Trainer Richards has keys to Sunday’s feature

PATRIARCH and GOD OF LOVE should have things their way in Sunday’s Customer Service Department Trophy, an open allowance at five furlongs straight in which the stablemates will be hard to separate after their exacta performance in the St Catherine Cup at six furlongs.

A month ago, the stablemates ran EAGLE ONE ragged at six furlongs, using superior pace to turn back the middle-distance specialist in the quick sprint. EAGLE ONE returned to frank the form of that race by easily putting away FATHER PATRICK at six and a half in last Saturday’s Eileen Cliggott Memorial.

EAGLE ONE again faces the duo but on worse terms, carrying topweight 126lb, at an even sharper trip, sitting level with PATRIARCH, who had easily beaten him at the distance under the exact weight conditions, clocking 57.1 on December 27.

PATRIARCH, however, has been heavily penalised for beating GOD OF LOVE by three-quarter length in the St Catherine Cup, the conditions or handicappers adding nine pounds, while docking five off his stablemate, resulting in a 14lb swing.

Weight conditions stipulating topweight must be 126lb, suggest PATRIARCH, who had carried 117lb in the St Catherine Cup, somehow came out of that race with a higher rating than his stablemate -- absolutely ridiculous, considering GOD OF LOVE had 126lb, allowing him nine pounds, and only lost by three-quarter length after pointing at the furlong pole.

GOD OF LOVE dropping five pounds, after losing by three-quarter length to a horse he had allowed nine, added to PATRIARCH picking up nine, due to scale movement, puts the math at almost 10lb to a length in a sprint, which is unheard of and underlines the need for a transparent and consistent handicapping system, especially at the three highest levels – overnight allowance, open allowance, and open allowance/grade one.

PATRIARCH’s saving grace, though no excuse for an inequitable weight, is the distance, which can never be a factor in handicapping. At five furlongs straight, he is an absolute menace, able to float along on his bridle longer than rivals in terrifying splits before quickening inside the last furlong.

The stablemates have the race at their mercy. A second open-allowance victory, this time with topweight, would push PATRIARCH to grade one, whereas GOD OF LOVE, should he win, would ensure another shot at the level, not only for himself, but also his stablemate.

It will be interesting to see which hand the connections play.