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Mamdeen poised for triple glory today

Published:Saturday | April 6, 2019 | 12:25 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
STORM PRINCESS, ridden by Christopher Mamdeen, is clear of rivals at Caymanas Park on Saturday, February 2, 2019.
STORM PRINCESS, ridden by Christopher Mamdeen, is clear of rivals at Caymanas Park on Saturday, February 2, 2019.

HOT claiming apprentice Christopher Mamdeen has shaken off one legend atop the jockeys’ standings, five-time former champion Trevor Simpson, with whom he was joint leader in early February, now, he has sights set on another, six-time former champion Omar Walker.

After stalling mid-March, while Walker rose from eighth place to top of the pile, Mamdeen served notice on the man dubbed ‘Champo’ with a stinging four-timer on Wednesday to start April with a bang, slicing his rivals’ lead to three winners.

Sitting on 21 winners, Mamdeen could follow with a three-timer this afternoon, including SENDAMESSAGETOMAMA in the Jockey’s Guild Trophy co-feature.

Mamdeen also looks hot aboard the maiden BLU ATTITUDE in the third, MY SUPER GIRL in the sixth and SENDAMESSAGETOMAMA in the night pan.

BLU ATTITUDE is nicely drawn on the faster stands’ side, right alongside the horse to beat, speedy but short-running MOTHER NATURE, with female rider Natalie Berger. On paper, MOTHER NATURE should make all, but she is giving improving BLU ATTITUDE nine pounds, with a stronger rider aboard, in what should turn out to be a match race.

Philip Feanny’s MY SUPER GIRL, unraced since flopping as the 1-5 favourite in the New Year’s Day Trophy, failing to hit the board, should run off as the favourite with Mamdeen at six and a half furlongs, backed by glowing exercise reports.

It was rather un-Feanny when the veteran, 14-time champion trainer turned out MY SUPER GIRL for three races in 17 days, culminating in a disappointing effort at six and a half furlongs after a hell of a battle against BRANDY at a mile 10 days earlier.

Feanny has since gone back to the drawing board with the four-year-old filly, who is now rested and excited with a bullet work, 1:06.3 for five and a half, on March 15.

Beaten by Feanny’s out-of-class MESSI on March 23, Errol Waugh’s SENDAMESSAGETOMAMA has fully paid his dues to non-winners-of-two, racing prominently and losing to horses who have been holding their own, example SON SON, who beat non-fours, and, up to two Wednesdays ago, BAD BOY TRUMP, scoring a victory among non-winners-of-three.

Mamdeen needs only to sit in the cat bird seat while KALAHARI and KAPPONE set up the seven-furlong race for him to pounce coming off the home turn.