William Chin-See (left), chairman of CTL, presents a commemorative award to champion jockey Trevor Simpson in recognition of his 1,000th career win at Caymanas Park on October 23. Looking on are fellow riders, including the newly-elected president of the Jockeys' Association, Robert Reid (right). The presentation was made at Caymanas Park last Saturday. The Jockeys' Association also made a presentation to Simpson. -Junior Dowie photo
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
ONLY SEVEN races are scheduled for Caymanas Park today and with none of them offering trophies, the spotlight shifts to the $390,000 overnight allowance over 1200 metres to be contested by six starters.
Indications are that this, the opening race on the card at 1:45 p.m., will resolve itself into a straight fight between the recent winners ROYAL MALICE and KING AL. Both horses won with in-form champion jockey Trevor Simpson who was actually declared aboard them at the overnight stage, with the Wayne DaCosta-trained ROYAL MALICE being his number one call.
Simpson thus stays with ROYAL MALICE, while the useful 3kg claiming apprentice Howard Newell has the leg over the Richie Todd-trained KING AL.
When both horses last met in the Cash Pot Trophy over 1100 metres on October 9, ROYAL MALICE ran on well to catch STORYBOUND close home with his then stable-companion KING AL managing only ninth place with Newell aboard.
That performance by KING AL should not be taken at face value, as since then he won impressively over 1100 metres in high claiming with Simpson aboard. And last time out (October 23) he ventured up to overnight allowance company with top weight of 57kg and ran a blinder in defeat, this in the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup over the straight five course, failing by half a length to catch EPICTATUS in that fast-run race.
While the credentials of KING AL are pretty good, bearing in mind he holds a victory over ROYAL MALICE in a round five race on September 4, I am inclined to favour ROYAL MALICE who is genuine and consistent as they come.
The four-year-old gelding by Royal Minister-Thankuluval should welcome the easier pace of this race and having worked well, should respond to Simpson's customary strong handling and stave off KING AL and the useful three-year-old colt MUSIC MASTER, a recent winner in restricted company now pitted against two very good overnight allowance horses.
INTERESTING RACE
A more interesting race is the sixth, a Restricted Allowance IV (non winners of three) over 1500 metres to be contested by 11 starters, including leading lights JERICHO, PRINCESS GOODHEART, EL BEAU, GOLCONDA and recent winner CAT LEGEND.
JERICHO, who returns well refreshed from a three-month respite, has beaten better in the not-too-distant past and if truly focused, should lead home PRINCESS GOODHEART, EL BEAU and CAT LEGEND in my book.
The 4-y-o gelding from the stables of eight-time champion Kenneth Mattis won by all of 16 lengths over the distance in the fairly good time of 1:34.2 back in July and was not far adrift when beaten 2 1/4 lengths fourth by OUTSWINGER under topweight of 57kg on July 24 over 1200 metres.
He's in good condition and should return with a bang from his cnvenient mark of 55kg.
Other firm fancies on the card are fleet-footed THE BARBARIAN to make all at the expense of OUTSWINGER and ARCHANGEL in the second race, HONEST LIONISE to do likewise in the third race for two-year-olds and ABOVE THE LAW to upstage EXOTIC GLOW and MICHAEL POWER in the fourth.
