Digital One, Fred The Great to dominate Hubert Bartley Trophy

HAVING SWEPT the top two places in last weekend’s SVL 23rd Anniversary Trophy with importees I AM FRED and IS THAT A FACT, upstaging ageing local-bred MAHOGANY, champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s barn should dominate Saturday’s divided Hubert Bartley Trophy with yet another pair of Americans.

DaCosta has Oakridge Farms’ three-year-old filly, DIGITAL ONE, in division one of the seven-furlong event. In division two, four-year-old closer FRED THE GREAT reps the top barn for owner Milade Azan, whose I AM FRED confirmed his return to form with a big win last week.

Since reeling off a hat-trick as a two-year-old late last season, DIGITAL ONE has found life sticky as a three-year-old among overnight-allowance runners, outsped by WALL STREET TRADER in May and burnt on the headline by NEO STAR earlier this month in the Liu Chie poo Trophy at a mile.

Though she got a rude awakening as the favourite in consecutive races, DIGITAL ONE disgraced in neither, especially her brave bid at a mile on the lead, matching strides with NEO STAR, who ran prominently in races against ATOMICA and IS THAT A FACT.

Attempting to press NEO STAR down the backstretch in splits of 23.4, 34.1 and 47.1, DIGITAL ONE was left behind when the long-speed runner quickened at the three-pole in 59.3. Chasing 1:13.0 into the lane, DIGITAL ONE was attacked on either flank by eventual winner EASY AS A. B. C. and rail-running STOMP THE RHYTHM.

Winded a furlong and a half out, DIGITAL ONE was relegated to fourth while EASY AS A. B. C quickened outside to inhale pesky NEO STAR. STOMP THE RHYTHM stayed on for second while DIGITAL ONE rallied to claim third from NEO STAR, suggesting she still had fight left in her.

Better suited to middle-distances, DIGITAL ONE should use her pace to track whomever her stablemate, SHE’S MY FRIEND, hooks up with on the lead, the likely suspects being BURLAP, MILOS and possibly POWER, none of whom will be able to outfinish her in the stretch run.

FRED THE GREAT got a good warm-up at five furlongs straight earlier this month, closing fast at five furlongs straight behind fellow American JOY IS GOLDEN, who blazed home in 58.4.

A slow starter, FRED THE GREAT has enough ground at seven furlongs to make up for his slouchy gate habits. Having worked best at five and a half furlongs last Saturday morning, 1:08.2, a fifth quicker than SUNSET SILHOUETTE and PROVOCATIVA, FRED THE GREAT should prevail with a trademark late spurt, which won him third behind stablemate FUNCAANDUN and WALL STREET TRADER at seven furlongs in March.