Mahogany to outspeed Is That A Fact

Reporter off a nearly three-month break for the Gold Cup, MAHOGANY was clearly not the horse of a year ago, but still served a warning of his deadly speed, which should humble all-the-rage United States-bred IS THAT A FACT at five furlongs round among open-allowance runners on Saturday.

MAHOGANY allows IS THAT A FACT eight pounds but his class and ferocious speed, which have seen him flirt with track records in the past, should blunt anything the foreigner attempts.

Having bulldozed rivals in three races since returning off a five-month lay-up early July, IS THAT A FACT's Achilles' heel was exposed in his fourth consecutive win, hanging on desperately from last year's St Leger winner, BLUE VINYL, at seven furlongs.

Cutting back to five furlongs in Saturday's open allowance, IS THAT A FACT has run smack into one of the speediest local-breds in town, MAHOGANY, who appeared razor-sharp in last week Monday's Gold Cup loss to SHE'S MY DESTINY.

IS THAT A FACT appears to have finally met his waterloo in MAHOGANY. Though having won five of seven starts from in front, or just off the lead, IS THAT A FACT has never faced a runner with MAHOGANY's pace anad speed, which caused last year's biggest grade-one race, the Mouttet Mile, to collapse into the hand of closers EXCESSIVE FORCE and runner-up DUKE.

Without a win since completing back-to-back grade-one victories in February after landing December's Ian Levy Cup, MAHOGANY took the Gold Cup field on a merry chase for six and a half furlongs, ripping 34.0, 46.0, 58.0 and 1:10.4 before weakening close home under near-topweight 123lb, allowing SHE'S MY DESTINY 17lb to win.