AFTER three dismal runs prior, no one would have considered the Gary Crawford-contitioned Loyal Action to be anything special. However, the bay colt raced into Classic deliberation following an impressive win of the $990,000 Harry Jaghai Trophy on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Loyal Action started his career on November 19 of last year with a fifth-place finish, finishing by over 7 lengths over 7 furlongs (1,400m). His second start was on December 17, 2023, over one mile (1,600m), and Loyal Action finished fifth by over 9 lengths, while he finished in last place among seven runners over one mile on January 28 by over 38 lengths, with the blinkers off.

Overturning 38¼ lengths on last is no easy task, especially by a horse who has shown nothing in his previous runs, but Loyal Action, running with the tongue tie off this time, made it look effortless when smacking rivals by 5 lengths in the Maiden Condition Race for native-bred three-year-olds over 6½ furlongs (1,300m).

“He never showed anything in his last three runs simply because he had never reached his standard as yet. The more Loyal Action races, the more experience he gets, and so he is improving and he should get better from this,” Crawford told The Supreme Racing Guide.

“The fourth run is always the best run for a horse because he now has the experience, and he showed the potential that he can do anything. I am pleased with the run and I am pleased with the win,” he added.

Ridden by Bebeto Harvey, Loyal Action broke off well at the start of the race and settled in third position behind Digital Light (Christopher Mamdeen) and The Love Of God (Javaniel Patterson) down the backstretch.

The Love Of God took up the running heading into the half-mile (800m) turn and immediately Loyal Action went in pursuit, before hitting the front full of running entering the drive. Royal Action turned on the afterburner in deep stretch and went on his merry way to an emphatic win.

Bred by Western Classic out of the Montbrook mare Fast Action, Loyal Action won in a time of 1:21.3 ahead of May Sellington (Paul Francis) and Princess Talise (Oshane Nugent).

“It was a nice ride from the jockey. He wasn’t in any hurry as he just sat comfortably behind the leaders and asked the horse to really run up the lane. Now, let’s see how he comes out of the race and make a decision going forward as he showed that he has the potential for the Classics,” Crawford said.

Harvey said the key to victory was to get a good break and let Loyal Action run his race.

“He is a very promising horse and one for the future as well. The plan was to get a clean break and execute well as I knew the plan from the exercise morning that we are going to have them, and so the most important things was to get a clean trip and just ride my race.

“I am 100 per cent pleased with his performance. And I might be on him for the Classic races but we have to take it one step at a time and see how it goes with him,” Harvey said.