Mojito captures Jamaica Cup

MOJITO yesterday changed the colour of December’s US$300,000 Mouttet Mile from stars and stripes to green, gold and black with a telling length-and-a-half win against American GIRVANO in the Jamaica Cup at nine and a half furlongs.

Sitting 26th in earnings, $1,699,900 on a list of 31 local-based runners hoping to make a cut of 13 to join three foreigners flown in with ‘automatic Mouttet Mile entry’ stamped in their passports, MOJITO landed the win-and-you’re-in Jamaica Cup to claim $3.3 million in purse money for his connections and a cozy spot at a reduced trip in the Caribbean’s richest race.

Clocking 2:02.0 in a silky victory ahead of an improved GIRVANO, who was never a threat from off the pace in the stretch run, MOJITO, champion two-year-old of 2022, appears to have rediscovered his mojo in time for the Mouttet Mile, which has been won by two foreigners so far, Richard Crichton’s ROUGH ENTRY in 2023 and Jason DaCosta’s FUNCAANDUN last year.

A strong winner at nine furlongs and 25 yards when landing the Kenneth Mattis Memorial on September 14, MOJITO’s fast-time victory, 1:55.2, the quickest at the trip in more than a year, was a death knell for rivals in the Jamaica Cup.

Settled off the pace by Raddesh Roman, MOJITO stalked the field being led by speedy MAMMA MIA, who tried setting a false pace for stablemate GIRVANO.

Roman smartly held MOJITO off MAMMA MIA’s fractions being pressed by the grey filly, RUN JULIE RUN, last year’s Jamaica Derby runner-up, who started 12th on the list of Mouttet Mile local hopefuls, intent on adding to her bankroll.

Roman made his move approaching the half-mile marker, joining RUN JULIE RUN, both shooting past MAMMA MIA three and a half furlongs out. The pair of greys locked horns on the far turn before it became clear that MOJITO was travelling better than the filly.

Roused by Roman, MOJITO sprinted clear of RUN JULIE RUN and accelerated further when the leading rider applied two sharp strikes of the whip. Clear with a furlong to run, MOJITO was ridden out by Roman, fending off GIRVANO, who relegated RUN JULIE RUN close home.

Philip Feanny’s United States-bred, RIDEALLDAY, already a Mouttet Mile qualifier by earnings, mowed down fellow American DESERT OF MALIBU to confirm his spot in the day’s second win-and-you’re-in event, the six-furlong Port Royal Sprint.