Laden Bootylicious could be troubled by speedsters

BOOTYLICIOUS HUNTS a fourth consecutive win in Saturday’s SVREL 8th Anniversary Trophy at an ideal five-and-a-half furlongs. However, matching speed, influenced by handicaps, could bring the five-year-old mare’s run of glory to a screeching halt.

Though BOOTYLICIIOUS hasn’t lost a race since leaving the Mixed Sale ring on November 10, taken back home by Peter Parsard for $3 million, a post-sale offer of $3.5m also spurned, she now has a bullseye on her back with topweight 126lb.

Canada-bred ATLANTIC CONVOY, who chased BOOTYLICIOUS home out the straight in the Reggae Month, enjoys a seven-pound weight swing on the native-bred speedster, which will be crucial inside the final half-furlong.

Appearing bulletproof at exercise, BOOTYLICIOUS galloped five-and-a-half furlongs in 1:07.2 two Sundays past, signalling she will have to be caught with the big weight. However, ATLANTIC CONVOY could be a major off-the-pace threat should CALIFORNIA CROWN take the fight to BOOTYLICIOUS with his postage-stamp weight of 102lb.

Jason DaCosta summoning 99lb bodyweight Jordan Barrett might not catch 102lb exactly but anything close could be good enough to ensure a 20-odd pound weight difference between the two speedsters.

Running that light, CALIFORNIA CROWN, last year’s 2000 Guineas winner, has nothing to lose on the lead in a duel with BOOTYLICIOUS, having clocked 1:05.4 at the trip with 126lb early January.

Should it come down to a match race on the lead, CALIFORNIA CROWN, at almost a stone and a half lighter than BOOTYLICIOUS (21lb), should win that battle. However, the war might not be over until ATLANTIC CONVOY sings in the stretch run.

ATLANTIC CONVOY was actually closing in on BOOTYLICIOUS out the straight in the Reggae Month and will be even better on the round course. The Canadian won the Bruceontheloose Sprint at six-and-a-half furlongs on Mouttet Mile Day, splitting rivals a furlong out with 123lb to win in 1:18.4.

Should CALIFORNIA CROWN use his weight advantage to unsettle BOOTYLICIOUS and wrestle the lead from the mare, handicaps could again determine the outcome.

ATLANTIC CONVOY carrying 124lb, almost 20lb heavier than CALIFORNIA CROWN, who ran reasonably well for third behind BARNABY and ATOMICA in the Chairman’s Trophy two weeks ago, could leave the foreigner with too much ground to make up with the big weight at five-and-a-half furlongs.