Atomica for Monday’s Ian Levy Cup

MAMMA MIA being her only speed threat in Monday’s Ian Levy Cup at eight and a half furlongs, ATOMICA is set to put yet another disappointing Mouttet Mile run to rest.

MAMMA MIA, who has never beaten open-allowance company, more so grade one, has picked up 11lb for carrying the Mouttet Mile field into the lane with 110lb.

ATOMICA might have been bumped up by nine pounds but her run can be thrown out the window, making the five pounds she allows MAMMA MIA an insignificant ask of a two-time Jamaica Cup winner.

It was a case of déjà vu for ATOMICA in the Mouttet Mile only that threw a tantrum this time around, getting rid of Dane Dawkins approaching the home turn in another spoilt display because she could not have her way on the lead.

Breaking slightly in a tangle from post-position 10, ATOMICA first reaction was to shy from ROUGH ENTRY, who left stall 15 like a bullet, clearing four horses to his left in a flash, which took him sharply into her path but not enough to have caused a fuss.

However, ATOMICA didn’t take ROUGH ENTRY’s burst of speed gracefully, bumping into MOJITO before tugging Dane Dawkins to the rail where things only got progressively worse for her as she tried to evade the sand being kicked back by the natural speedsters.

Running against the rail, just behind SHE’S MY DESTINY, ATOMICA got caught in a pocket as AMERICAN TAP, I AM FRED and IS THAT A FACT formed a vanguard on her outside, leaving her with no sand shield.

When the pace quickened into 57.2 leaving the three-furlong marker and SHE’S MY DESTINY tried keeping up with the leaders, a frustrated ATOMICA again reacted roguishly to sand being kicked at her, sending Dawkins airborne.

Similar to how she won the Jamaica Cup on November 11, ATOMICA had romped the 2022 version on a canter at nine and a half furlongs before quitting a half-mile out in that year’s Mouttet Mile.

She not only repeated her Jamaica Cup victory but also her Mouttet Mile behaviour, a spoilt display by a horse who does not like to be led or fancies sand in her face.