Smart race could favour Toona Ciliata

GIVING weight all around, St Leger runner-up TOONA CILIATA will need the help of stablemates BIG BANG and, most important, UNIVERSAL BOSS to stave off Gary Subratie’s pair of SENTIENT and United States-bred SHE’S AN INTROVERT in this afternoon’s Royal Dad Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards.

Having run his best race yet in the 10-furlong Jamaica St Leger, going down by a short head to stablemate SUPREME SOUL at level weight, TOONA CILIATA returns to the route course, but oddly beset with 126lb, whereas his lesser ­stablemates have been given the benefit of apprentice riders ­claiming weight.

Pitted against SENTIENT, the Governor’s Cup and derby runner-up, races that he missed before coming up big in the St Leger, TOONA CILIATA had nine lengths on his rival in the final classic but was only a half-length ahead of him when finishing second in the Guineas back in April.

It thus begs the question why the connections of TOONA CILIATA have chosen not to have an apprentice aboard the gelding, who, having already won three races, was preordained to carry topweight in the Royal Dad Trophy?

The only logical explanation must be that Linton Steadman’s handling of the Soul Warrior chestnut has been satisfying, and confidence has been placed in him defying the handicaps.

Though TOONA CILIATA had soundly beaten SENTIENT in the St Leger, leaving Subratie’s runner with nine lengths to reverse, on a seven-pound weight swing, United States-bred SHE’S AN INTROVERT, a rangy filly, ought to be a big threat to TOONA CILIATA, running 11lb lighter than the local-bred.

SHE’S AN INTROVERT closed fast on debut at five furlongs straight to beat stablemates SOUL CURE and BOLD SMILE at five furlongs straight mid-June. In her next race, in receipt of seven pounds from TOONA CILIATA, she failed by a head to overhaul him at a mile.

For her third start, SHE’S AN INTROVERT was backed down to 2-5, but amid swirling railbird talk of being a potential non-runner, had the tables turned on her and was outrun by another American, Wayne DaCosta’s SUMMER SUN, who had a seven-pound swing to his benefit at eight and a half furlongs.

Heading into that event, SUMMER SUN wasn’t considered any big shake, but the final time of the event, 1:45.4, following a mile split of 1:38.0, caused heads to turn because DaCosta’s runner had finished third behind TOONA CILIATA and SHE’S AN INTROVERT in his previous race.

SUMMER SUN’s subsequent run, losing second on the line last Saturday, beaten by FAYROUZ, down in class without the company of her stablemates, suggested that SUMMER SUN has, indeed, improved and turning the tables on SHE’S AN INTROVERT was no fluke.

Therefore, SHE’S AN INTROVERT, on a line through SUMMER SUN’s form, after getting the better of SENTIENT at exercise on Sunday, could bring the event down to race tactics. TOONA CILIATA has the help of UNIVERSAL BOSS, and possibly BIG BANG, to drag the race at a pace, which could allow the St Leger runner-up to relax and make a move similar to the final classic when he swept from seventh at the half-mile to third at the top of the lane.

Whatever tactics will be employed by TOONA CILIATA and company, it’s a risky call with the weight in SHE’S AN INTROVERT’s favour, a four-pound swing out of their mile meeting, going a furlong and 25 yards longer on the route.