KINGSTON, Jamaica - She’s A Maneater, 2017 Triple Crown winner, and Supreme Soul, 2019 Triple Crown winner, lock horns in what could turn out to be a classical showdown in the 41st running of the $6 million iCOOL Juice Drink Superstakes at Caymanas on Sunday, October 6, 2019.
It is the first time that these two horses are meeting and based on current form and past performances, a battle of titanic proportions is expected.
The race is not limited to these two powerhouses as in the line-up are Supreme Soul’s stable companions Bigddadykool, the country’s premier stayer, and the promising Toona Ciliata.
Here is the analysis of the seven starters in post-position order of the Superstakes which will run over 10 furlongs (2,000m).
- SHE’S A MANEATER: (5-y-o b m – Natural Selection - Ahwhofah) — Without a doubt the most accomplished runner in training at present with 22 victories from 28 starts with lifetime earnings of over $35 million. She’s A Maneater is on top of her game right now with five wins from six starts this season. After her fourth-place finish behind Another Bullet in the Lady Geeta Trophy over six furlongs (1,200m) on April 20, She’s A Maneater has been unstoppable, racking up four-straight wins. She has accounted for Will In Charge once in the Legal Light Trophy on May 18, and Another Bullet three times on July 6 over six furlongs in the None Such Sprint; on July 20 over seven-and-a-half furlongs (1,500m) in a Graded Stakes event, and on August 31 in the seven-furlong (1,400m) Gold Cup. She’s A Maneater is a very versatile sort and is very dangerous at this distance and it will take an extraordinary performance from her rivals to deny her a fifth-consecutive win and a historic three-straight in the Superstakes, having won it in 2017 and 2018.
- SUPREME SOUL: (3-y-o ch c – Soul Warrior - Beware Baby) — Achieved one of the rarest feats in thoroughbred racing in any jurisdiction when he attained Triple Crown glory after winning the Jamaica St Leger on July 27. This after successfully winning the 2000 Guineas and Jamaica Derby. Although winning the Triple Crown was a tremendous effort by Supreme Soul, his win in the Open Allowance Mark My Word Trophy over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) on September 21 was probably his best-ever performance. He was smooth, he showed initiative and maturity. It was a pompous effort as he earned his eighth-consecutive win from as many starts this season in a very smart time of 1:54.1. Without a doubt, this is an exceptional horse and it is going be interesting to see how he goes among true and tested warriors. Supreme Soul at three has age on his side which leaves room for improvement. Going into the Superstakes, Supreme Soul is right on top of his game and he is going to give of his best. Whether it is good enough is left to be seen.
- UNCLE VINNIE: (5-y-o dk b h – Bridled Quest - Kathythetraina) — Very consistent performer who has finished in second place in his last four starts. Those runs were against weaker opponents and now facing the top horses, Uncle Vinnie is going to be left behind.
- HOVER CRAFT: (9-y-o b g – He’stherealthing - Royal Pizza) — Despite getting up in age, Hover Craft continues to do well in every class he races in. Not the force he once was but this hard-knocking campaigner can definitely go home earning.
- SENTIENT: (3-y-ch c – Strikeitwhileitshot - Lady Geetadeo) — Produced a good effort to finish in third place behind She’s An Introvert in a Restricted Stakes event over one mile (1,600m) on September 14. Sentient has been beaten by Supreme Soul four times this season and that trend should continue here.
- BIGDADDYKOOL: (5-y-o b g – Sorrentino - Beware Baby) — Was expected to give Stranger Danger a fight in the recent Governor General’s Stakes over 10 furlongs on September 14 but was beaten by the American-bred by 5 ¼ lengths in a time of 2:06.4. Prior to that he was a 6 ½-length winner in the Prime Minister’s Stakes over the same distance on August 10. Bigdaddykool enjoys the distance and although facing She’s A Maneater here and his younger half-brother Supreme Soul, can get the job done.
- TOONA CILIATA: (3-y-o ch g – Soul Warrior - Red Gold) — Comes in the Superstakes on the backend of two impressive victories to throw down the gauntlet in no uncertain manner to his more established and senior campaigners. He defeated Sentient and She’s An Introvert on August 30 in a nine plus race by 2 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:56.1 and then on September 14, defeated Uncle Vinnie and Summer Sun in the Errol “Big Sub” Subratie over a mile in a very quick 1:37.3. To make that victory even more noteworthy, it was the first time that Toona Ciliata was racing in Overnight Allowance company. Toona Ciliata cannot be discarded.
