By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTODAY'S 11-RACE PROGRAMME at Caymanas Park will see the introduction of the new batch of apprentice riders in action in a special event, the Jamaica Racing Commission Jockey's Training School Race (claiming $120,000-$105,000) over 1100 metres.
Sixteen of the 22 apprentices about to graduate from the programme are down to ride in this race, including Neil Mullings, Clive Douglas and Paul "Country" Francis, who have all won races confined to exercise riders in recent years.
Douglas, in fact, has won two of these races aboard PRIZE DAME and CRACKING THUNDER. Francis won earlier this year aboard INDIAN RAJA.
Other notables are Kemar Lynch who is down to ride the favourite, PERSONAL NEMESIS. He is a son of former jockey turned trainer Tyrone "Wacky" Lynch while Dane Nelson (aboard Lady Waheeda) is a son of trainer Robert Nelson and also a nephew of jockeys Robert and Richie Reid.
In the latter stages of the course, the apprentices were taught race riding techniques by no less a person than the legendary 'Hall of Fame' jockey George HoSang, who dominated racing at Caymanas Park in the early and mid-70s.
This marks the first batch of apprentices to be trained by the JRC in the past 3 1/2 years. The graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jamaica Racing Commission, Winchester Road, on Tuesday, November 26.
PERSONAL NEMESIS is a firm fancy to win at this level, having lowered his sights considerably for today's engagement. The last time he campaigned in claiming $120,000-$105,000 on September 27, the American 6-y-o horse from the stables of champion trainer Philip Feanny won by all of eight lengths from AWESOME GAIN over this trip.
He should use his speed to best advantage in this 'no whip' event and lead home the free-running pair of PEARL OF MY HEART and BUTCHER MAN. LADY WAHEEDA or QUEEN OF CASTILE should complete the superfecta.
Meanwhile, HEART THROB, to be ridden by top jockey Trevor Simpson for leading trainer Wayne DaCosta, should win the Walter Gilbey Memorial Cup over 1800 metres to be contested by six starters.
Four of these are trained by DaCosta, but it is top weight HEART THROB who has the best credentials. The four-year-old filly, who shoulders 57kg, should receive worthwhile opposition from OK DON, CIELO MYSTIQUE and the DaCosta-trained RED BOOTLACES who, though suspect over the distance, is light enough to steal a march coming into the straight.
CIELO MYSTIQUE and the grey OK DON will be coming strongly from off the pace and both should be bang in contention at the finish.
However, HEART THROB has kept pace with better quality horses in recent months and now stepping down to complete, should prove equal to the task.
Other firm fancies on the card are INSATIABLE (knocking at the door) to win the fourth race for maidens, VIGILANTE (went close on last) to go one better at the expense of ZEALOT and SIREN in the fifth, REAR ADMIRAL to follow up his maiden win in the seventh and BLOODY MARY (trip ideal) to catch old rival FRET THEM and CONGO MAN in the 10th.
