Ageing Mahogany still has too much pace

LAST SEEN blowing away United States-bred EASY AS A B C and 2023 St Leger winner, THALITA, among open-allowance runners in August, MAHOGANY, who was denied consecutive Gold Cup victories by lightweight SHE’S MY DESTINY two years ago, returns off a seven-month lay-up in division one of Sunday’s King’s Plate.

Despite the lay-up, MAHOGANY should start favourite for the seven-and-a-half-furlong event, division two of which should be won by United States-bred closer, UNSPUN.

Carrying topweight 126lb, MAHOGANY made light work of EASY AS A B C and THALITA at his favourite trip, clocking an unmolested 1:26.4, proving he remains slippery as an eel, despite his advanced age, now a ripe, but not over-the-hill, eight-year-old gelding.

Appearing as spunky as ever at exercise, MAHOGANY twice posted 1:30.0 for seven furlongs out the mile chute the last two Sunday mornings, programmed for a winning return among horses two levels lower than the Mouttet Mile in which he finished sixth in 2023.

He was sparingly raced last season, making just five appearances in which he was never worse than fourth against open-allowance and grade-one runners from May to August when he departed with the six-length demolition of EASY AS A B C.

Though not revved at exercise, which would be totally unnecessary at age eight, MAHOGANY still has the pace to dominate division one of the King’s Plate, which will leave his slower rivals pushng to keep pace from the half-mile marker while he is in cruise control.

American UNSPUN, who started his three-year-old season with a third-place finish behind speedy compatriots WALL STREET TRADER and SHEER DELIGHT, at six-and-a-half furlongs on Ash Wednesday, should frank the Mouttet Mile form two classes lower.

WALL STREET TRADER clocked a sizzling 1:18.4, crippling UNSPUN with a five-furlong split of 58.4. However, UNSPUN regained lengths lost down the backstretch by closing inside the final furlong, finishing five-and-a-half lengths behind the winner.

A fast pace is expected in division two with MOJITO aiming to make all after galloping five-and-a-half furlongs in 1:07.0 at exercise last Sunday morning. However, recent upset winner, PRINCE AMAAN, could make life miserable on the lead for off-the-break MOJITO, who carries topweight 126lb, setting it up for UNSPUN to close for the kill.