Liquid Mercury looks a solid bet
There are times when a horse seems to be crying out for more ground, despite winning over shorter, and this seems to be the case with Liquid Mercury.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides Liquid Mercury
This Joey Ramsden-trained runner will be looking for his fourth consecutive victory when he lines up in Race 6 at Kenilworth today, a MR 80 Handicap over 1800m. A son of Trippi who has only raced five times, and after two successive fourth placings in his first two starts, the decision was taken to geld him. Since then, they have not looked back.
He has reeled off three wins, all over 1400m at Kenilworth, and will now be tested over 1800m for the first time.
In all of his wins jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe has kept him off the pace and has run on strongly to mow down the opposition. He has a magnificent turn of speed and once he hits the front Fayd’Herbe immediately applies the brakes.
His sire was known as a sprinter-miler, but Trippi has produced some runners who go further. The concern is none of the progeny of the mare Skip Poker have won beyond 1400m so far.
Nevertheless it will come as something of a surprise if Liquid Mercury is not able to defeat the field he meets in this event.
The lone danger looks to be Titus. He is a useful performer and hails from the Mike Bass yard which is having a decent run at the moment. There are no staying doubts about this son of Muhtafal as he has won twice over distance. He also finished a 4.25-length sixth behind Disco Al in the Grade 3 Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview.
He will have to give 2.5kg to Liquid Mercury who looks to have that extra touch of class about him and one gets the impression the only way Titus will beat Ramsden’s charge is if Liquid Mercury fails to see out the distance.
