Mid-week racing resumes
published: Wednesday | February 11, 2004

By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

CAYMANAS PARK marks its first mid-week race meet for 2004 with an eight-race programme featuring the $170,000-$145,000 claiming for the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup over 1200 metres being the feature.

With only eight races scheduled, post time has been pushed back to 1:30 p.m. No Pick-9 will be conducted for obvious reasons.

The feature, which is the final race on the card, has attracted 12 starters including THAT'S GOLD, DUE RESPECT, CHAMBA KOO, BUCKEISHA, HIGHEST CREST and the fleet-footed STRAIGHTTOTHEHEART who will more than likely set off in front and will have to be caught.

I am expecting STRAIGHTTOTHEHEART to lead from SADALMELIK, DUE RESPECT, THAT'S GOLD and BUCKEISHA, but she will more than likely come under pressure from the grey THAT'S GOLD and BUCKEISHA in the last furlong.

These two, along with CHAMBA KOO who looks very tempting at the weights with 51kg and in-form apprentice Oneil Mullings up, should fight out the finish with STRAIGHTTOTHEHEART and DUE RESPECT not far off.

BUCKEISHA beat a fast-finishing CHAMBA KOO by a length when they last met over today's distance on November 12. At the revised weights there is little to choose between them and it could go either way as both will report fit.

While respecting their chances, I believe the one best equipped to take home this trophy is THAT'S GOLD, to be ridden by Clive Lynch for the in-form second generation trainer Ryan Darby.

The 5-y-o son of Arabica out of That's OK is actually stepping down in class to vie for this trophy, having decked his rider on leaving the starting gates on January 17 when highly fancied to win the Colin Melhado Memorial Cup over the distance.

Before that race, THAT'S GOLD chased home the speedy STRAIGHT SIX in a round five race January 3 on a $200,000 tag and beat a good field on a $165,000 tag over the straight on December 27.

HARD TO BEAT

Now down in class and focused for this trophy, he will prove hard to beat. CHAMBA KOO and BUCKEISHA should follow him home.

Other firm fancies on the card are THE VIKING to win the second race over 1400 metres for maiden three-year-olds, speedy JACK EM UP under apprentice Oneil Mullings fresh from a two-day suspension to lead home FORMULA ONE in the fourth, consistent MY PAL DON to stave off GROS VENTRES and TSUNAMI in the fifth and ZAHBO who gave THE ADMIRAL a scare last time out to make amends at the expense of Oaks winner NAUGHTY BY NATURE in the seventh.