOJITO in the 2000 Guineas was only his third start after which trainer Fitzroy Glispie kept him in the deep end of the pool, pointed to the St Leger and derby as his next two assignments.

Should Glispie employ relay tactics of sending lightweight PRINCESS SHARON to ensure an honest pace, or should BURLAP get overly ambitious, MONEY MISER will have enough in the tank to close for the kill from off the pace under Shamaree Muir, whose win aboard STOMP THE RHYTHM in division one of Sunday’s O & S Tack Room Trophy, showed that his years spent in Canada have honed his timing in finishes.

The fillies aside, Richard Azan’s BURLAP, who scored a ridiculously easy victory over HUNTSMAN at seven and a half furlongs on August 19, clocking an impressive 1:34.2, might very well be an outsider, considering how he has turned around his form with two wins since fitted with a tongue tie.