American import scares away Mouttet Mile aspirants

Saturday’s Philip Feanny Gold Cup has, rather oddly, attracted only five starters, a $2.5-million grade-one event with a Mouttet Mile win-and-you’re-in ticket attached.

Considering six Mouttet Mile slots have been reserved for foreigners shipping directly into the US$300,000 event set for December 5, local-based prospects would have been expected to be scrambling for points three months out, especially with connections not knowing how many North American shippers could be eyeing the rich purse.

The sparse field, which includes already-qualified RIDEALLDAY, last year’s Mouttet Mile winner seeking redemption after flopping in July’s Diamond Mile, could be the result of a repellant, a seven-year-old American gelding, THE PRINCE’S SPUR, making his local debut.

Conditioned by Rohan Crichton, whose shipper, Rough Entry, won the 2023 Mouttet Mile with Julian Leparoux, THE PRINCE’S SPUR appears to be a mile specialist, who last raced and won at Gulfstream Park in January, beating US$12,500 claimers at his preferred trip.

An experienced traveller with a 4-3-4 record under his girth, THE PRINCE’S SPUR was sired by Cairo Prince out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Flying Spur. He has raced at Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Saratoga, with wins at Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga.

Since winning the 2023 Mouttet Mile with Rough Entry, Crichton and his owners, primarily Dennis Smith, have twice had to settle for the runner-up spot, LEGACY ISLE beaten by FUNCAANDUN in 2024 and RIDEALLDAY last year.

LEGACY ISLE’s 2024 loss was somewhat attributable to the short turnaround he had from quarantine to raceday, which Crichton and his connections would take into consideration for this year’s event, possibly explaining THE PRINCE’S SPUR’s debut in the Gold Cup, giving the gelding ample time to acclimatise, a shot at a decent purse, plus a win-and-you’re-in ticket.

THE PRINCE’S SPUR won under a hand ride from Irad Ortiz Jr at Gulfstream in January, clocking 1:38.2 for a mile. His previous race was also a win, 1:42.4, at eight and a half furlongs at Churchill Downs in September of 2024.

The lay-up between Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park appears suspect. However, for a seven-year-old to report off a 16-month break, beating US$12,500 claimers suggests he was out-of-class at Gulfstream Park, which could spell disaster, eight months later, for runners at Caymanas Park.

THE PRINCE’S SPUR appears in good shape at exercise, clocking 59.3, five furlongs straight, from the gate last Saturday morning. The American cantered out the mile chute 13 days earlier, galloping 46.2 for the last four furlongs.