Race Car has the edge over Sentient

Had Anthony Thomas been more patient, instead of attacking SENTIENT at the half-mile marker, RACE CAR would have definitely got home on July 25 when finishing fourth in a blanket finish, going down by a length to SUPREME SOUL at nine furlongs and 25 yards.

Going for a fourth consecutive win, his toughest assignment then, RACE CAR was without regular rider, Dane Nelson, who opted for SENTIENT, a free-running but two-turn-suspect pacer, who was burdened with 125lb.

Though unproven at two turns, United States-bred RACE CAR had shown enough in his victories, and especially at exercise, that he could have lifted his game against overnight allowance company.

However, Thomas surprisingly got into an entanglement with SENTIENT too early and, though going a length clear at the top of the lane, was caught by the stayer, SUPREME SOUL, a furlong out before being further relegated by late-charging CRIMSON and SUMMER SUN.

Top-rated horse

SENTIENT, who rallied along the rail to finish heads-on with a tiring RACE CAR, returns for the rematch at seven and a half furlongs, joined by an out-of-class WILL IN CHARGE, who should be the country's top-rated horse but, similar to SUPREME SOUL, is reporting two classes lower, partly due to the COVID-19 break which bought them get-out-of-jail time in the conditions.

WILL IN CHARGE, who defeated SHE'S A MANEATER in the grade one Legal Light trophy last May, before injuring himself at the start in the Viceroy Trophy the following month, has been active at exercise but hasn't hit the form to topple fitter rivals, carrying top weight 126lb off an 11-month break.

The in-form class horses are RACE CAR and SENTIENT, who now has Robert Halledeen astride in what should be a pitch battle with Nelson aboard the American.

SENTIENT has no choice but to try making all, which will be a tricky proposition with speedsters such as Wayne DaCosta's ROJORN DI PILOT and NUCLEAR THUNDER, both no-hopers who know no other way to run but on the pace.

Throw WILL IN CHARGE into the speed mix, as rusty as he seems, and SENTIENT, even at a reduced seven and a half furlongs, will have to surrender when RACE CAR pounces under Nelson.

Nelson made 118lb aboard ENUFFISENUFF two Sundays ago and should be able to catch the weight with the event booked as the ninth race, his third of four mounts on the afternoon, giving three-year-old American RACE CAR a four-pound advantage over SENTIENT.