Fit Mojito ready for big performance

UNLEASHED at exercise for the past month, MOJITO blazed 1:13.3 for six furlongs late September, returning last Friday to clock 1:43.0 for a mile, the last seven furlongs in 1:28.2, spelling major trouble, not only for his 10 rivals in Sunday’s Errol ‘Big Sub’ Subratie Memorial, but possibly all candidates for December’s Mouttet Mile at what appears his favourite trip.

MOJITO reports without blinkers, off a two-month break working like a machine. Despite the claims of foreigners such as RUNAWAY ALGO, 2022 Jamaica Derby-winner ATOMICA and St Leger champion BLUE VINYL, a light and hyped-up MOJITO cannot be ruled out of December’s US $125,000 (Ja $18,000,000) big dance at a mile, having clocked 1:37.2 when landing the 2000 Guineas in June.

Despite whatever problems might have afflicted him going two turns in the derby and St Leger, the grey colt has no matching pace requiring him needing a second wind in Sunday’s line-up.

United States-bred SISTREN TREASURE, who beat some useful horses on her way to open-allowance company earlier this year - taking out the likes of IS THAT A FACT, LUKSOL and CRIMSON at distances varying from five and a half furlongs to nine furlongs and 25 yards – could be the exacta horse.

SISTREN TREASURE returned off a three-month lay-up late September to chase I’VE GOT MAGIC at a mile, beaten by seven and a quarter lengths, prompting her backers to dive in at the deep end, short odds of 6-5, when she faced I REALISE a week later.

Hard as she tried, SISTREN TREASURE could not get on terms with I REALISE’s scorching backstretch pace, running an even race throughout for sixth. Handed an 11lb reprieve at the scale, SISTREN TREASURE should fare better, but MOJITO’s pace will be even more torrid, leaving the foreigner with too much to do in the stretch run.

Last time out in the derby, leaving the half-mile marker with a four-length lead, still on his bridle, MOJITO was cruising in 1:42.0 towards the home turn before Allen Maragh launched ABILITY with a charging run approaching the three-furlong point.

Though he was a beaten horse coming off the home turn, MOJITO was still second two furlongs out and third at the furlong pole, suggesting that he is clearly the best three-year-old miler in the country.