By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport EditorVETERAN TRAINER Kenneth Mattis and Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles have struck a rich vein of form in recent weeks and this is set to continue when RIVER JORDON runs in today's Ash Wednesday Trophy feature for overnight allowance horses over 1300 metres.
Mattis and Robles teamed up to land back-to-back wins in overnight allowance with the versatile Court Case and fit RIVER JORDON should ensure that the streak is extended.
By Restless Thief - QWI, RIVER JORDON has been a model of consistency in recent months notching up a fast time victory, 57.2 seconds over 1000 metres straight on December 27 last year before running on for second going 1000 metres round to the progressive The Admiral six weeks later. He was a bit unlucky in the latter event. He railed on leaving the gates and was tailed off 800 metres out before running on strongly after the winner had flown.
However, Court Case, who was third in the 1000 metres straight event, has since franked that form twice by clocking fast times over 1600 metres (1:37.4) and 1820 metres (1:56.4).
Today's increase in distance should provide no problems for RIVER JORDON who was second by just a length behind Real Risk in a fast run 1400 metres last November. The winner clocked 1:25.0.
SCORCHING THE EXERCISE TRACK
Mattis' charge is on top of his game, scorching the exercise track in 1:01.3 for 1000m before pulling up in 1:14.0 (1200m) eight days ago and should win at a good price. He will have most to fear from the improving American-bred 3-y-o pair, INTERNET COMMANDER and FORMALLY GOLD.
The former trotted up over 1400m on December 27 easing to 1:25.0 but that was against lesser company with 55.5kg. She has a lot on her plate today, 57kg, and will have to step up considerably on that effort to get the better of RIVER JORDON.
In fact FORMALLY GOLD, who was five lengths second to INTERNET COMMANDER, should, based on the revised handicaps, have a real shot of turning the tables on her American rival. The Wayne DaCosta-trained filly carried 57kg that day, 1.5kg more than the winner. She will tote a light 50.5kg today, a swing of 7kg, enough to turn around a five-length defeat. FORMALLY GOLD has been travelling well on the exercise track, galloping 59.4 for 1000m on February 14 and with leading rider, apprentice Oneil Mullings, in the saddle should be the main danger to RIVER JORDON.
Today should also see exotic bet lovers flocking to the betting windows from early for the nine-race card which gets underway at 1:00 p.m. There is a whopping $1.5m plus carryover in the Pick-9 which begins from the very first race and a smaller carryover of $232,271 in the Hi-Five. Hi-Five betting will be conducted on the seventh and ninth races.
Other firm fancies for the day include ASYNJUR in race two, ROSE BUD in the third and COURT JESTER in the seventh.
