Mouttet Mile winner Excessive Force hunts Ian Levy Cup
EXCESSIVE Force, winner of the first staging of the US$125,000 Mouttet Mile (invitational), is expected to finish the season with authority as he takes on eight rivals in the third running of the $4-million Ian Levy Cup at Caymanas Park today.
Trained by Philip Feanny, Excessive Force (Broken Vow-Fevered Kiss) produced a late surge on the inside rails to find glory in the Mouttet Mile (invitational) on December 3. Excessive Force’s electrifying run in deep stretch — which brought the large crowd in attendance to its feet — won the three-year-old and upward Graded Stakes event in fine style by a length and a quarter.
The five-year-old, American-bred, chestnut horse cemented himself as one of the season’s stars after snatching the contest in a time of 1:41.0. If Excessive Force can reproduce that effort then another trophy win is surely on the cards. Bebeto Harvey will continue to ride.
The Ian Levy Cup, a three-year-old and upwardly-graded stakes race that will be the season’s final major race, will be run over 8 1/2 furlongs (1,700 m). Post time for the race is 3:35 pm with the first event set to go off at 11:20 am.
Ian Parsard’s Jordon Reign and Mahogany, who finished third and fourth in the Mouttet Mile, respectively, and Gary Subratie’s Calculus who finished fifth are all out for vengeance, thus laying the stage for a dramatic race.
Jordon Reign’s is without a doubt one of the most improved horses in training at present. Jordon Reign’s produced a late surge to finish third by just 1¾ lengths behind Excessive Force and Duke in the recent Mouttet Mile (invitational).
Based on that effort and the fact that this race is a half-furlong (100m) longer, Jordon Reign’s should be in the running for top honours here. Tevin Foster will ride.
Mahogany, who went into the Mouttet Mile as the top-rated horse in the country, gave his all when finishing fourth in the race by two lengths. Mahogany then carried the field into the lane and was still in a winning position at the furlong (200m) pole but weakened in the final stages of the race. Going further, the Gold Cup-winning Mahogany is expected to fall short but he packs a lot of class and can compensate for his Mouttet Mile loss, especially if judiciously ridden. Dane Dawkins replaces Reyan Lewis in the saddle.
Calculus was expected to do much better than his fifth-place finish in the recent Mouttet Mile. Calculus, last year’s Jamaica St Leger and Derby winner, is going to appreciate this extended trip and could run counter to all pre-race calculations. Shane Ellis remains in the irons.
Of the rest in the field, only I’ve Got Magic can be considered for a share of the spoils. The Philip Feanny trainee easily won the Ahwhofah Sprint over six furlongs (1,200m) by 3½ lengths in a time of 1:13.1 on December 11, 2022.
I’ve Got Magic steps up here to compete for this trophy but he has been a regular campaigner at this level and should not be disgraced here.
The rest of the field comprises Miniature Man, Race Car, Prince Marshall, and El Profesor.
Ones to watch:
Race 1) Chandra’s Law/Simba The Lion/Snowflakes
Race 2) Matriarch/JNR Jones/Plutologist
Race 3) Babylon Will Fall/Posing Already/Potential
Race 4) Awesome Choice/Ras Emanuel/Mister Mandate
Race 5) Muzzo/King Air/Select Me Race 6) Raw Liquid/Zabratone/Another Bullet
Race 7) Divine Force/Roulette Boss/Rhythm Buzz
Race 8) Excessive Force/Jordon Reign’s/Calculus
Race 9) I Realise/Stomp The Rhythm/Pelicula
Race 10) Unruly Dude/Nomoredeals/Thirtyonekisses