Contributed
The sixth annual RJR Communications raceday was launched at a press conference at Caymanas Park on Monday, July 4, and will feature the $550,000 RJR Classic over 1500 metres confined to overnight allowance horses on Saturday, July 16. Here, Kay Osbourne (left), general manager of TVJ and Gary Allen (centre), director of operations RJR Group, jointly hand over the RJR Classic Trophy to Walford Brown (second right), acting CEO of Caymanas Track Limited. Looking on are Stephen Legister (second left), director of technical strategies and development RJR Group, and Millicent Lynch (right), CTL's executive director of marketing.Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
With the passage of Hurricane Dennis causing no distrup-tion at Caymanas Park on Thursday, today's well supported 11-race programme, featuring the J.W. 'Judge' Hardie Memorial Cup (claiming $400,000 $350,000) over 1600 metres, is definitely on. Post time is noon.
Thirteen starters have been declared for the feature, among them the hot ante-post favourite RIZZI LEE, who bids for his fifth consecutive victory.
While the talented American four-year-old colt is obviously the horse to beat, he can expect worthwhile opposition from old rival CORDITE, GILNOCK, JACK SPARROW and MOLTEN LAVA who reports well and truly trained in preparation for this trophy and could carry the fight to RIZZI LEE once leaving the gates promptly.
filler
Claimed for $350,000 by leading trainer Wayne DaCosta on March 16, MOLTEN LAVA was used as a filler next time out in a 1300-metre open allowance race won by stable-companion CLOCK WORK. However, she displayed negative tendencies by dwelling at the start and took no part.
Since then, MOLTEN LAVA (blinkers on) has been taken to task at exercise by DaCosta, galloping six furlongs in a brisk 1:13.1 in the blinkers on Monday morning and five furlongs in 1:00.3 on Tuesday, June 28.
With her preparation complete and a mile just perfect, MOLTEN LAVA could cause some anxious moments to top weight RIZZI LEE and along with CORDITE, who chased him home in a fast-run one-mile race on June 18, are twin dangers to my selection.
Still, RIZZI LEE ought to be followed in a bid to extend his streak.
promptly claimed
After winning back-to-back races in overnight allowance company in April and following with a narrow win over a mile in open allowance company on May 7, ahead of subsequent winner FORMALLY GOLD, RIZZI LEE was surprisingly thrown in for a $330,000 tag by champion trainer Philip Feanny next time out on June 18.
He proceeded to make all at a mile, however, scoring by fourth lengths from CORDITE with others such as RED GENERAL and LADY ISIS soundly beaten. He was promptly claimed by trainer Philbert Watson that day.
RIZZI LEE's running time of 1:39.1 under top weight of 57.0kg was pretty good and although back in a slightly tougher spot, it will take a brave punter to oppose him with former champion jockey Wesley Henry again in the saddle.
comeback potential
The son of Rizzi Laura Lee can lead or come from behind if the situation demands and being a better class animal than rivals, I take him to win from MOLTEN LAVA and CORDITE.
Other firm fancies on the card are the straight specialist LA RUDE to make all at the expense of THE SANDMAN and THE SEA PRINCESS in the second race over the straight five course, DIGI N'JIGGY (working well) to lead home PADDY'S STORM in the 3rd for three-year-olds, COURT CASE now dropped in class after that good third to A KING IS BORN in the recent Chairman's Trophy over 1500 metres, to come into his own over a similar trip in the 5th where PITTACUS and CHOSEN ONE are twin dangers, BACHELOR OF ARTS to upstage MICHAEL POWER in the 6th and the well advanced debutante HOUDINI AGAIN (working very well) ahead of MUSICAL MAESTRO in the 7th race over the straight five course.
