I Am Fred still too quick for top-class company

HAVING CLOCKED the fastest time at five and a half furlongs this season, I AM FRED, who won four consecutive races in grade one last year – sprinting against the best and holding off KING ARTHUR at nine furlongs and 25 yards – has simply signalled that he is back where he belongs as a top-rated foreigner.

Returning for Saturday’s Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at six furlongs, again facing IS THAT A FACT, I AM FRED should not, in any shape or form, be opposed in his bid for back-to-back wins after slamming his stablemate in the SVL 23rd Anniversary Trophy at five and a half furlongs on June 22.

I AM FRED allows IS THAT A FACT and JORDON REIGN’S 16 and 14lb, respectively, which, on paper, should give both chances. However, IS THAT A FACT prefers building speed at middle distances, as opposed to quick dashes.

JORDON REIGN’S lone outing this season, getting home by a length and three-quarter from KP CHOICE at five furlongs straight in overnight-allowance company, tells the tale of the tape in measuring up to I AM FRED.

After reeling off four back-to-back wins up to June last season, I AM FRED went off the rails, losing consecutive races to RUNAWAY ALGO, the Eros and She’s On Wheels, a trend which followed him through the Gold Cup, Port Royal Sprint and a trailing effort in December’s Mouttet Mile.

Brought back in May with ring rust around his girth, I AM FRED was outfinished at six furlongs by last year’s derby winner, ABILITY, which he corrected by humbling IS THAT A FACT and MAHOGANY in his searing run at five and a half last month.

I AM FRED won with the ease of an out-of-class horse, except he was beating the top class, when spread-eagling IS THAT A FACT and MAHOGANY.

With grade-one thinning out to a handful of runners led by local-bred ATOMICA, I AM FRED ought to be followed until he comes up against the flying filly or possibly last year’s Mouttet Mile winner, American ROUGH ENTRY.