Father Patrick to enter Hall of Fame

HAVING decided to keep Dane Dawkins aboard MAHOGANY at 130lb, going six furlongs, while Jordan Barrett slips seven pounds, taking FATHER PATRICK down to 110, Ian Parsard will prove just how smart, or not, his chess move will be in Saturday's Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.

Though MAHOGANY returned from a six-month break to beat LABAN in an overnight allowance at six furlongs on June 21, somehow the once fearsome speedster didn't appear to be at his best, nor has he done anything at exercise since to suggest it was a case of ring rust.

LABAN finishing down the track, as the 2-1 third choice, behind SALVATION, TREVOR'S CHOICE and DRUMMER BOY, raises even more questions about MAHOGANY's victory and sparse appearances at exercise.

Parsard, it appears, is playing possum with FATHER PATRICK, who, had MAHOGANY not been in the event, would have carried joint topweight, 130lb, with GOD OF LOVE. Barrett's seven-pound claim is Parsard's coup de grace, coming in eight pounds lighter than GOD OF LOVE being partnered by Dane Nelson.

Whereas Parsard has plans of his own, Fitzgerald Richards has his intentions with two of the most consistent horses in training - PATRIARCH and GOD OF LOVE. Richards has assigned livewire claiming rider, Youville Pinnock, aboard speedy PATRIARCH with Nelson as the closing act on GOD OF LOVE after a failed coup last time out.

It was widely thought in the camp that GOD OF LOVE would have caught PATRIARCH at five and a half furlongs on June 26 but Dick Cardenas defended punters' cash at odds of 1-9, logging his 700th winner at Caymanas Park by outfinishing Nelson by a short head.

There'll be no questioning who will be on the lead. PATRIARCH is the fastest sprinter in the land, up to five and a half furlongs, especially if he gets an unmolested lead, but is prone to shutting down inside the last half, going six furlongs.

It will be a tricky call for Barrett aboard FATHER PATRICK should his stablemate, MAHOGANY, not try to go with PATRIARCH. FATHER PATRICK ran a big race last time out in the Eros Trophy, leading for six furlongs in solid splits with 118lb, repelling KING ARTHUR, before both were collared by upsetter EAGLE ONE with 111lb.

EAGLE ONE returns with a similar weight but the reduced distance suits speedier FATHER PATRICK, who has a good mid-race turn of foot, which should have him pouncing on PATRIARCH before GOD OF LOVE gets in on the act.

GOD OF LOVE and FATHER PATRICK both sparkled with bullet gallops at exercise on Sunday. GOD OF LOVE clocked 1:01.2 on the round whereas FATHER PATRICK's 1:14.2 for six appeared to be a winning work.