MIDWEEK racing resumes at Caymanas Park today for the first time this month with the well supported 10-race programme featuring the Gladstone "Puckoo" DeSouza Memorial Cup ($95,000 - $85,000) over 1600 metres.
Among the 13 starters is ICE, who has lowered his sights significantly to vie for this trophy.
Trained by Desmond Shand, the six-year-old bay gelding by With The Wind out of Friendly Lady has been dropped from claiming $160,000 when last raced in the Harry Rigg Memorial Cup on August 1 to $95,000 today.
True, he disappointed as the 3-2 favourite behind ADOLPHITO in the Harry Rigg Memorial over 1400m, finishing 10 lengths ninth. But weeks before that he ran RAJA MAHARAJA to a length over 1700m and back in April, beat INGENIUS and QUEEN OF BEL-AIR decisively over today's trip on a $220,000 tag.
Although seldom seen at exercise, ICE is fit from swimming and will report in good condition. He is so much better than his opponents that once fully focused, should turn it into a procession from his convenient mark of 51kg and in-form apprentice Devon S. Thomas aboard.
Should ICE fail to cool rivals for some unknown reason, then we should see recent winners RULING TUDOR, SLEWPY'S VALLEY, SCOUT MASTER, QUANTRILL, GENERAL TUZ and BELLY DANCER in contention where it matters.
The three-year-old gelding QUANTRILL failed by three quarters of a length to catch GENERAL TUZ and THE GUSHER over 1500m last time out. But he will appreciate the additional 100m and even with the sparingly used jockey Alphanso Reid aboard, the son of Dixie Dancer can prove equal to the task.
SLEWPY'S VALLEY and SCOUT MASTER can fight it out on their best form, while RULING TUDOR has settled down to his racing in recent months and the late kicking son of With The Wind, could well emulate his July 19 win course win.
But they all have ICE to beat.
Elsewhere on the programme, RAJMIR who is without a victory in seven starts this season, has a glorious chance of coming good in the ninth race (claiming $240,000 - $220,000) over 1600m.
True, the five-year-old horse could only manage 3 3/4 lengths third to WILD AND RESTLESS over 1400m last time out on August 5. But he renews rivalry with WILD AND RESTLESS on 2kg better terms today and the additional 200m could work in his favour as well.
The Roy Jackson-trained WILD AND RESTLESS should again make his presence felt and it is not beyond him to repeat, while bold frontrunner STAGETOWER, who beat WILD AND RESTLESS and RAJMIR into second and fourth places respectively over 1500m on July 19, should make a brave bid even though worse off at the scale with his old rivals today. RAJMIR gets the nod, but those looking for a good outsider could try JET'S COLONY, who steps down from $300,000 to $240,000 today and will welcome a mile.
Other firm fancies on the card are FEVER in the third race, CHINUA over LET THE MUSIC PLAY in the seventh, and the down in class LUCKI PLUCKI to catch INCISAL EDGE, BLANCHE and STAR TREK in the closing race.
By Orville Clarke
Freelance Writer
