Henry Chase Harrison Jr. (seocnd left) presents the Henry George Harrison Sr. Trophy in memory of his grandfather to William McCurdy, owner and breeder of EL BEAU who won the 1300-metre secondary feature (Restricted Allowance V) over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday.
-Ian Allen photo
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
TWO OF the best horses in the country, LIL'COUNTRY BOY and INTERNET COMMANDER, both American breds, face-off for the first time at Caymanas Park today in the annual renewal of the Eileen Cliggott Trophy over 1300 metres for top class horses.
The grade one feature also marks the return to active competition of the talented American 5-y-o horse FORGOTTEN HERO who is out for the first time since finishing a close fifth to HERECOMESFUDGIE in the UBA Gold Cup on December 13 last year.
Although the big two should carry the bulk of the betting, both FORGOTTEN HERO (well prepared) and one-time 'Horse of the Year' and Champion Sprinter I'MSATISFIED (eased in the weights) could enter the reckoning, especially if the principals wind up in a throat-slitting speed duel in the six-strong field.
LIL'COUNTRY BOY, to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson as usual for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, will more than likely start favourite, having won his past three races in impressive fashion and five of his past six for good measure.
Owned by Alexander Haber, the fleet-footed 4-y-o chestnut colt by Diligence out of LIL'COUNTRY GAL was most impressive when winning the Lotto Sprint over 1100 metres on May 15, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:05.0 under top weight of 57kg, behind fantastic splits of 22.2 and 45.1 for the half mile. Prior to that he romped the Lady Geeta Trophy over 1200 metres in post-to-post fashion, behind splits of 22.4, 45.1 and a final time of 1:11.3. He also won the Arthur Jones Cup on March 20, ahead of old rival I'MSATISFIED and HERECOMESFUDGIE. Since being scoped and administered Lasix for the first time in early March, LIL'COUNTRY BOY has not tasted defeat in three starts. Indeed, he has catapulted himself to super star status, to the extent he has taken over the mantle of top sprinter in the country from the ageing champion I'MSATISFIED. Given his tremendous speed, I take him to make all, as top weight of 58kg will not deter him, nor for that matter the longer distance. Having worked exceptionally well, LIL'COUNTRY BOY will prove hard to beat.
Despite his strong claims, however, INTERNET COMMANDER (Robert Reid up) will be coming to run, so to speak, and could make it really close, especially over this trip.
She looked awesome in victory on June 12 when slamming a top class field in the Chairman's Trophy over 1500 metres, covering the distance in the very smart time of 1:30.2 behind splits of 46.2 and 1:10.4 for the first six furlongs.
Although yet to meet anything as fast as COUNTRY BOY in eight career starts, the Dwight Chen-trained INTERNET COMMANDER continues to burn up the track at exercise and if able to keep in close touch of her main rival coming into the straight, could use her light impost to best advantage and wear him down, as she bids for her fifth consecutive win.
It should be an intriguing contest between the two, but the express speed of LIL'COUNTRY BOY and the aggressive riding style of Trevor Simpson should make the difference.
Other firm fancies on the 10-race card which commences at 12:30 p.m. are NO TEAR to stave off the recent winner CHAMBA KOO in the first race, TOUCH THE POWER to upstage ROYAL MALICE and LADY SHAKEERA in the fourth, fast improving CAPTAIN BONE to catch recent conqueror ZAMA, MEDIC ON BOARD and PEACE & LOVE (superfecta) in the knotty sixth race over 1700 metres for overnight allowance horses, MEDICAL REPORT to repeat at the expense of THE REAL KING and MOZURI in the seventh and the well-advanced 3-y-o debutante RAWHIDE KID to get off the mark immediately at the expense of PACKHU and ABOVE THE LAW in the eighth race for maiden three-year-olds, this over the straight course.
