By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterBOTTOM OF the barrel claimers ($140,000) hold centre stage at Caymanas Park today when they contest the divided feature race for the Drumbeat Trophy over the straight five course. Post time is 1:00 p.m.
Ten are slated for Division I, while 11 face the starter in the next.
Division I looks tailored for the profound course specialist NORAN BATMAN, but others such as ZEALOT, ROBOCOP, MEDIATOR and KAYDENE should ensure he does not have things too easily.
STEPPING DOWN IN CLASS
Trained by Gary Subratie, NORAN BATMAN is stepping down in class to vie for this trophy, having finished 4 1/2 lengths third to ROYAL GUARD over 1100 metres on June 7, this on a $140,000 tag (now $190,000).
Prior to that the seven-year-old gelding finished a close third to TIGERINTHEWOODS over the straight on May 3 and had earlier beaten SOPHISTICATED LADY and RUN BUZZ RUN on March 15 when shouldering top weight of 57kg.
NORAN BATMAN is obviously a cut above present company and, despite the claims of ZEALOT, KAYDENE and fleet-footed MEDIATOR, the 7-y-o son of Restless Thief - Chris Appeal, will not be easily denied from the convenient mark of 54kg and Paul Ramsay up.
Division II looks that more difficult to unravel what with SOPHISTICATED LADY, DR. PEPPER, RUN BUZZ RUN, SOUTHERN DANCER and BLACK MAGIC WOMAN all expected to figure prominently.
The Michael Beecham-trained SOPHISTICATED LADY should come in for a lot of support following her easy win over 1100 metres on June 13 when leading home MEDIATOR by three lengths. Eleven days before that she was caught and beaten close home by fast-finishing PAPPARAZZI and being fairly consistent at this level, will not be out of it from her lenient mark of 51kg and promising apprentice Dane Nelson aboard.
Others expected to figure seriously are DR. PEPPER, RUN BUZZ RUN and SOUTHERN DANCER, all specialists over the straight course. While I expect the abovementioned to give good account of themselves, the one best equipped to pull it off is CALL TO ARMS, who was an emphatic winner over the course on June 28.
Trained by Glenville Morrissey, the eight-year-old bay gelding ran on strongly in the last furlong to beat a good field by three lengths and although asked to carry joint top weight of 57kg, is so well within himself that he should catch SOPHISTICATED LADY, DR. PEPPER and SOUTHERN DANCER where it matters most.
That was CALL TO ARM's third win from eight starts this season and he should prove equal to the task once again. Competent jockey Chris Fearon replaces the apprentice Kerry Robinson aboard the son of Wise Emissary.
I also like BLACK THATCH to romp home in the opening circular nine open allowance race, DIGITAL to do likewise in the thirrd, luckless LONG LONG JOURNEY to catch DIXIE MILANO in the fourth, SIR KISSON LAL to rebound in the fifth, and TOUCH THE POWER who was so impressive on his recent debut to follow up at the expense of INCORPORATE and SHE'S A RANKING in the seventh.
