A start in next week's $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick for Godolphin's Allergic could well depend on the state of
With James McDonald in the saddle, Allergic was given a patient ride in the five-horse field, which threatened to be a boring affair before the winner's stablemate Alegra put some speed into proceeding when Tim Clark took off at the 800 metres.
Allergic looked set for any easy win when ambling up alongside a determined Junoob but it proved a battle to the line.
The 5yo gelding was all out to defeat Junoob (Haafhd) by a neck with Alegria (Medaglia d'Oro) a half-length back in third.(photo Lisa Grimm).
McDonald put the narrowness of the win down to Allergic not stretching out on the firm ground.
"He's got a good turn of foot and he showed that today," McDonald said.
"He relaxed really good. I thought that was the key to winning the race. It didn't matter where I was, as long as he was relaxed."
"He was alright but I still reckon the track was a bit firm for him because I have felt him let down better than that."
"I wouldn't want to see him on a track like that again."
Winning trainer John O'Shea concurred with his jockey's opinion. "We had ambitions of running him next Saturday but he has had a hard run on
Allergic is the second foal of the former smart racemare Cajou (Encosta de Lago).
Purchased as a yearling by Woodlands Stud for $600,000, Cajou won twice in Sydney and paced in the Group II Sapphire Stakes and Listed Triscay Stakes.
A daughter of the stakes-winning Anabaa mare Annacarde, Cajou was sold by Darley at the Easter Broodmare Sale last year for $70,000 when carrying a colt foal by Bernardini (USA).
She has a 2yo Exceed And Excel colt named Korma and was bred back to Exceed And Excel last spring.
Allergic becomes the 108th stakes-winner for the late Street Cry (IRE).
