Quirky trio leaves Thunderbird Trophy wide open

Saturday’s Thunderbird Trophy at seven and a half furlongs could be over in a blink, depending on which PHENOMENAL POWER turns up for the seven-and-a-half furlong open-allowance event.

In fact, the three main contenders — PHENOMENAL POWER, SUPERNATURAL POWER and DESERT OF MALIBU — have conceded stunning losses as heavy favourites this season, making their consistency highly questionable.

PHENOMENAL POWER, for example, a winner of five races from eight runs, lost as a 1-2 favourite, fourth behind DANKA in February, when poised to win his third race from as many starts.

Returning in June, PHENOMENAL POWER not only won, but followed up in July by smashing the seven-and-a-half furlong track record, clocking 1:29.0 at odds of 4-1. What was expected to be a routine win for PHENOMENAL POWER as a howling favourite two weeks later ended with a shocking fifth-place finish behind DESERT OF MALIBU at six furlongs.

Exactly seven days later, PHENOMENAL POWER returned to make all in the Diamond Mile, beating the best horses in the country, getting within a fifth of the track record at odds of 9-1.

Sensing that his odds were again low, PHENOMENAL POWER finished last of eight runners on October 19 as the 2-5 favourite after posting 1:12.4 in a six-furlong exercise spin a week earlier.

For a horse that smashed Sky Train’s seven-and-a-half furlong track record and got within a fifth of WANTIN AN HAVIN’s mile mark in the same month, PHENOMENAL POWER should be the favourite for the Mouttet Mile but, alas, his audience awaits to see who turns up on Saturday.

DESERT OF MALIBU, the most infamous hot-and-cold blower at Caymanas Park, has won every other race she has competed in — a six-race series — since April. The seven-year-old mare’s chances are not to be scoffed at, considering the respective quirks of stablemates PHENOMENAL POWER and SUPERNATURAL POWER.

SUPERNATURAL POWER finished fourth in last year’s Mouttet Mile behind RIDEALLDAY, LEGACY ISLE and 2024 champion FUNCAANDUN. Finishing second behind FUNCAANDUN and RIDEALLDAY in successive races earlier this season, followed by a smashing 1:35.3 at a mile in April’s World Vets Day Trophy confirmed SUPERNATURAL POWER held her form from December.

However, just when everyone thought SUPERNATURAL POWER was rounding into a Mouttet Mile contender, she slumped to an eight-length loss, finishing fourth behind NAUTICAL STAR in June on her first start out of Adrian Prince’s barn.

Though she returned to make amends at a mile on October 19, it should be noted that SUPERNATURAL POWER was three seconds slower than her World Vets Day Trophy run, posting 1:38.3.

It’s anybody’s guess which of the three foreigners will give of their best. PHENOMENAL POWER owns the track-record but has a crappy race record. SUPERNATURAL POWER should outstay DESERT OF MALIBU but, similar to her stablemate, has done very little at exercise recently to inspire confidence.

Punters ought to treat the race as it presents itself and approach with eyes wide open.