Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
ESTOY LISTO (left), one of three winners for jockey Brian Harding, getting the better of Lady Chachi (Wesley Henry) to win the sixth race over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
SIX HORSES, including last year's winner CRIMSON MAGIC, are slated to contest today's Caymanas Park feature race for the W. 'Billy' Pick Memorial Cup over 2000 metres, this for $270,000 - $240,000 claimers. Post time is 1:00 p.m.
In addition to CRIMSON MAGIC, who shoulders top weight of 57.0kg with three-time champion jockey Hubert Bartley aboard, the other main contenders are the recent winners NO TEAR and CAT LEGEND, along with REGGAE RULES. Although heading the handicaps, CRIMSON MAGIC will not be deterred by the weight. This staying seven-year-old gelding truly enjoys two turn races and having won over the distance twice in the past year, the more recent on February 23, his chances must be rated highly.
With Bartley astride on April 9, CRIMSON MAGIC produced a devastating stretch run to win the Louis Hitchins Memorial Cup over 1600 metres, ahead of ASYNJUR with subsequent winner CAT LEGEND finishing sixth.
WILL REPORT FIT AND READY
He caught the eye at exercise in a six-furlong spin last Friday and will report fit and ready to do battle. Despite failing to justify favouritism over a mile on June 4 when soundly beaten into fourth place by the front running outsider JACK EM UP, CRIMSON MAGIC has less to do in present company and will only go down fighting.
CAT LEGEND, though beaten by CRIMSON MAGIC when they last met, came back to win easily over the circular nine course on May 21 and her brisk running time of 1:57.4 would suggest that she cannot be underestimated with veteran lightweight jockey Robert Reid again in the saddle.
NO TEAR ran on strongly to win a one-mile trophy race on June 8, and although stepping up in class to vie for this trophy, is fit enough to keep them honest throughout.
While respecting the chances of CRIMSON MAGIC and CAT LEGEND, the one best equipped to take home this trophy is REGGAE RULES, who steps down in class with competent 3.0kg claiming apprentice Patrick Henry Jr. in the saddle.
BLANKET FINISH
After winning back-to-back races races over 1400 and 1820 metres in February, REGGAE RULES has made the frame among better horses in his last two races. The four-year-old gelding from the stables of Rowan Mathie finished third to LADY ISIS in a blanket finish over 1400 metres on May 14 on a $330,00 tag. With the runner-up BOUND FOR GLORY having paid tribute to the form by winning next time out, REGGAE RULES should follow suit
The son of Royal Minister-Dancer has caught the eye at exercise in preparation for this race and now dropped in class and a trophy at stake, should come into his own from the convenient mark of 52.0kg. I am expecting him to race in touch from soon after the start before going through approaching the final bend, holding CRIMSON MAGIC at bay in the drive.
Other firm fancies on the card are JOHNNA-ANN to release the maiden certificate in the second race, DORALDO to stave off FIWI EMBLEM in the 3rd, CRUCIAL POINT to cool JUST SOME THOUGHTS in the 5th, SIR KISSON LAL to go one better in the 7th and SIR ABBAS MANGAL to repeat at the expense of MAHENDRA EXPRESS and MYBLUBELLE in the 9th.
