By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHREE TROPHIES are at stake on today's 11-race programme at Caymanas Park, two related to the Portmore Week of activities.
The two in question are the restricted allowance V for the Portmore Community Trophy over 1100 metres for 4-y-o and up (non-winners of two) and the 4-y-o maiden special for the Meadowvale Citizen Association Trophy over 1200m.
Also on the card is the divided $140,000 claiming race for the Roderick 'Pilot' Francis Memorial Trophy over 1200 metres.
Division I of the Francis Memorial Trophy has attracted 11 starters and looks tailored for the front-running 6-y-o gelding CHICO who was only denied by out-of-class DR. SIMRAN over 1300m in a large and competitive field on April 3.
Prior to that, CHICO made all over 1100 under the top weight on January 1, a race in which subsequent winner PHYSICS BOOK was third.
CHICO has most to fear from the recent winner SIR KISSON LAL and to a lesser extent, the late kicking CALL TO ARMS.
Division II, the closing race on the card, has attracted 12 starters, including the three best equipped to fight it out, namely, DRAMATICS, TOM CAT and AMERICAN HALO, one who was an easy winner over 1300m when last campaigning at this level on March 3.
AMERICAN HALO was subsequently beaten into fifth place by PHANTOM J over 1200m in a tougher spot on March 13, but now back among his peers is not too high in the handicaps to resume winning ways.
FAILED BY A NOSE
However, preference is for DRAMATICS who has been knocking at the door of late. The 6-y-o mare from the stables of Rowan Mathie failed by a nose to tag DIANA's HOPE over the straight five course on March 27 and next time out, was a fast-finishing second to 99-1 outsider CONQUISTADORESS again over the straight.
With her fitness not in doubt, DRAMATICS who is very much at home over the round course, should go one better at the expense of AMERICAN HALO and TOM CAT, who caught the eye recently when losing narrowly to DOCTOR ON CALL over the straight.
Meanwhile, the Portmore Community Trophy race looks tailored for the sparingly raced KINKOTSU LIU LIU who returns from a four-month absence well drilled.
Trained by many-time champion Philip Feanny, the 4-y-o son of Law Of The Sea-Barbara's Best is ideally suited to this quick sprint and with connections opting for champion jockey Trevor Simpson, should win from the well prepared XTRA ROYAL, STRIKING LIGHTNING and SIR CHACHA BABA in the 11-strong field.
THAT'S LIFE should make amends for her good second to LOGICS over 1400m on Saturday by winning the sixth race for the Meadowvale Citizen Association Trophy with Simpson again in the saddle.
The 4-y-o filly from the stables of Michael Hall has most to fear from MANDALAY BAY, who was a fast-finishing third SHADE OF JADE in a highly competitive round five race on April 17, and PRINCESS CAROL who disappointed behind LOGICS on Saturday, but is definitely worth another chance.
HORSE OF THE YEAR
Another race of interest on the card is the 3-y-o and up open allowance over 1200m which marks the seasonal debut of 'Horse of the Year' A KING IS BORN. Trained by Philip Feanny, the speedy 4-y-o gelding will be having his first outing since winning the Digicel Cup over 1300m in class record time on August 30 last year, after which he was sidelined by a bad stone squeeze.
The 2003 Derby and Guineas winner has been moving so impressively at exercise, however, that he should turn the race into a procession under leading all-time leading jockey Winston Griffiths. RIVER JORDON, back in the visor, looks second best in the six-strong field.
I also like BATTLEOX in the first race, MOLTEN LAVA to catch GALINA POINT in the second, CRUISING ALTITIDE to romp the fourth and HARLEY BARLEY to catch KING'S HIGHWAY and PHANTOM J in the eighth.
