Calculus has the edge over Lure of Lucy in Miracle Man Cup

CALCULUS has distance in his favour and has worked well for Saturday's nine-and-a-half furlong Miracle Man Cup against versatile LURE OF LUCY, who is in receipt of 25 pounds from the stayer.

Jason DaCosta's choice of jockey, lightweight claimer Jordan Barrett, clearly points to LURE OF LUCY being the stable fancy among his three runners in the six-horse field.

However, CALCULUS' workouts of striding six furlongs in 1:23.4 and five furlongs in 1:04.2 indicate that he should use class to wear down LURE OF LUCY, who might have gone to one dance too many in five weeks.

Asked to run twenty-two and a half tough furlongs in five weeks against top-class runners - a mile, five furlongs straight, plus nine and a half - could nullify LURE OF LUCY's advantage at the scale.

Stepping up to open allowance on January 28, LURE OF LUCY ran her heart out at a mile against I'VE GOT MAGIC, losing second by a nose to DUKE after leading her fellow American to almost the furlong pole.

LURE OF LUCY proved her versatility last Saturday, taking the fight to speedy GOD OF LOVE at five furlongs straight, losing by a half-length to LABAN.

However, CALCULUS will have to report razor-sharp, allowing the in-form foreigner loads of weight with no help to tackle her on the lead. Gary Subratie has opted for stronger handling over handicaps, calling up Robert Halledeen, with no consideration for weight.

Barrett effectively rides at 102 pounds, thereabouts, putting 101 pounds within reach of the lightweight for his assignment aboard United States-bred LURE OF LUCY, 25 pounds lighter than CALCULUS.

Given LURE OF LUCY's improvement as a sprinter-stayer since the back end of last season, Subratie's gamble is a dangerous one, especially against a foreigner, who appears to have found her niche at two turns by running rivals into the ground.

LURE OF LUCY almost got away with her sprinter-stayer speed against stablemate MINIATURE MAN, who caught her on the line at nine furlongs and 25 yards in December. Her next target, POSITIVE ID, had no such luck and was handed a three-length whipping on the trip by the five-year-old mare on January 2.