Intrestntimesahead a cinch for Sunday’s Will In Charge

MISSION Impossible quickly escalated into ‘race over’ for INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD at the start of the Bruceontheloose Sprint on Mouttet Mile Day, not having a ghost of a chance against Florida invader OF A REVOLUTION, compounded by bumping at the start, which left him hopelessly tailed off down the backstretch.

Skip the Bruceontheloose and settle on the November 23 Alsafra Trophy in which INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD finished fourth behind DIGITAL ONE, SUPREMASI and DIVINE FORCE at seven and a half furlongs, rich form for the 2024 St Leger winner in Sunday’s Will In Charge at a mile.

DIGITAL ONE was a shoo-in for the Alsafra, having chased home fellow American, Mouttet Mile invader, DOTHRAKI, who won in a fast 1:05.4 on debut, October 19. DIGITAL ONE fought off game local-bred, SUPREMASI, to land the Alsafra by three-quarter length.

Both DIGITAL ONE and SUPREMASI returned to run creditable races 13 days later in the Mouttet Mile and Bruceontheloose, respectively.

DIGITAL ONE finished fifth in the Mouttet Mile, one and a half-length behind third-place FUNCAANDUN, having 10 of the country’s best horses behind her.

SUPREMASI, who had similarly suffered interference at the start of the Bruceonthloose, but not as bad as INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD, closed in the stretch run finishing a creditable fifth on the outside.

Drawn at post-position six, INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD was left tailed off after GET A PEPSI darted outwards from stall four, slamming into SUPREMASI at five, starting a chain reaction of interference completed by MAMMA MIA diving inwards from pole seven.

With no chance of recovery in a race dominated by foreigners setting splits of 23.1, 34.0, 45.0 and 57.1, INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD finished ninth. However, he was only four lengths off grade-one sprinter WALL STREET TRADER, who ran an even race behind the favourites.

Champion trainer Jason DaCosta has shown his hand in the Will In Charge, retaining claiming rider Anthony Allen, who takes INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD down to 120lb, receiving six pounds from topweight American, DIVINE FORCE, from rival Anthony Nunes’ barn.

DIVINE FORCE finished three lengths ahead of INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD when third behind DIGITAL ONE and SUPREMASI in the Alsafra. However, DaCosta knows how to choose his battles which would have been futile against DIGITAL ONE in the Alsafra.

DIVINE FORCE failed to raise a gallop in the Chairman’s Plate at nine furlongs and 25 yards on Mouttet Mile Day with Dane Nelson, who has opted for stablemate CROWN CHASER in the Will In Charge, casting a cloud of doubt over the American with sparingly used Delroy Beharie.