By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterRACING RESUMES at Caymanas Park today following a three-week break, with three trophy races on the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (TOBA) sponsored 11-race programme. Post time is noon.
The most valuable of the three races is the inaugural running of the CTL Imported Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400 metres, this offering a total purse of $1 million.
The other principal races are the $775,000 Reggae Trophy Graded Stakes for three-year-olds and up over the straight five course and the $750,000 Dewhurst Stakes over 1300 metres for native bred two-year-olds, race No. 2 in the Stallion Stakes series.
COLTRANE bids for his fourth consecutive win in the Dewhurst Stakes and from all indications should easily account for his five opponents, having established himself as one of the best juveniles seen out so far this season.
TOP TRAINER
Owned and trained by Richard Azan who is already the top two-year-old trainer this season, COLTRANE looked awesome in winning race one in the series, the Keeling Memorial Stakes over 1100 metres, by the resounding margin of 17 lengths from VENOM, on August 7.
Although hard held by jockey Shane Ellis over the last 200 metres, the classy bay colt by Royal Minister out of Ebony Fire covered the distance in the smart time of 1:061 and in light if that performance, is hard to oppose. With Ellis stood down for today's meet, four-time champion jockey Charles Hussey has secured the ride.
Hussey will also ride the ante-post favourite A KING IS BORN in the Reggae Trophy, which will also be contested by six starters.
The race marks the third clash between top sprinters A KING IS BORN and LIL'COUNTRY BOY in recent months.
Bragging rights definitely go to reigning 'Horse of the Year' A KING IS BORN, who not only outsprinted the then favourite and top weight LIL'COUNTRY BOY in the She's On Wheels Trophy over 1100 metres on July 24, but humbled the crack American sprinter in the process.
BOLTED
The Philip Feanny-trained A KING IS BORN also had 'COUNTRY BOY' behind when finishing fourth to stable-companion I'MSATISFIED in the fast-run Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes over 1300 metres on August 28, a race in which he bolted prior to the start and was unwisely allowed to start.
Significantly, the classy 4-y-o colt by Royal Minister out of the 1990 Guineas and Derby winner Distinctly Native has been allotted topweight of 58.0kg, allowing 5.0kg to the Wayne DaCosta-trained LIL'COUNTRY BOY to be ridden by competent 3.0kg claiming apprentice, Howard Newell.
Despite the swing in the scales in favour of LIL'COUNTRY BOY, I believe that A KING IS BORN will again have his measure over this galloping course.
Both have worked exceptionally well in preparation for this trophy and I am expecting them to gallop on to the main track clear of rivals. However, A KING IS BORN should assert his authority leaving the quarter pole and win
decisively.
FINE STYLE
He won in fine style over the course under top weight in near track record time of 56.4 on July 10 and it would hardly surprise to see him equalling the record of 56.3 today. This is held jointly by EROS and RAKKADASH.
Six have also been declared for the first running of the CTL Imported Stakes for foreign horses, including the fleet-footed ZAMA (Ameth Robles up) who should not only start favourite, but justify the support in no uncertain fashion, despite top weight of 57.0kg.
Other firm fancies on the card are BLOW WIND BLOW in the first race over 1500 metres, recently disqualified winner LADY PHAGWAH in the 2nd, down in class CLASSY TANYA over BADBOYBIN in the 4th, INTROSPECTION in the 8th and LA RUDE over AWESOME MINISTER and DRAMATICS in the 11th.
