Sun | Nov 3, 2024

Interestntimesahead won’t reinvent the wheel for Derby

Published:Sunday | August 4, 2024 | 12:10 AMAinsley Walters - Gleaner Writer
INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD, ridden by Tevin Foster, wins the three-year-old graded stakes, The Kingston over seven-and-a-half furlongs at Caymanas Park on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD, ridden by Tevin Foster, wins the three-year-old graded stakes, The Kingston over seven-and-a-half furlongs at Caymanas Park on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

TRAINER JASON DaCosta need not reinvent the wheel in Tuesday’s Jamaica Derby after INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD’s workmanlike victory in last month’s 10-furlong St Leger.

The derby being two furlongs longer, it would appear that Anthony Nunes’ St Leger runner-up, CROWN CHASER, might be the horse to beat after closing from off the pace to get within three lengths of INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD.

However, INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD’s tussle with 1000 Guneas winner RUN JULIE RUN from three furlongs out had him working twice as hard for his win as opposed to CROWN CHASER sitting off the pace and reaping what he didn’t sow.

Despite clearly incapable of getting 12 furlongs, DaCosta’s speedy 2000 Guineas winner, CALIFORNIA CROWN, taking his place in the derby suggests a similar game plan, being consistently drilled at seven-furlong gallops during exercise.

Taking over from SUPREMASI and MACK AND ROME at the half-mile marker in the St Leger, CALIFORNIA CROWN was strong on the lead, pulling RUN JULIE RUN off her bridle to move as a team with INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD in pursuit of his stablemate.

The pair collared CALIFORNIA CROWN the leader exactly three furlongs out, engaging in a battle of the sexes, which lasted to midway the stretch run.

Not as flashy as CALIFORNIA CROWN in the mornings, no “exercise horse”, DaCosta declared after INTRESTINGTIMESAHEAD’s St Leger victory, the game plan is to stalk and pounce again.

With whatever happened in his 2000 Guineas loss to CALIFORNIA CROWN behind him, INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD was tugging Tevin Foster the entire way, from the clubhouse turn to the backstretch where the leading rider applied just enough brake for his stablemate carry the splits down the backstretch.

After asserting his dominance a furlong and a half out, pulling away from RUN JULIE RUN, INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD was at no time threatened by CROWN CHASER, who barely out touched the brave filly at the wire for second.

INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD’s St Leger performance was a perfect race if there was ever one, from start to finish, a template which won’t be disturbed in the derby.