Huntsman targets Mr Lover Lover Trophy
Huntsman, who was unable to compete in the Jamaica 2000 Guineas due to injury, returns today to compete in the $1.02-million Mr Lover Lover Trophy feature event, which should be a walk in the park for the Key To Power-Dream Point offspring over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) at Caymanas Park.
The Ian Parsard-trained Huntsman arrived at the track with big hopes and didn’t let them down in his debut on April 15 when he crushed opponents by 17 lengths over seven-and-a-half furlongs (1,500m). Huntsman won in 1:33.4 seconds.
On May 7, Huntsman ran in The Kingston, the final big prep race before the 2000 Guineas and was defeated by Mojito, last season’s champion two-year-old. Mojito won the seven-and-a-half-furlong race by 15 lengths in 1:33.0.
The Kingston was Huntsman‘s second career start, and with room for improvement, it was expected that he would run better against Mojito in the 2000 Guineas. However, due to setbacks, Huntsman was unable to compete in the season’s first Classic race.
Huntsman, a three-year-old chestnut colt, has been well prepared for this task with three eye-catching sessions that had him looking as sharp as a razor blade in those spins.
On Sunday, May 21, Huntsman galloped seven furlongs (1,400m) in 1:28.0, with the six furlongs (1,200m) coming in 1:14.1. He then returned on Monday, June 5 and was ridden in 1:43.1 for eight furlongs (1,600m), while doing 1:29.2 for the last seven furlongs of the workout. Huntsman’s last gallop coming into this trophy race was on Sunday, June 11 when he strode seven furlongs in 1:37.3.
Based on those early morning spins, Huntsman should be an easy winner today as he begins his preparations for next month’s Jamaica St Leger, the second jewel in the Triple Crown series of races.
The Restricted Allowance II call for native-bred three-year-olds (non-winners of two) and imported three-year-olds and upward (maiden) over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) is positioned as the second event on the nine-race card with a post time of 12:55 pm. First race is at 12:15 pm.
Life Is Life, Burlap, and From Sheer To Ben should fight out for the minor sharing here.
Ones to watch:
Race 1) Colour Men Tan/Chitu Prince/Queen Deftiny
Race 2) Huntsman/From Sheer To Ben/Life Is Life
Race 3) Milkman/Manaco/Buzz Assault
Race 4) Duke of Springs/Sebastian/Rohan Kabir
Race 5) Premier Identity/Blue Persuasion/Volcano
Race 6) PIP/Dream of Paris/Aava Jaelyn
Race 7) Major Danger/Inspire Force/El Afortunado
Race 8) Babla/Mr Fete/Mrs Lyndhurst
Race 9) Monsieur Blue/Get A Pepsi/Gilbert