There will be no foreign equine invasion this time around to separate the much talked about showdown between this country’s two most superior animals, Shared Adventure and Areutalkintome.
The duo will meet in today’s feature event, the Shared Adventure Trophy Handicap over 1 570 metres for three-year-old and older horses rated 122-140 and also open to horses rated 121 and below, at the Garrison Savannah.
The records of both horses are exceptionally comparative. At today’s distance, Areutalkintome has the better record, having competed five times, winning four and finishing second, compared to Shared Adventure’s three wins, four seconds and a fourth-place from his eight tries.
The best time also favours Areutalkintome (133.2 seconds) when he dead-heated for the win with John Brian in the 2009 Victor Chandler Stakes And Trophy. Shared Adventure’s best time is 133.4 achieved when he took the British Airways Handicap for horses rated 120-140.
Despite very similar running styles Areutalkintome has a preference for being in the lead, while Shared Adventure has shown he could lead or can be settled just off the leader.
The weight department brings about a shift in focus and now favours Shared Adventure, who has won with 130 pounds when matched with Areutalkintome at 126.
Ignoring age and earnings one couldn’t ask for more from these two. Areutalkintome will have champion jockey Anderson Trotman aboard, who has never lost a race with the David Yearwood-trained animal.
The Boston John-trained Shared Adventure will be partnered by champion apprentice Damario Bynoe, the claim bringing him within one pound of Areutalkintome.
The final piece of statistical information applicable would be that on the only occasion they met previously, in the just concluded Gold Cup over 1 800 metres Shared Adventure finished fourth to Areutalkintome’s sixth. It looks like these two deserving champions will go down to the wire, as they look unstoppable and definitely separable from the others.
A win for Shared Adventure will further cement his status as simply the best, whereas should Areutalkintome win, apart from it being another miraculous achievement, it begs the question that we will never get the correct answer of just how good he really could have been.
Any possibility of the others scoring an unlikely upset victory is slim, as they will have to take advantage of the weight concessions even though they all lack the necessary speed and class.
Daga appears in with the best chance, taking her penny stamp of 110 pounds. She has not won for some time and this is her best opportunity.
Jakesam was very ordinary in the Gold Cup and could be in for a rude awakening of fire should he find himself close to the front. Little Man Arran scored a hard-fought victory when competing at his proven level.
Lune De Barachois’ consistent efforts hit stardom when she stunned Shared Adventure two outings back. She will do well to see his back hooves at any stage. A.P. Vincero ran a blinder in the Spa; he could be in the fight for the minor cheque.
My Picks:
Race 1: Royal Spirit
Race 2: Azkaban
Race 3: Nobel Intent
Race 4: Golden Moment
Race 5: Grace Chapel
Race 6: Lavani
Race 7: Shared Adventure
Race 8: Verden
