Scales give Supernatural Power the advantage

UNITED STATES-BRED SUPERNATURAL POWER, running at a local-bred weight of 110lb, should have the jump on her eight peers and space-holder BLUE VINYL in Saturday’s Philip Feanny Gold Cup at seven furlongs.

In receipt of 16lb from topweight FUNCAANDUN and 13lb apiece from DESERT OF MALIBU and LEGACY ISLE, SUPERNATURAL POWER looks all set to claim the trophy renamed for her 14-time champion trainer.

At seven furlongs in grade one, middle-distance becomes a sprint, leaving last year’s Mouttet Mile winner, FUNCAANDUN, with an already-uphill task after being hammered 20-odd times by Robert Halledeen to catch DESERT OF MALIBU at a mile in July’s She’s A Maneater Trophy.

On paper, DESERT OF MALIBU should have FUNCAANDUN’s ticket at the distance. However, her being scratched from the six-furlong None Such Trophy a month ago, lightly trained since, must raise serious concerns in form players’ minds.

LEGACY ISLE, who enjoyed a walkover in the None Such after DESERT OF MALIBU’s scratch, represents Mouttet MIle speed, caught at the wire by FUNCAANDUN last December. However, it should be noted that LEGACY ISLE can be taken down by handicaps after melting with topweight 126lb in the July 12 Hall of Fame Stakes, allowing WALL STREET TRADER to sweep by with 101lb at six furlongs.

1:25.0 for seven furlongs

With PACK PLAYS and DESERT OF MALIBU for company on the lead, LEGACY ISLE is again suspect to a light closer, SUPERNATURAL POWER, who made 1:25.0 for seven furlongs look easy three weeks ago.

A winner of five races from seven starts, SUPERNATURAL POWER is eyeing a fourth straight win and automatic Mouttet Mile entry for a December shot at the US$300,000 purse.

Twice beaten by another American, INCREDIBLE JO, who hasn’t been seen since clocking 1:23.4 on May 24, threatening Eros track record of 1:22.4, set in the 1994 Gold Cup, SUPERNATURAL POWER need only sit in the catbird seat for the first five furlongs, which should be expertly executed by Panamanian Dick Cardenas.

SUPERNATURAL POWER easily tracked MAMMA MIA’s splits of 34.2 and 46.1 before easing into 58.4 at the home turn and sprinting clear in 1:11.3 a furlong out, stopping the clock at 1:25.0 with 117lb.

Reporting seven pounds lighter with PACK PLAYS in at 108 to give LEGACY ISLE and DESERT OF MALIBU hell on the lead, SUPERNATURAL POWER appears to have her Mouttet Mile ticket booked and awaiting boarding pass for a window seat.