DESPITE returning off a near seven-month break, JORDON REIGN’S class is undeniable, needing only what has been confirmed at exercise, relatively good health, to put away overnight-allowance runners on Sunday at five furlongs straight.
Hindered and injured in the 2022 Gold Cup, which he entered with a hat-trick of grade-one wins under his girth, United States-bred JORDON REIGN’S barely trained for his next outing, that year’s Mouttet Mile, yet still managed to place third behind EXCESSIVE FORCE and DUKE after a poor start.
Though somewhat fitter for the Ian Levy at eight and a half furlongs 28 days later, JORDON REIGN’S had to eat humble pie, finishing second to stablemate MAHOGANY, who destroyed the field in 1:44.1.
Having made only four appearances last season, debuting in August, eight months after chasing home MAHOGANY in the Ian Levy of December 2022, JORDON REIGN’s connections played the conditions game, working the foreigner down in class to open allowance.
After a grade-one outing in the August 2023 Reggae Trophy, it didn’t take along for JORDON REIGN’S class to rear its head, disputing the lead with I’VE GOT MAGIC in his second race among open-allowance runners, a speed duel resulting in PERFECT BREW mowing down both at six furlongs, benefiting from a five-furlong split of 58.0.
Clearly still not fully recovered from his 2022 Gold Cup injury, JORDON REIGN’S filled a five-furlong sprint for stablemate MAHOGANY three weeks later, not to be seen at the races again, returning to training this season.
Galloping from the gate last Saturday morning, JORDON REIGN’S clocked 1:00.3, the first four furlongs in 46.2, a workout grade-one runners would envy. Drawn mid-track in the 14-horse field with slower rivals on his outside, it should not take much for Tevin Foster to angle the out-of-class foreigner to the faster stands’ side for an elementary victory off the lay-up.