Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Ralston Feanny Jr. (left) presents the Dr. Ralston Feanny Memorial Trophy to trainer Stanley Findlay who saddled THE AMERICAN GAL to win the 1100 metres secondary feature at Caymanas Park last Saturday. Owned by Newton Walford, THE AMERICAN GAL, one of four winners for jockey Paul Francis, won as the 1-1 favourite. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
NINE HORSES are slated to contest today's open allowance feature for the Fontainbleu Trophy over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park, including the down-in-class CLOCK WORK.
Also on the 10-race programme, which offers a $2.1 million Pick-9 carryover, is the $160,000 claiming race for the Monica Todd Memorial Cup over 2000 metres in which a competitive field of 11 has been declared.
Leading lights for the lion's share of the $245,000 purse are PRIME SUSPECT, the mount of title-chasing jockey Brian Harding, RENEE'S STAR, QUEEN LITTLE SHOES, UNWANTED and hat-trick seeker MAAS JOE.
Meanwhile, CLOCK WORK is the hot ante-post favourite for the Fontainbleu Trophy, and from all indications, this bold front running American 3-y-o colt from the stables of leading trainer Wayne DaCosta is the one to beat.
KEEN COMPETITION
Still, he can expect keen competition from the likes of COURT CASE, THE MINISTER, JUST SOME THOUGHTS and this year's Derby and St. Leger winner MIRACLE MAN who has trained well in preparation for this race.
Although MIRACLE MAN would have preferred two turns, he has the capacity to win over this trip and cannot be underestimated with only 51kg.
COURT CASE is another horse who could make it close, having performed creditably in graded stakes company in the summer, notably when finishing 1 3/4 lengths third to A KING IS BORN and the runner-up CLOCK WORK in the fast-run Chairman's Trophy over today's trip on June 18.
In that race, CLOCK WORK was only three-quarter length ahead of COURT CASE, both sitting level with 48kg on that occasion.
CLOCK WORK, however, has progressed more than COURT CASE and back in action well refreshed after failing to stay 2000 metres behind DISTINCTLY IRISH in the Prime Minister's Stakes on August 6, looks a better proposition.
CLOCK WORK has worked exceptionally well in preparation for this trophy, and being the controlling speed in the field, should set off in front and make every yard of the running from the convenient mark of 55kg and in-form Charles Hussey aboard.
BIGGEST DANGER
THE MINISTER, SEATTLE'S GIRL and TOTAL MOTION should give chase from early. But in the end I am expecting COURT CASE to pose the biggest danger to CLOCK WORK, who bids for his fifth win from nine starts this season.
PRIME SUSPECT, who just failed to catch AMANDA'S GOLD over 1500 metres recently, is tipped to go one better in the Monica Todd Memorial Cup in which RENEE'S STAR, QUEEN LITTLE SHOES and MASS JOE should complete the superfecta.
Trained by Wilfred Chin, PRIME SUSPECT has been a model of consistency, having finished among the first three in nine of his last ten races. True, he was decisively beaten into third place by bang-in-form QUEEN LITTLE SHOES over 1800 metres on September 21.
However, the seven-year-old son of Maverick-Primavera got bogged down under top weight after being ridden up in the pace, but if saved for a stretch run, as was the case last time out, should not only turn the tables on QUEEN LITTLE SHOES but stave off the grey RENEE'S STAR as well.
Other firm fancies on the card are KING AL (little to beat) to romp the third race, the well forward debutante DON LIMPIO in the fourth, MUSICAL MAESTRO in the fifth and the very fit FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE to outfinish recent winner QUICK MEDIC and CAT LEGEND in the closing race over the circular nine course.
