Oneofakind back to prove a point
Top-class campaigner Oneofakind returns from an injury break of 190 days in an attempt to reignite his career when he takes on rivals in the $1.14-million Bridge 99FM Cup feature race at Caymanas Park today.
The Anthony Nunes trainee last raced on March 19 and was a winner of the Chairman’s Trophy over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m), beating Calculus by a neck. Oneofakind won the event in a time of 1:33.0.
There is no doubt that a fit and robust Oneofakind would win this event on a canter. Given his long layoff from competitive endeavours, the five-year-old chestnut horse may need at least one run to get to his best, but his trainer is known for bringing horses back to the winners’ enclosure after long breaks. If Oneofakind returns in fit and proper mode, he will win without a murmur.
The danger to Oneofakind here appears to be the Dale Murphy-conditioned Runaway Algo, a three-year-old American-bred chestnut colt bred by Algorithms out of the Horse Greeley mare Missunify.
The Bridge 99FM feature, a three-year-old and upward Overnight Allowance contest going seven and a half furlongs, is positioned as the ninth event on the 10-race card with a post time of 4:15 pm. First post is at 11:30 am.
Oneofakind has been training well coming into this, having galloped six furlongs (1,200m) in a tidy 1:14.3 alongside stablemate Romraima (1:15.0). The Fearless Vision – The Golden Bucket offspring showed that he is in fine fettle and, given his back class, is poised for a winning run. Reyan Lewis will ride.
Runaway Algo is the only three-year-old in the field and is well known for his speed. Based on his eight-race record, Runaway Algo comes up short when racing at distances longer than six and a half furlongs (1,300m).
It has become apparent that Murphy is gradually priming his charge to become more adept at the longer trips, with the lengthy Jamaica Cup (nine and a half furlongs – 1,900m) and the lucrative Mouttet Mile ($18 million) on the horizon.
For Runaway Algo, as the youngster in this one, his job is just to deliver by winning this cup race, if he is to have a say when the money-spinning events are at hand.
For the rest of the nine runners in the 11-horse field, after eliminating the likes of Daddy Jones, Ras Emanuel, Awesome Treasure, and Artesia, they can be considered as having an outside chance of winning.
The change of trainer from Richard Azan to Dennis Thwaites has seemingly revived the fortunes of Daddy Jones, a winner five days ago in non-winners of four at seven and a- alf furlongs. While this is Daddy Jones‘ first attempt in Overnight Allowance, given his revival, he can hit the board.
Ras Emanuel is the senior of these at 10 years old. He is as consistent as can be, thereby increasing the possibility of troubling the principals.
Awesome Treasure finished fourth (September 11) going nine furlongs and 25 yards. The reduction of two furlongs on Sunday will suit the pursuit of victory by Awesome Treasure. This foreign-bred mare has been racing a lot of late, without getting close to winning. Yet, she has to be taken into consideration as, at her best, Awesome Treasure can use her known speed to set the pace and is sufficiently experienced to hold the gallop when required to.
Artesia decimated rivals in a Restricted Overnight call on August 28, at seven furlongs. This grey filly faces more competitive rivals in this cup race, yet she can easily place herself behind the leaders before putting in a strong effort in the final two furlongs of the stretch drive.
Ones to watch:
Race 1) Manaco/Tapit Good/Salud
Race 2) Breaking Storm/Diligent/Reggae Gone Grammy
Race 3) Sure Curlin/Carol Strike/Fearless Vibe
Race 4) Papito/Wifey Sez So/Ultimatum
Race 5) Aphelios/Custer/Unknown Soldier
Race 6) Fabulosity/Prosecco/Silent Cat
Race 7) Pip/Jaguar/Noble Impulse
Race 8) Tekapunt/Power/Buzz City Light
Race 9) Oneofakind/Runaway Algo/Artesia
Race 10) Noa Li/March and Shoot/Amad Ali