Chocomo has too much mid-race pace

CHOCOMO’s MID-RACE pace could land the United States-bred colt his fourth victory in six starts, taking on overnight-allowance runners in Sunday’s Millard Ziadie Memorial at five and a half furlongs.

The only three-year-old in the line-up, CHOCOMO’s rivals include oldstagers LABAN and GOD OF LOVE, who, at seven and eight years old, respectively, are the most experienced in the line-up but have been struggling against younger runners at the level.

GOD OF LOVE might have retained some of his speed, which has won him 15 races from 62 starts, finishing second on 12 occasions for a near 50 per cent 1-2 strike rate in sprints. However, five-year-old K P CHOICE has become a thorn in GOD OF LOVE’s side, using race-fitness and youth to keep the ageing warrior honest on the lead in their last two meetings.

On form, K P CHOICE would have had a look-in but reports at topweight 126lb with one too many outings under his girth since being reclaimed by Ricardo Brown from Oral Hayden late March.

After chasing home out-of-class American JORDON REIGN’S at five furlongs straight on May 19, K P CHOICE, even with claiming rider Richard Henry astride, lacked finishing speed inside the final furlong of his following race won by up-in-class JOY IS GOLDEN breaking from the one hole out the straight.

LABAN ran a big race against JOY IS GOLDEN but also fizzled close home, giving way to closers FRED THE GREAT and PRESS CONFERENCE, who claimed second and third, respectively, in a cavalry charge.

GOD OF LOVE, LABAN, K P CHOICE, and MILOS, all suspect on the lead after the first four furlongs, could set up the event for two foreigners – CHOCOMO and INSPIRE FORCE – both winners last time out.

INSPIRE FORCE produced a storming stretch run to beat non-winners-of-an-overnight-allowance at five and a half furlongs on May 25, mowing down MILOS stealing home a half-furlong out after shaking loose BURLAP.

Though INSPIRE FORCE won easily in 1:06.4, a time dwarfing CHOCOMO’s 1:08.3 on May 5, it should be noted that he only caught MILOS a half-furlong out after straightening next-to-last in the nine-horse field.

CHOCOMO’s pace should have him closer to the leaders, well ahead of INSPIRE FORCE, coming off the home turn. In his three wins, CHOCOMO has never been more than a length off the leader, including SHE’S A GOD GIFT, who had won back-to-back sprints before he overpowered her on May 5.