By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHREE WINNERS last time are among seven horses slated to contest today's Caymanas Park feature over 1,600 metres for the City of Kingston Centenary Cup, claiming $390,000-$330,000.
They are SQUARE GARDEN, EMPERADOR and up in class MY PAL DON who romped the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup over the circular nine course on March 6.
The free running 5-y-o gelding was subsequently claimed for $290,000 by trainer Percy Hussey for his mom, Ruth.
MY PAL DON, though up in class, should prove competitive in this small field, but whether he can get by his old nemesis EMPERADOR is left to be seen.
Indeed, EMPERADOR slammed MY PAL DON into second place in separate races, the first by 7 1/2 lengths on December 27 over today's trip and the latter by 13 lengths over the circular nine course on January 17.
MY PAL DON, though winning his two subsequent races, will need to improve significantly to turn the tables on a fit EMPERADOR, who is not too high in the handicaps with 54kg to fight out the finish with useful apprentice Phillip Clunis in the saddle.
CUSTOMARY RIDER
Also expected to figure prominently in a race of this nature is RED GENERAL who has the services of his now customary rider, the 4kg claiming apprentice Dalton Brown.
When last venturing over a mile on December 6, the 5-y-o gelding from the stables of Patrick Chang, finished a fair fourth to INCORPORATE in overnight allowance company and now dropped to high claiming, and busy at exercise, the task at hand is not beyond him with proper assistance from the saddle.
DANGEROUS
While RED GENERAL and EMPERADOR in particular should prove dangerous, the one to beat must surely be SQUARE GARDEN who whipped a good field over the distance when apprentice-ridden last time out, February 11.
Showing good speed after being slowly into stride that day, SQUARE GARDEN outbattled ZAHBO by a length and with the Richard Azan-trained gelding coming back to beat a good field of overnight allowance horses over 1200 metres on Saturday.
This speaks volumes for the chances of SQUARE GARDEN who will again be ridden by improving apprentice Howard Newell from the convenient mark of 52kg.
The 4-y-o gelding from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta can go with the pace or come from behind if the situation demands and having pleased at exercise, is tipped to make it two in a row.
Other firm fancies on the card are UNLEADED to lead home MOLTEN LAVA in the second race, LADY BALLARI to stave off ASK JOE in the fifth, SEA TREATY to catch MOZURI and SIR GEE in the sixth, RIVER JORDON to deny stable-companion COURT CASE of the hat-trick in the seventh and down in class VOICE MAIL to hold MISS HOLLYWOOD at bay in the eighth.
Post time is 1:00 p.m.
