Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE BIG event at Caymanas Park today is the 65th running of the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup to be contested by 12 native bred three-year-olds over 2000 metres. It offers a total purse of $2 million.
Also on the well-supported 12-race programme is the $1 million Lotto Sprint Trophy which pits the reigning Horse of the Year, A KING IS BORN, (Charles Hussey) against sprinter of the moment LIL'COUNTRY BOY and the reigning champion sprinter I'MSATISFIED in a field of seven top-class horses. This is a race worth going miles to see.
In the absence of the brilliant unbeaten DISTINCTLY IRISH, who romped the April 3 Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas, the Lotto Classic has become a wide open affair, with no fewer than six of the runners having good claims.
These are the 2000 Guineas runner-up GOOD TO GO, the Guineas third CRUISING ALTITUDE, Guineas fourth BATTLEOX as well as LOCHNESS DRAGON, STEROFABULOUS and the bold front-runner RUN PAPA RUN, to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson.
Simpson actually had the choice of rides on RUN PAPA RUN and Philip Feanny's STEROFABULOUS, having won aboard both in recent weeks. The fact that he has elected to ride the Dennis Lee-trained RUN PAPA RUN is saying much for the Footloose offspring who will have to be caught.
Still, STEROFABULOUS who has worked well since failing by a nose to catch GOOD TO GO in a fast-run 1600-metre race on May 1, has much going for him from the convenient mark of 53kg and bustling Clive Lynch replacing Simpson.
GOOD TO GO, who chased home DISTINCTLY IRISH in the 2000 Guineas, also has the credentials to go one better here, despite topweight of 57kg.
The chestnut colt from the stables of Kevin Mattis should have no problem staying the distance and being the top-rated horse in the field, can get the job done under Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen Maragh.
True, GOOD TO GO made heavy weather of winning over a mile on May 1, holding on by only a nose from the fast-finishing STEROFABULOUS who renews rivalry on 5.5kg better terms, sufficient to turn the tables. However, I suspect he will report that much sharper and if ridden more patiently on this occasion (was too early last time out), can prove equal to the task as he packs a powerful finish.
EXPECTED TO GO CLOSE
Also expected to go close are the unbeaten LOCHNESS DRAGON, CRUISING ALTITUDE and Richard Azan's BATTLEOX who was in receipt of a very hurried ride in the 2000 Guineas and ended up 12 lengths fourth, heads on with CRUISING ALTITUDE and the fifth horse RUN PAPA RUN.
Having won in fast time over the round five course since, BATTLEOX is ready to take on the world. I am expecting him to be held up a bit on this occasion and based on his 4 1/2 lengths second to DISTINCTLY IRISH in the Lotto 2-y-o Stakes over a mile last Boxing Day, is not to be taken lightly.
LOCHNESS DRAGON, unbeaten in two starts, won over the circular nine course for the Husseys on April 17 and looks to be going places.
Although having missed the 2000 Guineas, which was too early for him, this big robust bay gelding by Natural Selection out of Loch Ness will love the distance and with jockey Charlie Hussey having a good record in this particular race, having won it four times in the past 10 years, the hint should be taken.
While having every respect for LOCHNESS DRAGON, my idea of the winner is another lightly raced contender, CRUISING ALTITUDE to be ridden by title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis for in-form trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.
After finishing third in the 2000 Guineas - his third start - the bay colt by Pat N Jac out of For My Jet came back to slaughter a field of maidens by 16 lengths over 1500 metres, winning hard held in the fairly good time of 1:33.1.
CRUISING ALTITUDE is obviously at a stage of rapid improvement and judging from the way he has been carrying himself at exercise in preparation for this race, can definitely take the honours.
CRUISING ALTITUDE galloped a mile in 1:42.2 (easy) on May 4 and followed up Sunday morning last when coming seven furlongs in 1:29.2. With his preparation complete, CRUISING ALTITUDE should win yet another major race for his Barbadian owner Elias Haloute following his dual classic success with LATONIA in the 1000 Guineas and Oaks.
I am expecting him to race in touch of the expected leaders RUN PAPA RUN and SEATTLE SUE before mounting his challenge from the
final bend...
Other firm fancies on the card are A KING IS BORN, now administered lasix for the first time, to win the Lotto Sprint; CRUCIAL POINT to outsprint SUPREMELYSATISFIED, LADY LAMMTARRA and MUSIC MAKER in the War Zone Sprint, CALL ME SACH in the fifth, GOOD COMPANY over stable-companion BLACK THATCH in the seventh, POLISH DANCER to repeat in the eighth and DR. RSF over MY PAL DON and MR. VIGOROUS in the closing race over 1400 metres.
