Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTODAY'S OWNERS' Association race meet at Caymanas Park facilitates three trophy races, including the principal feature for the Jamaica Racehorse Owners' Association Trophy (overnight allowance) over 2000 metres.
The supporting features are the 3-y-o and up restricted allowance (non-winners of two) for the Dr. Ralston Feanny Memorial Trophy (JROA) to be contested by 13 starters and the inaugural running of the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Cup for native-bred maiden two-year-olds, both over 1100 metres. Both races offer purses of $365,000.
JROA TROPHY
In addition, all the remaining races on the card not only offer plaques to the winning owners, but are named after executive members of the JROA.
Only six starters have declared for the Jamaica Racehorse Owners' Association Trophy, including the likely favourite REAR ADMIRAL, to be ridden by the competent Neville "Briggy" Stephenson, who has been somewhat sparingly used since his return from the United States early in the summer.
REAR ADMIRAL won very easily over the circular nine course when ridden by customary pilot Charles Hussey on September 13, leaving in his wake HAPHAZARD, 3 1/2 lengths behind in second, and also IDITAROD, who finished 13 lengths third. Both renew rivalry with REAR ADMIRAL on better terms today, sufficient to ensure a closer contest.
However, REAR ADMIRAL is that much fitter and despite Hussey's absence, the stretch running 3-y-o colt who finished second to A KING IS BORN in both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby earlier this year, is not too high in the handicaps with 56.0kg to win again.
CLASS HORSE
As stated earlier, both HAPHAZARD (who was a fast-finishing fourth to PITTACUS in a fast-run 1300 metre race last Saturday) and the Wayne DaCosta-trained IDITAROD (fitter) under champion jockey Trevor Simpson, should prove competitive along with the front running 3-y-o colt JOHNNY'S KING. But REAR ADMIRAL represents the class horse of the field and going two turns, Percy Hussey's charge will prove hard to beat.
Many time champion trainer Philip Feanny should win the race run in memory of his father with SUPA LEI (Stephenson up). The 3-y-o filly stayed on strongly when finishing 3 1/2 lengths third to unbeaten PRINCESS CHIONESO over the distance in the fast-run Titania Trophy and now that much fitter, should win from the luckless BADBOYBIN and the well prepared XTRA ROYAL.
The well-forward debutant LATONIA is tipped to open her account right away in the inaugural running of the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Cup to be contested by nine starters. I also like HIGHEST CREST to catch DOCTOR ON CALL in the 3rd, LIL' COUNTRY BOY to make it six in a row in the 5th, POWER MACHINE over MOTHER OF PEARL in the eighth and BLOODY MARY in the closing race.
