- Michael Sloley/Freelance Photographer
FIRST WINNER: Apprentice Dave Blackwood guides SIR VISHNU KUMAR to the winners' enclosure after the gelding's 60-1 upset in the second race for maidens over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. This was the first winner for the young rider.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
OWNER Joseph "Fudgie" Duany, leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths and 13-time champion trainer Philip Feanny have a glorious chance of winning the Abe Issa Memorial Cup feature over 1200 metres for the second consecutive year with the vastly improved RAKKADASH at Caymanas Park today.
All three teamed up to win the race last year with subsequent 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED who shouldered topweight of 57.0kg.
RAKKADASH, who carries a similar impost, will be seeking to emulate the feat and despite the presence of recent winner NEFTENGA and the speedy GOINGTOKANASCITY, he will not go down easily.
The five-year-old gelding by Exotic Traveler out of Forsaken capped a rewarding season in 2002 by finishing a good third to stable-companion I'MSATISFIED in the Lotto Gold Cup over 1400 metres on December 14.
RAKKADASH was slated to make his seasonal debut over the round five course on February 5, but was declared sick and had to be withdrawn.
In his absence, a lightly weighted NEFTENGA ran on strongly to catch the front running favourite GOINGTOKANASCITY on the line, winning by a nose.
The Wayne DaCosta-trained GOINGTOKANASCITY is sure to set off in front once again, but will more than likely be caught by NEFTENGA going the additional furlong of this race, especially on identical terms at the weights.
However, the question is: Can NEFTENGA beat a fit RAKKADASH even at these weights?
RAKKADASH has surely joined the ranks of the big league and although allowing all of 7.0kg to the late running NEFTENGA, should hold him at bay in the final rush.
Another good thing on the card is the Richard Azan-trained BANJUHAR in the maiden condition race for native bred three-year-olds over 1200 metres.
Significantly, the bay gelding by Pat N Jack out of Alejandra has finished second in each of his five starts to date, but in fairness to him has been beaten by some really highly thought of rivals, including DANCE DIXIE, A KING IS BORN and smart debutante EPICTATUS as recent as February 1.
With nothing of the calibre of those horses around, BANJUHAR with competent apprentice Oneil Mullings in the saddle, should prove too good for ROYAL MALICE and INTROSPECTION, his only serious rivals in the eight-strong field.
Other firm fancies on the card are SIG SAUER (knocking at the door) over old rival BUSHY PARK RAJA and MYKONOS in the 3rd race, ELEGANCE (gets the right company) to upstage GANADOR and WARRIOR in the 5th, SIPPING CHAMPAGNE (little to beat) over SHADE OF BLUE in the 6th, SCOTCHONTHEROCKS (one to follow) over the imported debutant WARREN B in the 7th and DANCING PRINCESS (ready to rumble) over PAPPARAZZI and THE REAL McCOY in the closing $100,000 claiming race.
