Medal of Honour may take Cup
published: Wednesday | March 24, 2004

By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

FOURTEEN NATIVE bred three-year-olds are slated to contest the second running of the Percival Martin Memorial Cup over the straight five course at Caymanas Park today.

After careful consideration, I narrow it down to MEDAL OF HONOUR, PACKHU and PRESIDENTIAL. MOJOJOJO and highly thought of debutante THE REAL KING, the group from which the winner should emerge.

Although racing for the first time, THE REAL KING should come in for a lot of support, having looked well forward in his preparation. Trained by Anthony Nunes, the bay colt by Al's River Cat out of Bold Queen galloped four furlongs from the gate Saturday morning in 47.2 and five furlongs in 1:02.0.

With his preparation complete, THE REAL KING who is best drawn on the stands' side fence, could get off the mark immediately.

Likely favourite PACKHU has strong credentials after finishing a close second to MAGIC DRAGON over the straight in a fast-run race (58.3) on February 28. This chestnut colt from the stables of Michael McIntosh reports very fit, it's also well drawn at post position 11 and only needs to be alert at the start (he seldom does) to fight out the finish.

SHOWED LITTLE

Lightly raced PRESIDENTIAL showed little in two starts as a two year-old last season, but has headed in the right direction under the watchful eyes of in-form trainer Percy Hussey in recent weeks and is coming to run, so to speak.

While having every respect for PRESIDENTIAL, THE REAL KING and PACKHU in particular, the one I like best is MEDAL OF HONOUR who chased home SPEED EXPRESS over 1100 metres when making her seasonal debut on March 13.

That was in fact her first outing since October 4 last year and now a lot better for the run, should come into her own and prove hard to beat.

MEDAL OF HONOUR has good speed and although not the best drawn at post position two, should overcome this obstacle from early and lead home PACKHU and THE REAL KING. Champion jockey Trevor Simpson rides the chestnut daughter of Royal Minister - Under Thirty for top trainer Wayne DaCosta.

I also like CAT COVER in the first race, ROSE BUD to catch PRINCESS CHIONESO in the fourth, GO ON GO ON in the fifth, consistent BOUND FOR GLORY over KERMIT and GATLIN in the sixth and ASYNJUR over SIR CHACKA BABA in the seventh.