Sat | Oct 5, 2024

Handicaps favour Provocativa in Monday’s feature

Published:Saturday | July 6, 2024 | 12:09 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
FRED THE GREAT (left) ridden by Robert Halledeen wins the seven-furlong Hubert ‘Chinna’ Bartley Memorial Trophy race ahead PROVOCATIVA (Tevin Foster) at Caymanas Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
FRED THE GREAT (left) ridden by Robert Halledeen wins the seven-furlong Hubert ‘Chinna’ Bartley Memorial Trophy race ahead PROVOCATIVA (Tevin Foster) at Caymanas Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

IT will be a matter of who blinks first when NEO STAR and PROVOCATIVA eyeball each other on the lead in Monday’s overnight allowance at nine furlongs and 25 yards, having both shown blistering speed at a distance of ground when last out.

A trip naively described as a sprinter’s paradise by many, nine furlongs and 25 yards is more a test of pace and stamina combined as opposed to raw speed, which often leave many jockeys so minded with winded mounts turning for home, inviting stayers to capitalise.

Confirming his love for the trip after narrowly losing to RAINSVILLE in the Chairman’s Plate on Mouttet Mile Day, NEO STAR used his searing speed to win at the trip on New Year’s Day, landing the Fan Appreciation Day Trophy at the expense of SENSATIONAL MOVE and D HEAD CORNERSTONE, wiring them in a fast 1:55.3.

After two exploratory races against class-act IS THAT A FACT at seven and a half and five furlongs straight in grade one, NEO STAR showed his true colours at a mile on return to overnight-allowance company a month ago. Though running DIGITAL ONE off her legs, NEO STAR couldn’t hold out under topweight 126lb when EASY AS A. B. C. came calling with STOMP THE RHYTHM in the stretch run.

At what could be his best distance NEO STAR, who won four consecutive middle-distance races before being stopped by RAINSVILLE, will try stealing a march under title-seeking Raddesh Roman.

However, United States-bred PROVOCATIVA has the handicaps to her advantage, all of 17lb lighter than NEO STAR, in what should be a tussle for the lead.

Similar to NEO STAR, PROVOCATIVA enjoys dominating the pace, peeling off from the field on last when fresh off a giveaway $1 million claim tag. FRED THE GREAT had to work overtime to catch the five-year-old mare in a fast 1:25.4 as she carried her own pace with 117lb.

Gregg Fennell has been presenting his horses in immaculate condition, recent winner MILOS being a fine example of his runners returning none the worse off a quick turnaround.

NEO STAR is no pushover but weight stops trains. Should the speedster get crazy on the lead in a cut-throat duel, the back door would be flung open to the closers – D HEAD CORNERSTONE, STOMP THE RHYTHM and POWER FROM ABOVE.