Go with Jack De Prince
published: Friday | November 28, 2003
By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
WITH WARREN B at 5-1 emerging the longest priced winner on Wednesday's nine-race programme at Caymanas Park, both the Pick-9 and Super-6 paid dearly.
The Pick-9, which started anew with a guaranteed minimum of $500,000, was shared by seven punters, each receiving $71,428.50. The Super-6, in contrast, had 204 correct forecasts of $2,484.50 each.
Both start anew tomorrow but our focus, as usual, will be on the Super-6 which embraces races four to nine.
Significantly, before looking at the races, the Azan's/Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association Day programme, will facilitate seven trophy races, four in memory of trainers.
OVERNIGHT ALLOWANCE
These are the overnight allowance race for the Gerry Skelton Memorial Trophy over 1100 metres, the Charlie James Memorial Trophy (claiming $140,000) over 1200 metres, The Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup over 1400 metres for native bred maiden two-year-olds and the inaugural running of the Earl Adams Memorial Trophy for native bred maiden three-year-olds, this over the straight five course.
Co-feature races on the card are the first running of the Azan's Home Depot Trophy over 1200 metres for four-year-olds and up (non winners of two) and the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association Trophy for native bred three-year-olds (non winners of two) over 1200 metres.
The card also features the opening Rameses Trophy race over 1600 metres, this replacing the Reggae Trophy graded stakes which was abandoned due to insufficient entries.
The first of the Super-6 races, the JRTA Trophy, has attracted 10 starters and indications are that the lightly raced TOUCH THE POWER, to be ridden by former champion jockey Charles Hussey for his brother Percy and mom Ruth, will show rivals a clean pair of heels.
After winning by the resounding margin of 16 lengths over 1500 metres on his June 28 debut, TOUCH THE POWER was installed a 3-5 favourite for a 1800-metre race some three weeks later, only to finish last of nine after bleeding. Although out for the first time since July 16, the 3-y-o bay gelding by Prime Rate Powers out of Delicate Touch has been taken to task at exercise, catching the eye on Monday morning when galloping six furlongs in 1:15.2 easily.
Although he can expect stiff opposition from the trio of COZY PROSPECTOR, CORDITE and FORMULA ONE, TOUCH OF POWER strikes me as a much better horse than any of his nine opponents and should win from the lightly weighted CORDITE, also well prepared.
STRAIGHT FIGHT
Race five for the Gerry Skelton Memorial Trophy over 1100 metres should resolve itself into a straight fight between Hussey's mount MICHELKA and JACK DE PRINCE, to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson for top trainer Wayne DaCosta.
A speedy sort, MICHELKA beat the then favourite JACK DE PRINCE into third place when scoring in post to post fashion over 1200 metres on November 29 when also having COURT CASE (who reopposes) behind in fourth. However, when MICHELKA and JACK DE PRINCE met again in the prestigious Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint over 1200 metres on November 8, the three-year-old bay gelding finished only a length third to 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED while having MICHELKA 10 lengths behind him in seventh.
It is interesting to note that JACK DE PRINCE was apprentice ridden when losing to MICHELKA, but he had the services of champion jockey Trevor Simpson when having her behind. With Simpson again slated, JACK DE PRINCE gets the nod.
The lightly raced GUIDANCE returns from a seven-month absence to contest the sixth race over the straight for the Earl Adams Memorial Trophy and having shown promise on her debut (third) behind CHAMPION MELODY in April, should be good enough to upstage the very fit LOGICS and JACK DE FREAK. The Dwight Chen-trained filly has trained well for this race and should return with a bang.
Saturday's scorer ZEALOT with Simpson up should complete a quick double when she contests the seventh race for the Charlie James Memorial Cup over 1100 metres, as she is clearly one of the fittest in the line-up.
Wednesday's scorer SIR ABBAS MANGAL should pose a big danger despite the reduced trip, along with the speedy KAYDENE and WARRIOR CHIEF sneaking down in class.
The eighth race for the Azan's Home Depot Trophy should see the very fit SUPERHEAT upstaging LADY PHAGWAH, QUEENS PAL and speedy SHADE OF JADE.
The bay filly failed by only a nose to catch MOTHER OF PEARL over the straight five course on November 15 and with her fitness not in doubt, is tipped to go one better. Then, take the three-year-old filly LA CHICA BONITA (down in class) to win the closing straight five race ahead of MEZZALUNA and the recent winner THE SEVENTH WAVE as she has shown a particular liking for the straight.
