Thu | Sep 11, 2025

Geolithic a cinch in Bonnie Blue Flag

Published:Friday | January 24, 2025 | 12:07 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
MAGNIFICENT FORCE (outside), ridden by Ian Spence, comes with a strong late run to defeat MIDNIGHT FLIGHT (Shane Ellis) by a short head in last Saturday’s ninth race over 5-1/2 furlongs at Caymanas Park.
Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
MAGNIFICENT FORCE (outside), ridden by Ian Spence, comes with a strong late run to defeat MIDNIGHT FLIGHT (Shane Ellis) by a short head in last Saturday’s ninth race over 5-1/2 furlongs at Caymanas Park.

EASILY second-best behind BLUE VINYL in December’s Will In Charge among overnight-allowance company at a mile, GEOLITHIC should frank the form in Sunday’s Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy at seven and a half furlongs.

BLUE VINYL’s winning time, 1:38.3, proved that the 2023 Jamaica Cup runner-up to ATOMICA belonged nowhere close to overnight-allowance company but was allowed a conditions bye due to an 11-month lay-up.

GEOLITHIC was put through the grinder last year, facing top-class runners such as BLUE VINYL, 2023 Mouttet Mile runner-up, ABILITY, and last year’s champion, FUNCAANDUN, the last two stalling his graduation to overnight allowance until he returned off a three-month break in September.

GEOLITHIC brushed aside HUNTSMAN and WOW WOW in a non-winners of four to earn his overnight-allowance badge but was ambushed by down-in-class BLUE VINYL on his first attempt at the level.

Leading comfortably into the lane, GEOLITHIC shook off fellow American IMPRESSIVE FORCE and Mouttet Mile fourth-place FURTHER AND BEYOND but could not repel BLUE VINYL in the stretch run. Despite setting splits of 47.3, 59.0 and 1:13.1, GEOLITHIC safely held the runner-up spot whereas IMPRESSIVE FORCE and FURTHER AND BEYOND sputtered, giving way to late-finishing BERN NOTICE.

Having trained superbly for her return, clocking six furlongs in 1:14.4 last Sunday morning, after a fourth-place run behind LABAN at five furlongs straight on January 4, GEOLITHIC should run rivals into the ground.

Fellow American SHE’S A GODGIFT ran an improved race with the visor removed on last, staying on strongly behind RUN JULIE RUN in the Chairman’s Plate at nine furlongs and 25 yards on Mouttet Mile Day.

Javaniel Patterson will try rating SHE’S A GODGIFT from off the pace again. However, Panamanian Ismael Velasquez won’t be hanging around with GEOLITHIC awaiting any stalker or closer.