The 2019 Champion two-year-old Wow Wow motored past rival Mahogany down the homestretch to record a magnificent Jamaica 2000 Guineas victory at Caymanas Park on Sunday afternoon.
In stretching his winning streak to 11, the 1-2 favourite Wow Wow won the JA$2.8 Million (US$19,600) Classic by three lengths, with Robert Halledeen aboard for trainer Gary Subratie, and reigning champion owner Michael Bernard.
“Thanks to Mr Bernard, thanks Gary Subratie for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to ride this wonderful horse,” said Halledeen after his third 2000 Guineas triumph and fifth Classic win.
Wow Wow’s winning time for the one-mile trip was a quick one minute 37.60 as he left the front-running second favourite Mahogany (9-5) a well-beaten second.
Halladeen, who had ridden the 2015 (Ali Baba) and 2016 (Future King) 2000 Guineas winners, was forced to urgently go in chase of Mahogany who had set blistering splits of 23.1, 45.0, and 1:09.4.
Five furlongs out, Mahogany was already almost six lengths in front of Subratie’s other top entry Nipster (8-1) with Wow Wow a further two lengths back in third, followed by Double Crown (6-1) and the 99-1 outsider Rum with Me.
Roused by Halledeen, Wow Wow sliced into the lead leaving the half-mile and entered the homestretch within three lengths of the weakening Mahogany whose rider Dane Dawkins was glancing behind to see the fast-closing favourite.
Wow Wow responded to vigorous right-hand whipping and collared Mahogany at the eighth pole before pulling clear for his biggest win as a three-year-old.
“I know I was gonna catch him, he was going too fast,” Halledeen said of how Mahogany faded late race. Mahogany’s stablemate Double Crown came on for third.
Subratie admitted he was concerned about the gap Mahogany had opened down the backstretch but always believed his horse was capable of reeling him in. “He (Mahogany) left us a little flat-footed but I know what this horse can do, leaving the half-mile that’s when he gets into his best gear. He finished the race really strong,” said Subratie, who won his only other 2000 Guineas in 2011 with Big Man Boyu.