Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Bound For Glory (No. 8), ridden by Larris Allen for trainer Richie Todd, wins the fifth race over 1100 metres by a length from Sea Lad (out of pic) and the favourite Goingtokansascity (second right) at Caymanas Track on Labour Day, returning odds of 6-1 in a field of seven. - Carlington Wilmot/Freelance Photographer
TODAY'S WELL supported 11-race programme at Caymanas Park features two trophy races, including the principal feature for the Jamaica Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes Trophy (open allowance) over 1200 metres.
Also on the card is the annual mile and quarter run for the Ren Gonzalves Memorial Trophy for overnight allowance horses, as well as the Jamaica Racing Commision (JRC) Walkstackle race over 200 metres straight (one furlong) on which win betting, place and quinella betting will be conducted.
Proceeds from the walkstackle will go towards the Gregory Park Basic School. It will take place between the seventh and eighth races at 3:45p.m. and the participants include representatives of the Racing Commission, including its chairman, Rudolph Muir.
Among the 11 horses declared for the Ren Gonzalves Cup, run in memory of the two-time champion trainer who was chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission on two separate occasions, is the 2003 Superstakes winner PITTACUS, who shoulders top weight of 57.0kg with Brian Harding aboard.
Trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, the five-year-old bay gelding is fresh from a thrilling dead-heat with out of class CHOSEN ONE over 1700 metres on May 14, his first win since the Superstakes.
Now back to good form and still looking razor sharp at exercise, PITTACUS is tipped to repeat. He is basically better than this level when in top shape and despite the fair claims of ONE ONE NINE, SATISFIER and WIMBLEDON, all of whom he had behind recently, it will take a brave punter to oppose him over the same distance at which he won the Superstakes.
In contrast, the Hall of Fame Stakes Trophy has attracted seven starters, including the fleet-footed three-year-old filly SI MI TRIAL, who romped the 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres on April 2, stable-companion FORMALLY GOLD, THE MINISTER and, of course, CHOSEN ONE who was involved in a dead-heat with PITTACUS over 1700 metres a fortnight ago.
Leading trainer Wayne DaCosta holds a strong hand with SI MI TRIAL and the American filly FORMALLY GOLD, both having impressed at exercise in preparation for this race.
After failing to stay the distance of the Oaks on April 23 when finishing third to ALL FOR PLEASURE over 2000 metres, SI MI TRIAL came back with a vengeance to win the War Zone Sprint Trophy in post-to-post fashion over 1100 metres in the smart time of 1:05.4 with top weight of 57.0kg. She returns pretty light (50.0kg) and will have to be caught with former champion Wesley Henry in the saddle.
FANTASTIC SPIN
Still, I prefer the chances of CHOSEN ONE, who was caught in a fantastic exercise spin last Sunday morning and is obviously going from strength to strength.
CHOSEN ONE galloped a flat 5-1/2 furlongs in a fast 1:05.1, the last five furlongs in 59.1.
SI MI TRIAL, on the other hand, galloped a flat five furlongs on the round course in 59.0 on May 9, before winning the War Zone Sprint Trophy, and breezed three furlongs in 34.2 Monday morning.
I expect it to be close between the two, but my leaning is towards the Dwight Chen-trained 4-y-o CHOSEN ONE who is as genuine and versatile as they come. Champion jockey Trevor Simpson has the ride, a plus in the gelding's favour.
Other firm fancies on the card are OLYMPIC STAR to upstage LADY POOJA in the 4th race, THUNDER SQUAD to collar the fleet-footed EXPLOSIVE PEAK in the 5th, UNQUESTIONABLE to rebound in the 6th and BUTCHERMAN to catch PROCEEDACCORDINGLY and PRODIGAL SON in the 9th, race No. 5 in the CTL Claiming Series.
