Bank on Excessive Force in Liu Chie Poo Trophy

Returning for Saturday's Liu Chie Poo Trophy at a mile with two gate gallops under his girth, hard-to-train United States-bred EXCESSIVE FORCE appears to have been taken to task at exercise for an assignment two levels below his Mouttet Mile victory last December.

EXCESSIVE FORCE has been looking far better at exercise since making a dull seasonal debut behind ATOMICA at seven and a half furlongs on July 1, finishing fourth of five runners, 17 lengths off the 2022 Jamaica Derby heroine.

A grade-one winner among overnight-allowance runners, eight months after beating the best horses in the land at a mile while carrying topweight 126lb, EXCESSIVE FORCE needs only report half himself to land the trophy named in honour of his trainer's 1988 Jamaica Derby winner.

Plagued by various issues, running out wide at the quarter bend being his most infamous, EXCESSIVE FORCE appeared to have found a jockey to curb his quirks in Bebeto Harvey, who guided him to a six-furlong victory in a fast 1:12.1 last November before landing the Mouttet Mile three weeks later, closing fast to nail the speedsters led by MAHOGANY.

Though MAHOGANY turned the tables at month-end, making all in the Ian Levy at eight and a half furlongs, the terrific 1:44.1 told the tale of the tape. MAHOGANY, at 120lb, with no matching speed on the far side, was always going to be a disappearing act.

EXCESSIVE FORCE getting within four and a half lengths of the torpedo chestnut, clocking 1:45.1 for his effort, a half-length behind Mouttet Mile third-place JORDON REIGN'S was a top-class effort.

Being scratched lame on his June 17 intended seasonal debut suggests EXCESSIVE FORCE continues to have issues hampering his talents. However, his July 1 pipe-opener, followed by increased activity at exercise, point to stable confidence in his fitness level, made even stronger by tackling runners two levels below his last victory.

If EXCESSIVE FORCE's connections are proven wrong, the Liu Chie Poo will be blown wide open with STOMP THE RHYTHM being a particularly dangerous contender, shedding nine pounds from topweight 126lb when last out behind GREEN GOLD RUSH, POWER RANKING and CHAMPION BUBBLER at six and a half furlongs.