By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterLEADING JOCKEY, apprentice Oneil Mullings, goes for his second consecutive Cup race win at Caymanas Park today when he partners the likely favourite LADY SHALIMAR in the closing 1300-metre race for the Long Shot Trophy (claiming $140,000).
The race, confined to five-year-olds and up, has attracted the maximum 16 starters and while the likes of LADY SHALIMAR and CHICO, the mount of champion jockey Trevor Simpson, stand out, nothing is cast in stone when dealing with bottom of the barrel claimers, hence others such as BLACKMOUTH, RED LADY, SILVER WEDDING and AIN'T JOKING should enter the reckoning.
On careful examination, however, I feel it will more than likely come down to a straight fight between hot jockeys Mullings and Simpson, a confrontation which had its genesis last Saturday when Mullings aboard CRIMSON MAGIC held off a tremendous late challenge from the Simpson-ridden SIR ABBAS MANGAL by a head to win the Altamont Armond Memorial Cup over 2,000 metres. Simpson will be gunning for revenge aboard CHICO, an easy winner over 1,200m last time out on January 1 when ridden by the four-time champion. Despite top weight of 57.0 kg that day, CHICO grabbed an early lead in a field of 14 and proceeded to show rivals a clean pair of heels, slamming STAR CREEK and subsequent winner PHYSICS BOOK in the process.
CONVENIENT MARK
That performance speaks volumes for the chances of CHICO who returns on the convenient mark of 51kg from a favourable No. 1 post position. But while CHICO is expected to impact on the outcome, I believe he will fall victim to LADY SHALIMAR over the additional 200m of 1,300.
Trained by Welsh Soutar, the 6-y-o mare by RESTLESS THIEF out of LADY RUPAMANI is actually stepping down in class to vie for this trophy, having finished fourth to BOUND FOR GLORY over 1,200 metres on a $210,000 tag when last raced on January 17.
It is interesting to note that LADY SHALIMAR won easily over 1,700m when last raced running for $140,000 on December 17. Now back among her peers and administered lasix for the first time as well, the free-running chestnut mare will prove hard to beat with a mere 49kg.
I am expecting her to track the anticipated leaders CHICO, BINGO PARTY and RED LADY from early, before asserting her authority up the lane. She should win from CHICO, BLACKMOUTH and the highly strung 6-y-o mare AIN'T JOKING who, though of worthwhile ability, usually gives no end of problems to enter the starting gate.
Other firm fancies on the nine-race programme which kicks off at 1:00 p.m. are fleet-footed STRAIGHTTOTHEHEART to make all at the expense of recent winner BUSHY PARK RAJA in the third race, ABUELO who won in fast-time over 1200m recently to stave off another recent winner SAINT COLUMBA and TOCUMEN in the fifth for high claimers, classic aspirant BATTLEOX as a five-star banker in the sixth, THE VIKING (working exceptionally well) over SIR GEE in the seventh and down in class DR. R.S.F. to stop the winning ways of the course specialist SOUTHERN DANCER in the eighth over the straight.
