While Runaway Algo has yet to taste victory at the top level, trainer Dale Murphy believes his ever trying three-year-old American-bred chestnut colt has done more than enough to suggest that he has a chance of winning the ultra-rich Mouttet Mile, which carries a total purse of US$125,000 ($18 million). The Mouttet Mile will be decided at Caymanas Park tomorrow, Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Bred by Algorithms out of Misunify, Runaway Algo is a winner of five races from 11 starts. His last two efforts were encouraging, finishing second 2 ½ lengths behind top stayer Calculus in the Mark My Word Trophy over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) on October 8 and second by three lengths behind Mahogany in the October 22, 7-furlong (1,400m) Gold Cup.

“He [Runaway Algo] ran second in a grade one race and second in an Open Allowance event, to prove himself at the top level. We are happy with the progress of Runaway Algo so far, and as far as we are concerned, he has a chance like every other horse,” Murphy said.

“I mean, if you say Mahogany or Atomica is going to win the race, then yes, we were in front of Atomica in the Gold Cup, although she had issues, and yes, we finished second behind Mahogany.

Murphy said that Runaway Algo has been training very well for the Mouttet Mile, and he is very excited about his chances coming into the race.

“I can’t complain about his [Runaway Algo‘s] preparations coming into the Mouttet Mile. I mean, he is training well; he is training as we would want him to train, Runaway Algo is in good shape. So, going the distance of a mile, it’s a different race, and we realise that our chances are on par with every other horse in the race.

“A mile is like a sprint race. I don’t think that a mile is a journey race because horses don’t usually come back in a mile race. Everybody can sprint a mile, and I think we are represented well in the Mouttet Mile by Runaway Algo,” Murphy said.

— Ruddy Allen