God of Love back at it again for Reggae Month Trophy

GOD OF LOVE might be topweight, but he is also the top speed at five furlongs straight in Saturday’s Reggae Month Trophy, drawn favourably at stall five in a six-horse field.

Outsped in his last two races by horses who prompted the grade-one Mouttet Mile pace in December – SHE’S MY DESTINY and I’VE GOT MAGIC – GOD OF LOVE had dismissed open-allowance company on his previous outing at six furlongs.

Though winning with 114lb, beating EAGLE ONE and DUKE, GOD OF LOVE’s victory excited the handicapper, who handed him near-topweight 123lb, allowing SHE’S MY DESTINY four pounds in the open allowance/graded stakes Christopher Armond Sprint at five and a half furlongs on December 26.

Fresh off chasing MAHOGANY to the final furlong in the December 3 Mouttet Mile, SHE’S MY DESTINY outclassed GOD OF LOVE in 1:04.4.

Last time out, GOD OF LOVE similarly ran into another improved runner, United States-bred I’VE GOT MAGIC, who has won three of four starts since promoting the pace in the Mouttet Mile, his only loss being in the Ian Levy Cup to MAHOGANY.

DUKE finished ahead of GOD OF LOVE in his last two starts and reports two pounds lighter than the speedster. However, the seven-year-old grey is susceptible to pace that holds up in sprints, which should be the case with no matching speed to take GOD OF LOVE off his bridle.

Imported LURE OF LUCY has been enjoying great form since the back end of last season. However, she appears to have matured into a crack middle-distance runner, performing better at a mile and longer, using her pace as a sprinter-stayer against slower rivals.

GOD OF LOVE’s speed and draw make him the horse to beat at the minimum distance with a sharp exercise gallop from the gate last Saturday morning, 1:00.1, sending a catch-me-if-you-can signal to his slower rivals.