Blinkers off - Mahogany poses stiff challenge for Jamai Raja, Sentient on Sunday

HAVING set record splits for a three-year-old in a middle-distance race when caught by WOW WOW in the 2000 Guineas, MAHOGANY returns nine pounds lighter, with blinkers and Dane Dawkins removed, making way for Omar Walker at eight and a half furlongs on Sunday.

Taking on overnight allowance company, most of whom take an entire day to get going, MAHOGANY faces two speed horses, JAMAI RAJA and SENTIENT, who have critical factors against them in a matchup with the classy three-year-old.

Carrying 111lb, JAMAI RAJA had folded like a dead bird when SENTIENT pounced off the turn and ran away from him, going a mile, on July 12. Reporting seven pounds heavier and running a half-furlong longer in unfriendly splits will certainly put the seven-year-old's chances to rest in the stretch run.

Gary Subratie's SENTIENT has clocked more miles than a route taxi since returning off the COVID-19 lay-up, three tough races in six days shy of a month, totalling almost 25 furlongs.

Hat-trick of races

This Sunday's outing will make it roughly 33 furlongs in five weeks for SENTIENT, carrying joint topweight 123lb, allowing MAHOGANY six pounds in what will turn out to be a match race. SENTIENT runs one way, on the pace. Refitting blinkers, replacing the visor, which he has been wearing since he won a hat-trick of races, is a rather puzzling decision.

It could very well be that Subratie is pinning hopes on a late charge from CRIMSON should MAHOGANY and SENTIENT run themselves into the ground in a speed duel. However, sharing topweight 123lb with stablemate SENTIENT, giving seven pounds to MAHOGANY, will be a tough ask for CRIMSON coming from way off the pace.

Ian Parsard has returned to the drawing board with MAHOGANY ahead of what will be a helluva clash with Subratie's WOW WOW in the October 31 Jamaica Derby. Discarding the blinkers in which a startled Dawkins hung on for dear life, in splits of 34, 45.0 and 57.1, before attempting to regulate MAHOGANY in the Guineas, Parsard has also summoned one of his favourite riders, Walker, to get the job done.

MAHOGANY did go on a four-race win streak after fitted with blinkers, only losing to WOW WOW in the equipment, but it should be noted that Parsard had simultaneously stripped him of the tongue tie and figure eight, which resulted in a complete turnaround for the pacey gelding.

Proving that his Guineas ripper left him none the worse, MAHOGANY again blew the clock last Sunday morning, 1:12.3 for six furlongs, leaving DOUBLE CROWN eating dirt about five lengths behind.