Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterA HIGHLY competitive field of three-year-olds (non- winners of two) are slated to contest today's Caymanas Park feature race for the Knutsford Park Cup over 1200 metres.
Twelve starters have been declared and there being no clear cut choice for the event, it should be an intriguing contest for top honours.
Indeed, no fewer than six horses have good chances in my book. These include ROCK 'N' ROLL, WATERS OF MERRIBAH, GLOBAL AFFAIR, PROMINENT and the useful but unpredictable SHAHID. Add to the list others such as HEAVENLY DREAMS and ELASTICITI and we have a heck of a contest.
The Richard Donaldson-trained SHAHID is much better than his in an out form indicates and if reporting truly focused for this trophy, his final rattle could do the trick. The bay colt by Star Attitude out of Sakena came from nowhere to claim third behind runaway winner ZULU PRINCESS over 1100 metres on August 10 and is definitely one to fear in non winners of two.
ROCK 'N' ROLL will have even more supporters than SHAHID after looking the part at exercise in preparation for this race. The free running chestnut filly from the stables of Rupert Ferryman caught the eye behind REJECT in the Toba Trophy over 1400 metres on August 3, a race in which she led in fast splits for the first 800 metres before giving way to REJECT.
Despite this, she was second passing the furlong pole before flattening out in the closing stages to finish 9 1/2 lengths fifth. Given the shorter distance, ROCK 'N' ROLL cannot be taken lightly.
Good cases can be made out for WATERS OF MERRIBAH and GLOBAL AFFAIR to be ridden by out of form Clive Lynch and champion jockey Charles Hussey respectively, while PROMINENT has worked well in preparation for this trophy and can prove equal to the task with two-time champion jockey Joe Buchanan up.
The Bernard Vincent-trained WATERS OF MERRIBAH notched his only win over the distance on April 1 when accounting for ZEALOT quite comfortably. And last time out on June 1, she finished only 4 1/2 lengths fourth to SATISFIER and subsequent winner ROY'STOY over 1100 metres, this after being checked at the half mile.
WATERS OF MERRIBAH returns well prepared to vie for this trophy and is poised to fight out the finish from her convenient mark of 52.0kg. Hussey's mount GLOBAL AFFAIR is likely to start favourite following her close second to MYKONOS over 1300 metres on July 24.
The chestnut filly from the stables of Percy Hussey has good pace, is sure to get maximum assistance from Hussey and although having to go some 2.0kg over her allotted weight, she can prove equal to the task.
PROMINENT (blinkers on) should help to complicate matters further following that good exercise gallop on August 14 when galloping six furlongs in 1:16.0.
That could well be a winning work and if able to reproduce her five lengths fifth (hindered) to ROYAL EXPEDITION and HAPHAZARD in the Sir Howard Stakes over the distance back in February, we won't have to look further for the winner.
In a really tough race, Michael Beecham's PROMINENT who has looked so well at exercise in preparation for this trophy, gets the nod over GLOBAL AFFAIR, ROCK 'N' ROLL and WATERS OF MERRIBAH.
Others firm fancies are MISS HIMO (ready) to upstage GOLDEN RULE and PERE CHANTELLE in the second race for maiden four-year-olds, recent winner GOINGTOKANSASCITY to repeat in the 3rd, SEEMELATER (dropped, working well) to beat super fit TIME AND AGAIN in the 4th, NEST OF BIRDS (little to beat) in the 5th, recent winner OK DON to catch the back to form PLEASANT WOOD in the 6th, and AWESOME POWER (class horse) to put the brakes on bang in form PREACH PREACHER and PHAREAL in the circular nine Starter Handicap race.
