Sat | May 16, 2026

Runaway Algo perfectly suited for Thunderbird Trophy

Published:Thursday | June 15, 2023 | 1:52 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
Jockey Linton Steadman celebrates after winning the Lloyd Lindbergh ‘Lindy’ Delapenha Memorial Trophy over seven and a half furlongs aboard RUNAWAY ALGO at Caymanas Park back in March.
Anthony Minott
Jockey Linton Steadman celebrates after winning the Lloyd Lindbergh ‘Lindy’ Delapenha Memorial Trophy over seven and a half furlongs aboard RUNAWAY ALGO at Caymanas Park back in March.

RUNAWAY ALGO can be forgiven for his last run, breaking from an inside draw at five furlongs straight with topweight 126lb, a week after running a wicked 1:30.4 for seven furlongs – not to mention being fitted with a visor, which has now been discarded.

Returning at seven furlongs for Saturday’s Thunderbird Trophy, getting eight pounds from EXCESSIVE FORCE in what will be a match race, perfectly suits RUNAWAY ALGO’s signature style – run ‘em into the ground.

The pair first met last year May in similar conditions, EXCESSIVE FORCE allowing RUNAWAY ALGO seven pounds at seven and a half furlongs. EXECESSIVE FORCE’s stablemate, I’VEGOTMAGIC, wore down a tiring RUNAWAY ALGO to win by a half-length in a cracking 1:32.2.

EXCESSIVE FORCE ran evenly throughout but simply lacked the pace to pose a threat, finishing seven and a half lengths away in fifth position. However, on their second meeting, December’s Mouttet Mile, a helluva pace, 58.4 for the first five furlongs and 1:10.4 for six, left MAHOGANY, RUNAWAY ALGO, and SHE’S MY DESTINY winded, resulting in a cavalry charge of stayers won by EXCESSIVE FORCE.

EASY VICTORY

MAHOGANY exposed the collapsing pace of the Mouttet Mile with an easy victory over JORDON REIGN’S and EXCESSIVE FORCE four weeks later, going gate-to-wire in the Ian Levy at eight and a half furlongs.

EXCESSIVE FORCE hasn’t raced since being humbled by MAHOGANY in the Ian Levy, returning at topweight against RUNAWAY ALGO, who showed how dangerous he can be when running loose down the backstretch with an effortless 11-length win against CALCULUS and company a month ago in the Seeking My Dream Trophy at seven and a half furlongs.

With no speed to test him down the backstretch, United States-bred RUNAWAY ALGO should be cruising into the stretch run while EXCESSIVE FORCE and DUKE, the first two past the post in the Mouttet Mile, struggle to keep pace.

Raddesh Roman rides a good race from in front and should have no problem rating the speedster to the top of the lane.