Morimoto for Sunday’s Announcers’ Trophy

REPORTING second race off a one-year break at seven and a half furlongs a month ago, MORIMOTO almost pulled off the perfect coup at 15-1 in the Bridge 99 FM Cup, making him the horse to beat with the run under his girth for Sunday’s Caymanas Park Announcers’ Trophy at six and a half furlongs.

Thrown off-guard by the absence of speed gallops and a sixth-place finish, beaten 11 lengths down the track by ROJORN DI PILOT on his seasonal debut 28 days earlier, punters ignored MORIMOTO’s back class with which he had departed a year prior, beating D HEAD CORNERSTONE and POWER RANKING at a mile in 1:40.1.

Were I REALISE not in the Bridge 99 FM Cup, a relaxed MORIMOTO would have stolen a march on RAINSVILLE. Pressed by MORIMOTO from the off, I REALISE churned 35.0, 46.4, 59.2 and 1:11.0, splits which separated them from the field until RAINSVILLE motored for second along the rail inside the final furlong.

Persistent to the final half-furlong, MORIMOTO finished two and a half lengths behind late-charging RAINSVILLE, who got within a short head of super-fit I REALISE’s eye-catching 1:32.0 for the trip.

Though returning 10lb heavier, MORIMOTO, who was fourth in last year’s 2000 Guineas before placing fifth in the St Leger and Jamaica Derby, ought to be controlling pace with the trip cut back by a furlong, a major plus for the Casual Trick-Luckybegood colt.

The Bridge was a truly run race in which MORIMOTO did extremely well, second run off a one-year break, a repeat of which should hand him the Announcers’ Trophy, possibly ahead of old rival POWER RANKING, who was outsprinted by LUKSOL at five furlongs round on last.

TEKAPUNT, BRINKS and SUNSET SILHOUTTE were among the runners unable to test the pace being set by I REALISE and MORIMOTO, none of whom should get close at a reduced trip. A shorter trip also spells trouble for the grey RAINSVILLE, who, up to a furlong out, was a length and a half behind MORIMOTO in the Bridge at seven and a half furlongs.