Thu | May 2, 2024

Is That A Fact faces second I’ve Got Magic test

Published:Thursday | October 5, 2023 | 12:11 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
IS THAT A FACT, ridden by Reyan Lewis, wins the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup over six furlongs , a three-year-old and upwards overnight allowance stakes at Caymanas Park on August 19.
Anthony Minott
IS THAT A FACT, ridden by Reyan Lewis, wins the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup over six furlongs , a three-year-old and upwards overnight allowance stakes at Caymanas Park on August 19.

IS THAT A FACT again gets the stamp of approval, cutting back a furlong shorter for Saturday’s I’msatisfied Trophy at six furlongs. Maintaining his speed out the mile chute on last, IS THAT A FACT dipped well under 1:12.0 for the first six furlongs, rapid acceleration coming out of 47.0 for the half-mile and 59.3 for five.

Reporting at 124lb, IS THAT A FACT renews rivalry with fellow American I’VE GOT MAGIC, who he had humbled by six lengths at the trip in August. I’VE GOT MAGIC returned to winning ways in a solid 1:12.0 for six furlongs in September but did so against overnight-allowance runners, having his way from start to finish.

I’VE GOT MAGIC kept company with grade-one runners at the back end of last season. Should he report in the form with which he ended last season, spilling over to January with back-to-back wins, IS THAT A FACT will face his sternest test since going on a four-race win streak.

THREE WINS

Prominent for the entire Mouttet Mile, finishing 10th, beaten by only seven lengths, I’VE GOT MAGIC returned to frank the form with three wins in his next four starts, his loss being a fourth-place finish behind MAHOGANY, JORDON REIGN’S and Mouttet Mile-winner EXCESSIVE FORCE in the Ian Levy Cup at eight and a half furlongs.

However, having already passed the speed test with a blistering 1:06.4 on a slow track early July, IS THAT A FACT proved he was no fluke by taking out last year’s St Leger winner, BLUE VINYL, in that run at seven furlongs three weeks ago.

Venturing out the mile chute for the first time, IS THAT A FACT left the one hole like a rabbit, making every post a winning one, with enough in the tank to hold late-charging BLUE VINYL at bay in a decent 1:25.2.

Though he should be much sharper for the rematch, armed with the alibi of returning off a seven-month lay-up when he had faced IS THAT A FACT in August, I’VE GOT MAGIC could still be hard pressed to keep up with the speedster, who ripped a 1:11.1 six-furlong split into the lane to escape BLUE VINYL and company on last.

Local-bred GOD OF LOVE should ensure an honest pace but won’t hold his gallop against the in-form foreigners for the entire six furlongs.