MONDAY’S Jamaica Cup belongs to THE PRINCE’S SPUR, Rohan Crichton’s American who failed by three-quarter length to beat Horse of the Year RIDEALLDAY when debuting locally in the grade-one Gold Cup, followed by a ridiculously easy win at seven and a half furlongs in 1:30.1, getting within 1.1 seconds of PHENOMENAL POWER’s track record.
Were December’s Mouttet Mile betting open tomorrow, THE PRINCE’S SPUR would be the clear morning-line second favourite, considering he was in receipt of 14lb from RIDEALLDAY in September’s seven-furlong Gold Cup.
However, to guarantee his spot, a little business of the win-and-you’re-in Jamaica Cup will have to be settled on Monday, seemingly a routine affair after THE PRINCE’S SPUR’s afternoon stroll in the Typewriter Trophy three weeks after the Gold Cup.
Blasting to the lead under Raddesh Roman in splits of 45.3, 58.0 and 1:10.3, THE PRINCE’S SPUR won by a dozen lengths with topweight 126lb, one of the loudest Mouttet Mile shots fired this season, putting all, RIDEALLDAY included, on notice that Team Crichton means business after LEGACY ISLE’s back-to-back runner-up efforts.
Since winning the 2023 Mouttet Mile with Rough Entry, Crichton and his owners have twice had to settle for the runner-up spot, LEGACY ISLE beaten by FUNCAANDUN in 2024 and RIDEALLDAY last year.
Used up too early in the Gold Cup, chasing PACK PLAYS’ splits of 23.0 and 45.4 before motoring into 1:10.4 for six furlongs before being caught by RIDEALLDAY, THE PRINCE’S SPUR should have no problem dispatching GIRVANO and BARNABY, neither capable of matching the seven-year-old’s pace.
Whereas THE PRINCE’S SPUR should be a shoo-in for the Jamaica Cup, PHENOMENAL POWER’s presence in the day’s second Mouttet Mile win-and-you’re-in, the six-furlong Port Royal Sprint, slams the door shut on all aspirants..
PHENOMENAL POWER, who wired GIRVANO and BARNABY in July’s Mouttet Mile win-and-you’re-in, the Diamond Mile, should start a clear favourite for the Port Royal Sprint.
A winner of five races from seven starts and track-record holder at seven and a half furlongs, PHENOMENAL POWER ran horribly in the July 18 Hall of Fame Stakes, finishing down the track behind DESERT OF MALIBU, CALIFORNIA CROWN and DON KWESI at six furlongs.
However, the three-year-old colt returned to flatten rivals a week later in the Diamond Mile, RIDEALLDAY included, signalling his prowess ahead of the US$300,000 Mouttet Mile set for December 5.
