FOLLOWING Runaway Algo’s projected dominant victory in the Thunderbird Trophy on Saturday, June 17, 2023 trainer Dale Murphy indicated that the four-year-old, American-bred chestnut colt may be heading towards next month’s Eros Trophy, his first taste of competition at the Grade One level.

Although last year’s Mouttet Mile winner Excessive Force was scratched from the Thunderbird, resulting in a less-competitive offering, Runaway Algo easily cruised home under a hand ride to win by 14 1/4 lengths in the Open Allowance event for three-year-old and upwards over at seven furlongs (1,400m).

“This is the second time we are winning at Open Allowance and so we are going to be graduating to Grade One now,” Murphy said.

“He [Runaway Algo] has always proved that he is a Grade One horse but we are going to choose some nice races so that we can stay there.

“The plan is just to keep him healthy and sound for the bigger races at the end of the year. His next race might be the Eros, and that is at the end of July,” Murphy said.

As expected, Runaway Algo, being the lone speed in the five-horse field, dictated the pace up front under the guidance of jockey Raddesh “Sneaky Fox” Roman. The four-year-old chestnut colt Runaway Algo led Duke (Dane Dawkins) and Laban (Abigail Able) easily down the backstretch.

As the half-mile (800m) turn approached Runaway Algo began to pull away from his rivals, increasing the tempo and turning for home with a commanding lead. Runaway Algo wasted no time in deep stretch, producing an electric turn of foot, winning the contest by a city block under a common canter, for his third win from five starts this season.

In a time of 1:24.3 (24.1 x 46.4 x 1:10.2) Runaway Algo beat Money Monster (Sadiki Blake) and Sistren Treasure (Dane Dawkins) at the wire, in that order.

Runaway Algo completed a three-race sweep for Roman who had previously won on I Am Interested and Antarctica.

“It is a very good feeling to win three races because I have been putting in the hard work in the morning and I am happy that it has paid off,” Roman added. “I know this horse well because I have worked him extensively in the mornings and the connections have decided to give him a chance now, which I am extremely grateful for.

“The plan was to give him a clean break and relax him as much as possible,” Roman added.