Unspun too good for Typewriter rivals
UNITED States-bred UNSPUN ran INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD off his legs in yesterday’s Typewriter Trophy at seven and a half furlongs, foiling the 2024 St Leger winner’s attempt at winning a second overnight-allowance race since May after slumming in the summer in a pair of open-allowance events.
Reporting red-hot for his second outing from Alford Brown’s barn, UNSPUN franked his runner-up effort behind 2023 Guineas winner MOJITO in the September 14 Kenneth Mattis Memorial, launching from the gate under Ryan Lewis to wrest the lead from INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD.
Galloping strong on the lead, 1-2 favourite UNSPUN injected a half-mile spit of 46.4 approaching the last three furlongs, which NEO STAR tested by circling INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD.
However, the chasm between foreigner and local-breds kicked in coming off the home turn when UNSPUN found a third gear to quicken away from NEO STAR, leaving INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD to renew his challenge in the stretch run.
Sharing joint topweight 126lb with the foreigner, who had closed his two-year-old season with a hat-trick of wins last year, stunning fellow American RIDEALLDAY in the Hover Craft at six furlongs, INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD put on a brave face under Shane Ellis but was unable to match his rival’s sustained stretch gallop.
UNSPUN won by two unwavering lengths, clocking 1:33.1, his fifth win from 14 starts and second overnight-allowance victory, marking a return to open allowance, having nailed fellow American UNBELIEVABLE FORCE at six furlongs on May 3.
UNSPUN’s feature-race victory handed Brown his second winner on the nine-race card after HE’S SENSATIONAL won the fourth for three-year-old maidens by a nose from GOOD CONSCIENCE at seven and a half furlongs.
Panamanian Dick Cardenas rode a three-timer, opening the programme with back-to-back winners, BROMPTON BOY (7-2) and HICKORY SLIM(1-2), returning to romp the fifth with 5-2 chance SMART ASSET.
Yesterday’s meet concluded September’s month of racing, heralding October’s opening with fireworks expected in the grade one Philip Feanny Gold Cup at seven furlongs on Saturday, a win-and-you’re-in for December’s US$300,000 Mouttet Mile.