Nuclear Noon for Ash Wednesday Trophy
NUCLEAR NOON should frank YELLOWSTONE's form by landing the Ash Wednesday Trophy at six and a half furlongs after his strong second-place run in the George HoSang Trophy on January 29.
Racing for the third time since returning off an eight-month lay-up mid-December, NUCLEAR NOON ran a cracker against improved YELLOWSTONE, denied only by the winner's scintillating form in closing a hat-trick.
NUCLEAR NOON actually made his bid with YELLOWSTONE coming off the home turn, both tackling leaders SUPER DUPER and EMPEROROFTHECATS. YELLOWSTONE got first run on EMPEROROFTHECATS while NUCLEAR NOON came forward to challenge a furlong out. However, YELLOWSTONE was too strong and quickened to win in a smart 1:07.2.
Though out finished by YELLOWSTONE, NUCLEAR NOON was never in danger of losing the runner-up spot, staying on strongly ahead of late-closing TAURUS BOY, who returned to win last Saturday, catching BIG BIG DADDY on the line at five and a half furlongs.
EMPEROROFTHECATS returns as the speed to contend. Claiming rider Shavon Townsend has been summoned to slip seven pounds, making EMPEROROFTHECATS 13lb lighter than his last outing in the George HoSang.
However, NUCLEAR NOON's versatility and speed, having challenged top sprinters such as PATRIARCH, GOD OF LOVE and FATHER ANTHONY, should have him in the catbird seat, tracking the pace, before getting first run on EMPEROROFTHECATS, who hasn't won past five and a half furlongs in quite a while.
NUCLEAR NOON has consistently proven that he is better than overnight-allowance runners when at peak form, which appears to be the case, looking sharp at exercise in 1:08.2 for five and a half furlongs on Tuesday.
Running with 110lb, EMPEROROFTHECATS will try slipping rivals from his inside draw. He might lead into the lane but will have runners with strong mid-race pace challenging him in the stretch run, making it a tall order for him to last six and a half furlongs among horses with open-allowance quality.