The ninth race on Saturday, September 19, honours the achievements of the great horseman, Kenneth Mattis, the only racing professional to be inducted in the Hall of Frame twice, as a jockey and a trainer.
The Kenneth Mattis Memorial Cup is an Overnight Allowance call going the two turns of nine furlongs and 25 yards.
Nine horses are entered to compete with The Quick Galloper’s analysis shared below.
1 - TEFLON DON
Representing the Jason DaCosta barn as the secondary entrant, this runner faces an uphill task. His recent form lacks spark, and stretching out over a two-turn distance will test his stamina limits beyond his comfort zone, as he is primarily a sprinter. Expect him to fade when the real running begins.
2 - COOKIE DAY N NIGHT
A dependable campaigner at the Overnight tier who always gives an honest effort, but he collides with far superior rivals. Lacks the raw turn of foot needed to stay competitive in this line-up and is likely to be left chasing shadows in the stretch.
3 - MISS GROVE (CAN)
A filly from the Anthony Nunes yard who can lead if required as evidenced on September 5 at 7 furlongs before being collared late by Royal Poppy, finishing a game second by 1 ¼ lengths. Miss Grove given her versatility, and can also race close then gain momentum in the final furlongs. Has to be taken seriously.
4 - OIL MACHINE
Enters off a sharp victory with his confidence high, and with veteran reinsman Omar Walker taking the reins, a huge asset for handling this distance. While a repeat win against this calibre of opponent is unlikely, his winning momentum makes him a solid candidate to cling on for a minor award.
5 - GIRVANO (USA)
Possesses elite Graded Stakes credentials, highlighted by a victory in the Miracle Man Cup on January 1, a runner-up finish behind Legacy Isle’s track-record performance in the Eros Trophy (7f), and a strong second in the Diamond Mile on July 25. Dropping down to Overnight Allowance makes him a formidable standout. He is a relentless, grinding stayer tailor-made for this exact distance.
6 - NEO STAR
A battle-tested veteran from the Nunes stable, partnered with champion jockey Raddesh Roman. He is a proven winner at this level with endless stamina. If the favorite encounters early traffic or finds himself with too much work to do, this seasoned stayer is the immediate threat to pounce.
7 - INTERESTNTIMESAHEAD
Narrowly missed out last time when finishing a strong second behind Supremasi over 7 ½ furlongs on August 6. The extra yardage here suits his closing style, making him an absolute must-use for exotic wagers.
8 - DIVINE FORCE (USA)
Bred to handle every inch of this trip and prefers to do his work from off the pace. If the front-runners engage in a costly duel upfront, his late-closing kick gives him longshot potential at a good big price.
9 - WHIZZ KIDD
Looks heavily outmatched against this quality of field. Would need to find massive improvement overnight to make any impression on the outcome.
