Long-in-the-tooth Mahogany still has legs for the sprints

MAHOGANY MIGHT be long in the tooth at age seven but still packs a kick against the best of the land, never mind him being caught by FURTHER AND BEYOND at seven and a half furlongs in the May 18 Seeking My Dream Trophy.

Returning with topweight 126lb for Saturday’s SVL 23rd Anniversary Trophy at five and a half furlongs, local-bred MAHOGANY is up against American stablemates I AM FRED and IS THAT A FACT, neither being strangers to grade-one pace.

However, at five and a half furlongs, either of the stablemates will have to commit to going after MAHOGANY, who, if allowed to catch a second wind on the lead, will have them both for supper when asked to quicken coming off the home turn.

Perfectly drawn against the rail, topweight 126lb shouldn’t be much of a concern for MAHOGANY. Late last season, MAHOGANY was giving the best sprinters hell, gallant in a Gold Cup defeat, allowing SHE’S MY DESTINY 17lb, before returning to school I AM FRED and company in the six-furlong Port Royal Sprint, posting a solid 1:12.0.

In fact, IS THAT A FACT got his baptism of speed from MAHOGANY 12 days after the Gold Cup, beaten five and a half lengths in an open allowance at five furlongs round, the local-bred clocking 59.3 with topweight 126lb.

IS THAT A FACT was also way down the track behind MAHOGANY in the Port Royal Sprint. It wasn’t until the Mouttet Mile in which he finished fourth, closing from off the pace, that IS THAT A FACT revealed his preference for being a middle-distance stalker.

Though IS THAT A FACT might have beaten BOOTYLICIOUS at five furlongs straight in May’s Reggae Trophy, MAHOGANY’s run against DESERT OF MALIBU in the Lady Geeta a month earlier was a far richer sprint in which he was hindered while rallying along the rail a furlong out.