In knotty Open Allowance call
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The first Open Allowance race in 2022 is scheduled to be run on Saturday (January 15) at Caymanas Park.
Six horses will compete over a distance of six furlongs with only one devoid of a realistic chance of winning. Stranger Danger is nowhere near his best form and can be disregarded from all calculations.
The other five starters are Eagle One trained by Jason DaCosta; God of Love and Patriarch both trained by Fitzgerald Richards; Awesome Treasure trained by Gary Subratie, and Nuclear Noon by Anthony Nunes.
Eagle One, a US importee, was victorious seven days ago at the lower Overnight Allowance level. That win was over 6 ½ furlongs, with Eagle One faltering in the final part of the contest as El Profesor made a late surge. Eagle One in that last encounter stayed with the early pace before taking over at the top of the straight and then galloped resolutely to win by a neck. Now, Eagle One is in an out-and-out sprint and will have to come from behind, which is going to prove difficult.
God of Love, did well when finishing second by half-a-length behind Father Patrick 19 days ago in the Chris Armond Trophy (5 ½ furlongs). With the pace on Saturday expected to be hot, God of Love has the uncanny ability of staying close to the leaders and running on whenever required. This is the ideal race for God of Love, who will carry the bulk of the betting.
Patriarch is the speed in this race. If he gets out of the gates in good order, Patriarch is going to the front, with the question being; when will he stop? Patriarch recently defeated Eagle One coming down the five straight course, and the two face each other once again, with Eagle One having the advantage primarily based on the race distance.
Awesome Treasure had a welcomed return to form in the grade below winning from gate to wire in a nine furlongs and 25 yards contest. This is a sharp sprint and Awesome Treasure cannot lead making it imperative for her jockey to be close to the pace and then make a move when they reach the lane for the last two furlongs.
Coming from the six draw is Nuclear Noon. Nuclear Noon ended in fifth place some three lengths behind Father Patrick going 5 ½ furlongs. The additional half-a-furlong on Saturday will suit Nuclear Noon as he usually likes to be off the lead and then make his bid for victory in the latter part of his races. The fact that Nuclear Noon will not be partnered by his regular rider Robert Halledeen is of minor concern as replacement Tevin Foster has been riding in good form.
