By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
Phantom J (Winston Griffiths, right) streaking away from rivals to capture Monday's eighth race over 1000m at Caymanas Park. The Philip Feanny-trained three-year-old colt was the second of three winners on the card for the trainer-jockey combination. Their other winners were RAKKADASH in the first and A KING IS BORN in the tenth. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WITH a carryover of $265,869.00 propping up tomorrow's Racing Pools game, a first prize of close to $500,000 looks a real possibility.
Before looking at the races, results for last week's game, which saw 28 points being the ceiling following the cancellation of the sixth race due to a false start, are as follows:
# 1 first prize of $74,954.80 for 25 points.
# 3 second prizes of $7,138.50 each for 24 points.
# 22 third prizes of $486.70 each for 23 points.
# Sales totalled $432,639.50 on 1,505 coupons -- up from $321,210.20 and 1,427 coupons.
Turning to the races, the first to be contested by 10 native bred three-year-olds over the straight five course, looks tailored for RESTLESS RUFFLE who is seemingly begging for a distance such this.
Trained by Tensang Chung, the bay filly by Restless Thief out of Girlie Girlie has the best form to recommend, having failed by a nose (closing rapidly) to catch AMANDA'S GOLD over 1100 metres on September 11 and following up with a good third to CONQUISTADORESS over a similar trip last Saturday.
RUM CAKE, who was only a neck ahead of her in that race, is 5.0kg worse off. Despite this, RUM CAKE and others such as ANY REASON, TOO HOT TO TROT, CARDINAL LAW and SUNDAY EXPRESS should prove competitive, especially SUNDAY EXPRESS who despite showing little to date, could prove the fly in the ointment now eased in the weights and the visor removed.
Her one encouraging effort was recorded on October 2 when staying on for third behind TYCHE over 1700 metres, despite finishing lame.
Next on the programme is a round five claiming race in which the down in class PRINCESS TALIA should use her speed to good advantage and go all the way under leading jockey Trevor Simpson.
Her form reads superior to anything her opponents have done and one only has to recall her September 4 performance, when beating the subsequent winners ROYAL RUN and MYKONOS in post to post fashion over this trip, to give her the nod. However, STAR CREEK and SALSA, both stepping down and fit enough to fight, should ensure she is extended in the field of seven.
Race three over the circular nine course, this for $330,000 - $290,000 claimers, has enough form in store to ensure a competitive race. Leading lights are EMPERADOR, CRIMSON MAGIC, STRAIGHT SIX, SIR KISSON LAL and RAPIDASH. If you're looking for a good outsider, then try BISTRO with former champion jockey Wesley Henry riding for trainer Howard Phillipps.
After close examination of the form, I believe it will come down to a straight fight between EMPERADOR and RAPIDASH. The Anthony Nunes trained EMPERADOR advertised his well being on October 21 when finishing 5 1/2 lengths fifth to RAKKADASH in a fast run 1100-metre race, a distance well short of his best.
Prior to that on September 14, EMPERADOR was only 1 1/2 lengths third to OK DON and MEDIC ON BOARD over the circular nine course, a performance which if repeated, could well take him into the winner's enclosure. Still, RAPIDASH was only another 1 1/2 lengths behind EMPERADOR in that race and now 3.5kg better off with his old rival, should turn the tables.
The fourth race for three-year-olds over 1500 metres should see IDITAROD, POWERED BY TUNDRA, QUICK MEDIC, HAPHAZARD and the free running KING'S HIGHWAY in serious contention where it matters.
QUICK MEDIC was a fighting winner over the said distance on Heroes Day and now that much sharper, the task at hand is not beyond her. Still, IDITAROD and HAPHAZARD have more appeal and it should be extremely close between them.
HAPHAZARD, though, should win on the strength of his good second to REJECT over a mile when last raced on September 11. He has worked well in preparation for this race and should stave off the stretch running IDITAROD.
AWESOME MINISTER, having led for a long way in fast splits when finishing third to RAKKADASH (equalled track record) in a recent straight five trophy race, should take a lot of catching in the fifth over the round five course, a race in which SELENA MYSTIQUE and the vastly improved OAKRIDGE should ensure he is extended.
The last three races should be won by recent dual winner NUCLEAR POWER, in-form hat trick seeker RAKKADASH in the feature Melvin "Babu" Chin Memorial Trophy and POLISH STAR in the closing $100,000 claiming race. Their respective dangers are JANOI in the 6th, GOINGTOKANSASCITY in the 7th and SWEET FUH SO in the nightpan.
SELECTIONS
(1) RESTLESS RUFFLE/SUNDAY EXPRESS/RUM CAKE
(2) PRINCESS TALIA/STAR CREEK/SALSA
(3) RAPIDASH/EMPERADOR/CRIMSON MAGIC
(4) HAPHAZARD/IDITAROD/QUICK MEDIC
(5) AWESOME MINISTER/OAKRIDGE/SELENA MYSTIQUE
(6) NUCLEAR POWER/JANOI/MEADOW STAR
(7) RAKKADASH/GOINGTOKANSASCITY/THE SANDMAN
(8) POLISH STAR/SWEET FUH SO/PAPPARAZZI
