Thu | Nov 13, 2025

Mojito hits top form just in time for Jamaica Cup

Published:Thursday | November 13, 2025 | 12:16 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
MOJITO, ridden by Dane Dawkins, wins the 30th running of the PRINCE CONSORT STAKES, a three-year-old Graded Stakes for colts and geldings over seven furlongs at Caymanas Park on Sunday April 9, 2023.
Anthony Minott
MOJITO, ridden by Dane Dawkins, wins the 30th running of the PRINCE CONSORT STAKES, a three-year-old Graded Stakes for colts and geldings over seven furlongs at Caymanas Park on Sunday April 9, 2023.

MOJITO’S WIN in the Kenneth Mattis Memorial was not only flashy, an eight-length dismissal of United States-bred UNSPUN, it was also the fastest time clocked at nine furlongs and 25 yards in more than 14 months.

Reporting with 120lb for Sunday’s Jamaica Cup at nine and a half furlongs, MOJITO’s, 1:55.2 with topweight 126lb in the Kenneth Mattis bettered FUNCAANDUN’s 1:55.3, clocked in August 2024, when beating Atomica in the grade-one Distinctly Irish Trophy.

The grey could not have hit top form at a better time, taking aim at the Jamaica Cup, one of two win-and-you’re-in races on the card for December’s US$300,000 Mouttet Mile.

Having opted for the Jamaica Cup route instead of the six-furlong Port Royal Sprint, MOJITO’s connections have shown their hand by avoiding the speedsters, aiming to use pace to run slower rivals off their legs at the longer trip.

However, as with all things MOJITO, there is always a question sign over the grey’s head. First, the vet’s list had him finishing lame after his blowout win. Second, MOJITO’s hot-and-cold form has made him one of the most untrustworthy horses for form players to back.

Nevertheless, the former champion two-year-old appears none the worse at exercise, zipping six furlongs in 1:13.2 two Sundays ago, followed by a solid 1:00.2 for five furlongs round last Monday morning.

MOJITO’s last two races signalled what could be the five-year-old’s best form in three races. Prior to landing the Kenneth Mattis Memorial, he finished fast along the rail but could not catch American PACK PLAYS in the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy at five and a half furlongs, failing by a length and quarter behind the winner’s 1:06.4.

However, the BGLC Trophy pace resurfaced in the grade-one Gold Cup in the form of PACK PLAYS, who rallied in the stretch run to battle LEGACY ISLE to almost the wire before being overpowered by the 2024 Mouttet Mile runner-up.

SUPERNATURAL POWER, who finished a close fourth, closing along the rail, returned 16 days later to beat TIZ TOK in the Viceroy Trophy at a mile, clocking 1:36.2.

Should MOJITO reproduce his Kenneth Mattis Memorial form, the grey can sit off the pace being set by MAMMA MIA before stealing a march on the slower foreigners led by last year’s Mouttet Mile winner, FUNCAANDUN.