Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Straightotheheart, with Trevor Simpson aboard, strides away from Jedi Ricket (second left) to win the fourth race for maiden three-year-olds at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WITH ONLY eight races scheduled for Caymanas Park today, the local racing programme is being supported by simulcast racing from Belmont Park in New York.
Belmont stages the prelude to its big Breeders' Cup meet scheduled for Saturday, October 9, and among the 11 races slated today is the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Post time at Belmont is noon and these races will be intertwined with the eight local races, the first of which is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
Tthe mini-programme features three trophy races the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance for the Merry Deal Cup over the straight five course, the Lester Saunders Memorial Trophy over 1400 metres for native-bred maiden two-year-olds, and the 3-y-o and up restricted allowance II for the Dr. Ralston Feanny Memorial Trophy over 1100 metres.
The Lester Saunders Memorial Cup has attracted eight starters and indications are that it will resolve itself into a straight fight between HAWAIIAN DANCER under former champion jockey Wesley Henry and MAJOR MAYER.
The latter is the mount of title-chasing jockey Brian Harding, who should make serious in-roads on arch-rival Trevor Simpson in the jockeys' championship, having secured some live rides on the card.
Simpson starts a three-day suspension today for careless riding aboard COURT CASE in a recent straight five race.
A well-conformed chestnut colt by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Tee Vee Gee, MAJOR MAYER, from the stables of Michael McIntosh, has looked forward in condition and with nothing outstanding in the line-up, should have the measure of the more experienced HAWAIIAN DANCER.
GOOD SECOND
I like THE AMERICAN GAL in the Dr. Ralston Feanny Trophy, following her good second to the front running ABOUNDING GRACE over 1200 metres last Saturday, a race in which she had the likes of SOLID SOLUTION (3rd) and several other of today's opponents behind.
She reports with a lot in her favour and despite the presence of the improving BABY RENEE who won easily over the distance in maiden company last Saturday, and INCOMMUNICADO, she looks the right choice in the nine-strong field. I take her to win from SOLID SOLUTION.
FOUR-WAY TUSSLE
The Merry Deal Cup has attracted 11 overnight allowance horses and from the look of things, should resolve itself into four-way tussle.
It involves DIESEL, stable-companion SWEET SOUTHERNGAL, SCOTCHONTHEROCKS who has been administered Lasix for the first time and the speedy NATURAL PRINCE, who will have to be caught from his favourable outside draw.
Champion trainer Philip Feanny holds a strong hand with DIESEL, who bids for his third consecutive win and his sixth from his last seven starts, and the American three-year-old filly SWEET SOUTHERNGAL, who finished a close third to NASATOL when last venturing over the straight course on August 6.
While I respect the chances of SWEET SOUTHERNGAL, NATURAL PRINCE and the course specialist SCOTCHONTHEROCKS, all conveniently placed in the scales, I believe DIESEL under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths is the one to follow.
The rangy four-year-old chestnut gelding by Law Of The Sea out of Pysche looked impressive when putting away a good field of overnight allowance horses over 1200 metres on August 27, making all to win in the smart time of 1:12.2 from SPANISH SECRETS and PRECOCIOUS MISS D.
Although having risen appreciably in the weights, DIESEL looks to be going places and ought to be followed. He continues to light up the track at exercise and I am expecting him to dispute the lead with NATURAL PRINCE coming on to the main track before gaining the ascendancy.
He should win from
SWEET SOUTHERNGAL and SCOTCHONTHEROCKS who is always dangerous over the straight.
Other firm fancies on the card are DATING, to repeat in the first race, RAINBOW TRAIN in the 3rd, VISTA to stave off LEGENDARY GLITZ in the 6th and LA RUDE to go all the way in the 8th and final.
