THE vastly improved filly SPEED FREAK (right) with Simon Husbands aboard, wins the Starter Handicap II & Overnight Allowance event over the circular nine course at Caymanas Park last Saturday ahead of VOLCANE (Wesley Henry). - Dennis CokeBy Orville Clarke,
Freelance Writer
THE curtain comes down on the 2000 racing season at Caymanas Park tomorrow with a well supported Racing Pools game featuring the Paul Newman Memorial Trophy, the fifth race on the Pools programme.
Before looking at the chances of the horses engaged, last week's Racing Pools results are as follows:
# One punter with maximum 32 points capturing the entire first prize of $286,274.00.
# Seven second prizes of $5,779.00 each for 31 points.
# 22 third prizes of $1,226.00 each for 30 points.
# 28 fourth prizes of $482.00 each for 29 points.
# Sales totalled $544,815.30 on 2,227 coupons -- up from $393,923.00 and 2,072 coupons the previous week. The only real upset last Saturday came via TIME AFTER TIME at 20-1 in the fourth race. And previously the three-year-old filly beat a good field at odds of 15-1 on November 25 when ridden by Trevor Simpson.
Meanwhile, eight have been declared for the opening race on the Pools programme, including the American two-year-old filly JAMAICAN RUNNER who is up against seven three-year-olds. Trained by Jose Pinchin, JAMAICAN RUNNER has lost narrowly in two of her last three races, while last time out on November 29 she failed to stay a mile in the Rameses Trophy, eventually finishing fifth to RESPECT FOR MOM after holding every chance in mid-stretch.
Now back to a suitable trip, JAMAICAN RUNNER (working well) will prove hard to beat with a mere 48.5kg and in-form Wesley Henry aboard. Her twin dangers are FRENCH BILL (working well) and STAR CREST who ran a blinder in defeat (led) behind FRIENDLY EXPRESS over 1300 netres on December 13, this after a seven-month layoff.
COQUETTE, who has been knocking at the door, looks best of a moderate lot in the second race over the circular nine course, but LADY MARJORIE and BUCKS ORCHID, both of whom finished second over this trip in recent trip in recent months, should ensure she is extended. COQUETTE finished a close third to the 99-1 outsiders FIRSTBORN and DIAMOND TRACY over 1300 metres on Boxing Day and given this milder pace, is back with a glorious chance of taking top honours.
Race three for native bred two-year-olds should see UKNOWFATHEROACHE, THE SANDMAN and the Philip Feany-trained debutant POLISH STAR in contention at the end.
POLISH STAR, a bay filly by Star Of Manila out of Polish Corridor, reports well forward for this her initial outing and could go real close. However, preference is for Henry's mount UKNOWFATHERROACHE who showed good speed when narrowly beaten by FIRST TRICK on his debut over 800 metres straight on June 24.
Although well beaten by RAKKADASH three weeks later, UKNOWFATHEROACHE reports much improved from a 5 1/2 month absence and should beat POLISH STAR and THE SANDMAN.
One of the more open races on the card is the fourth over 1300 metres in which no fewer than six of the 12 starters have good claims. The horses expected to run well over the distance are MOONSTRUCK, CIRCLE DE THRONE, BLACK MAGIC WOMAN, SAVOIR FAIRE, MERCEDES BOY and RUDE BOY.
Both BLACK MAGIC WOMAN and CIRCLE DE THRONE have won over the distance since the start of this month and either could score again in present frame of mind. CIRCLE DE THRONE was not really disgraced over the distance when finishing 7 1/4 lengths seventh to BRUT in the Craven 'A' final last Saturday and from a better break, he can prove equal to the task.
The one best equipped to pull it off is MOONSTRUCK who was a fast-finishing second to KING OF THE BAND over 1100 metres last Saturday when missing the break. Prior to that MOONSTRUCK went close on November 20 when beaten by WINLOC SUPERSTAR and again on December 6 when finishing fourth to LAST DESIRE by just over a length. With the trip now ideal, MOONSTRUCK is tipped to go one better.
Race five for the Paul Newman Memorial Cup over 1600 metres looks tailored for the back to form INGENIUS, who chased home JANOI over the distance in the "Judge" Hardie Memorial Cup last Saturday on a $330,000 tag.
INGENIUS had some good horses behind him that day and having lowered his sights to vie for yet another trophy, should prove too strong for recent winners QUEEN OF BEL-AIR and RAJA MAHARAJA, as well as the free running MISSISSSIPI MEDIC in the latter stages.
The last three races should be won by ROYAL PROSPECTOR (aimed too low), MAC THE KNIGHT (fit, best over the straight) and MARIA-MARIA (begging for the longer trip). Their respective dangers are ADDED EXCITEMENT in the 6th, RAJDALE in the 7th and LADY KAMPOOR in the closing race for maiden three-year-olds.
SELECTIONS
(1) JAMAICAN RUNNER/FRENCH BILL/STAR CREEK
(2) COQUETTE/LADY MARJORIE/BUCKS ORCHID
(3) UKNOWFATHEROACHE/POLISH STAR/ THE SANDMAN
(4) MOONSTRUCK/BLACK MAGIC WOMAN/CIRCLE DE THRONE
(5) INGENIUS/QUEEN OF BEL-AIR/RAJA MAHARAJA
(6) ROYAL PROSPECTOR/ADDED EXCITEMENT/ TANGO CHIEF
(7) MAC THE KNIGHT/RAJDALE/QUICKEN AWAY
(8) MARIA-MARIA/LADY KAMPOOR/LADY LASCO
