For one fleeting stride it loomed as the match race everyone wanted to see between two talented and inform horses She’s My Destiny and American-bred Runaway Algo.
But it was over in a split second of that stride, as She’s My Destiny powered away in the stretch run to win None Such Sprint Trophy by 10 lengths at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Though the Jason DaCosta-trained filly came in toting a mere 45.0 kg (99lb), the class and form of Runaway Algo was such that even with top weight 57.0kg (126lb), they were only expected to be separated by a length or two in the three-year-olds and upwards Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest over six furlongs (1,200m).
However, She's My Destiny, who came in hunting a hat-trick of wins, used the light impost to good effect, as left the one draw perfectly and was immediately placed on a canter on the headlines by apprentice Ramon Nepare.
The Bern Identity-Woman is Boss offspring easily dictated terms for most of the way until she was inevitably joined by Runaway Algo, gradually under a pump from Raddesh Roman, approaching the stretch run.
By the time they straightened, the two locked horns and that sparked some excitement and anticipation of an intriguing stretch duel, but it didn't materialise, as Nepare loosened the reins aboard the five-year-old S & A Syndicate-owned She’s My Destiny and she briskly moved away from her rival to cop the lion's share of the $1.75 million purse.
Despite Runaway Algo being denied a fourth-straight victory, there were no real signs of disappointment from Roman or trainer Dale Murphy, as the inform jockey unsaddled the foreigner at the back.
Still, the margin of victory was such that not much could be said, especially given the fact that Runaway Algo not only allowed 27lb to his rival, which told in the latter stages of the race, but he is not a proven sprinter and that would provide some comfort to the connections.
God of Love (Paul Francis) stayed on for third, with King Arthur (Javaniel Patterson) completing the frame.
She's My Destiny won in a decent 1:11.1, after splits of 22.3 and 45.3 seconds.
Meanwhile, trainer Peter-John Parsard and champion jockey Dane Dawkins topped their respective peers with two winners each.
Parsard opened and closed the nine-race programme with Neo Star (Ricardo Duhaney) and Bootylicious, ridden by Dawkins. Dawkins earlier won the fifth event aboard Richard Azan's Slammer.
Racing continues om Sunday with another nine-race programme on offer.
