Mahogany stays safe to win Gold Cup

MAHOGANY WON an eventful Gold Cup by three lengths yesterday, getting first run on leader SHE’S MY DESTINY coming off the home turn to land his 13th race from 21 starts at odds of 5-1.

Billed as a marker event for the US$125,000 December 3 Mouttet Mile, the seven-furlong Gold Cup pulled out the country’s best runners, the only notable absentee being top stayer CALCULUS.

Jamaica Derby winner, ATOMICA, the 2-5 favourite, who had easily put away SHE’S MY DESTINY when facing older horses for the first time three weeks ago, endured a nightmare trip after settling third down the backstretch.

Making her move at the leaders from inside while MAHOGANY made his bid wide, ATOMICA first ran into traffic problems behind SHE’S MY DESTINY before almost being hauled up when Dane Dawkins tried forcing her past SHE’S A WONDER along the rail.

Racing wide of the troubled inner, MAHOGANY quickly pounced on SHE’S MY DESTINY, straightening just the leader with RUNAWAY ALGO looming large on the outside.

Carrying topweight 126lb with Reyan Lewis in the eight-horse field, MAHOGANY turned back United States-bred RUNAWAY ALGO, making up for his September 10 loss to I AM FRED at six furlongs.

MAHOGANY closed the late double for Ian Parsard whose BRINKS easily dismissed rivals at seven furlongs in the Kilowatt Cup for non-winners of four races.

Dawkins, ironically MAHOGANY’S regular rider, booted home BRINKS, his first winner in four meets, after enduring a Heroes weekend drought, which allowed Anthony Thomas to reduce his lead to one atop the jockeys’ standings.

Racing continues at the weekend with Saturday-Sunday cards.