Run Julie Run set to make amends

RUN JULIE RUN’s dull effort in blinkers late February took the sheen off her second-place run in December’s Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. However, returning for Saturday’s Thornbird Stakes minus the blinders, the grey filly should make amends at seven furlongs.

Sent off as the even-money favourite to frank her Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes effort, RUN JULIE RUN tanked in blinkers at six and a half furlongs, coming off the turn with her head high and gazing right, wondering what had bedevilled Ian Parsard into trying the equipment.

Omar Walker tried his best to rally the grey. She would have none of it, settling for third behind United States-bred maiden AMAZING FORCE, closing from off the pace to run past COME HOME TO ME, Jason DaCosta’s local-bred, who was no match for RUN JULIE RUN in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes.

Bred to easily get the Thornbird Stakes trip, RUN JULIE RUN’s dam is United States-bred Runaway Julie, making her a half-sister to SOTOMAYOR, the late-running grey, who had beaten SHE’S A MANEATER in the 2016 Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes before she returned to haunt him as a Triple Crown winner, en route to establishing the most distinguished career of any local-bred horse to date.

Having clearly shown an appreciation for middle-distance races, twice outsped by United States-bred DIGITAL ONE after rallying at five furlongs for a debut win, RUN JULIE RUN’s Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes effort underlined her preferred running style as a stalker.

Being fitted with blinkers in February must have confused the hell out of her, blinded by the equipment as she searched for rivals to run at throughout the event. In a complete reversal of the pace she had shown in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes – when she stalked BANADURA’s 46.3 split, increasing to 59.4 and flying off the turn in 1:13.1 – RUN JULIE RUN could barely match COMEHOMETOME’s crawling 49.0 in February.

Late March, Parsard breezed RUN JULIE RUN, six furlongs out the mile chute in 1:16.2, returning last Sunday to gallop five and a half furlongs in 1:08.4, signalling her peers will be in deep trouble when she pounces in the Thornbird.

If there is a horse to stop RUN JULIE RUN, it could be her stablemate, AMMA, a full sister to BLUE VINYL, the 2022 Guineas and St Leger winner. AMMA is the unknown in the line-up after a smashing second-time-out victory at seven furlongs on Valentine’s Day.