Cryptocurrency, ‘Dolly Baby’ strike by a short head
Three-year-old bay filly Cryptocurrency has failed to hit the board only once in her last 10 starts and in those efforts, eight of which came between January and June this year –the Adore The Gold – Pleasant Ending offspring has won once.
Finally win number two came on Saturday when Cryptocurrency captured the Titania Trophy on Saturday at Caymanas Park, thereby erasing any uneasiness her trainer Philip Feanny might have had about his filly.
Cryptocurrency, piloted by Ian “Dolly Baby” Spence, made a dramatic yet telling charge down the middle of the course and outduelled Soul Cure (Anthony Thomas) to win the Restricted Allowance non-winners-of-two event for three-year-old fillies by a short head.
The Balkrishen Sagan-Maraj-owned Cryptocurrency completed the five-and-a-half furlongs distance of the race in a time of 1:06.3 behind splits of 23.0 and 46.2.
“She ( Cryptocurrency) has had some mental problems and at one point we were not even sure she would continue to race but she has been gradually getting over them and showing is now giving an indication now that she is ready to mature and do something in her life,” a smiling Feanny said after the victory.
The Titania Trophy, which attracted a field of nine, was always expected to serve up a treat.
All the front-runners with the exception of 4-5 favourite Reggae Gone Grammy (Omar Walker) established themselves from the off, with Soul Cure, leading the way.
Casual Drink (Christopher Mamdeen), Formal Fashion (Kiaman McGregor), Sure Cote (Javaniel Patterson), Splendid Vision (Reyan Lewis) and Cryptocurrency, all formed a tight line behind the leaders heading to the half-mile.
When they left that point, moving towards the home stretch, Cryptocurrency was in fifth place, as Soul Cure continued to lead the way while briskly accelerated at the furlong pole.
By then Cryptocurrency had made rapid gains but was still unable to get back to the leader, who was hanging tough for the victory.
Cryptocurrency then responded quickly to “Dolly Baby’s” strong handling and surged through in the closing stages to snatch victory on the line.
Casual Drink and Splendid Vision completed the frame behind the top two.
“We were not quite sure what she would do when she hit the front, so I asked him [Spence] not to hit the front until the last moment and that’s what he did and she came out on top.
“We will see what she does next at the non-winners-of three or non-winners-of-four levels,” Feanny noted.