Double-edged sword of investing in foreign horses fixable

The interest being generated in the lead-up to Mouttet Mile weekend, December 4-5, has excited horsemen and bettors alike, THE PRINCE’S SPUR, a seven-year-old United States-bred gelding, emerging as the main threat to fellow American and defending champion RIDEALLDAY for the US$300,000 main event.

THE PRINCE’S SPUR’s elevation to Mouttet Mile fancy, after three starts, underlines the reason why all imported horses, age three and older, must debut locally no lower than the second-highest rating group, which, under the present ‘categorisation’ system at Caymanas Park, is Open Allowance, sometimes referred to as Grade Two.

It was the choice of THE PRINCE’S SPUR connections to debut in the Grade One Gold Cup, obviously eyeing the $2.5m purse, in which he was narrowly beaten by the country’s top-rated runner, RIDEALLDAY, while the third-place horse, PACK PLAYS, was almost a dozen lengths behind.