Sat | Apr 4, 2026

It’s time for Nuclear Noon

Published:Saturday | February 18, 2023 | 1:01 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
NUCLEAR NOON (left), ridden by Robert Halledeen, sprints clear of the field to win the 10th race, an Open Allowance Stakes event over five furlongs round, at Caymanas Park on November 6, 2021.
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NUCLEAR NOON (left), ridden by Robert Halledeen, sprints clear of the field to win the 10th race, an Open Allowance Stakes event over five furlongs round, at Caymanas Park on November 6, 2021.

EMPEROROFTHECATS returns as the speed to contend with in the Ash Wednesday Trophy. Claiming rider Shavon Townsend has been summoned to slip seven pounds, making EMPEROROFTHECATS 13lb lighter than his last outing in the George HoSang Trophy.

However, EMPEROROFTHECATS hasn’t won past five and a half furlongs in quite a while, making it an even taller order at six and a half furlongs among horses with open-allowance quality.

NUCLEAR NOON has consistently proven that he is better than overnight-allowance runners when at peak form, which appears to be the case heading into the Ash Wednesday Trophy.

Racing for the third time since returning off an eight-month lay-up mid-December, NUCLEAR NOON ran a cracker against improved YELLOWSTONE in the George HoSang Trophy on January 29, denied only by the winner’s scintillating form in closing a hat-trick.

NUCLEAR NOON actually made his bid with YELLOWSTONE coming off the home turn, both tackling leaders SUPER DUPER and EMPEROROFTHECATS. YELLOWSTONE got first run on EMPEROROFTHECATS while NUCLEAR NOON came forward to challenge a furlong out. However, YELLOWSTONE was too strong and quickened to win in a smart 1:07.2.

Though outfinished by YELLOWSTONE, NUCLEAR NOON was never in danger of losing the runner-up spot, staying on strongly ahead of late-closing TAURUS BOY.

Running with 110lb, EMPEROROFTHECATS will try slipping rivals from his inside draw. He might lead into the lane, runners with strong mid-race pace will be on to him in the stretch run.

However, NUCLEAR NOON’s versatility and speed, having challenged top sprinters such as PATRIARCH, GOD OF LOVE and FATHER ANTHONY, should have him in the catbird seat, tracking the pace, before getting first run on EMPEROROFTHECATS.