Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Patas de Fuego (left), one of three winners for leading jockey Brian Harding, gets the better of long-time leader Rude Boy (Paul Francis) to win the fourth race over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Patas de Fuego was the 4-5 favourite. - Carlington Wilmot/Freelance Photographer
TODAY HAS been designated Trainers' Association Day at Caymanas Park and the 10-race programme features a number of trophy races.
Among them is the day's principal feature for the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association Trophy (restricted allowance II) over 1200 metres to be contested by seven starters.
Also on the card are the $160,000 claiming race for the Charlie James Memorial Cup over 1100 metres and the 2-y-o maiden special for the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Trophy also over 1100 metres.
In keeping with the norm on its annual race day, the trainers' association will honour three trainers for their sterling contribution to racing. They are Allan 'Billy' Williams and Sydney Watson, both 'Hall of Fame' inductees, as well as L.C. Todd.
Nine starters have been declared for the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial and if exercise reports are anything to go by, victory should go to the well forward debutante CALABASH BAY. He is a big, far striding colt by Alisios out of Don't Call Us from the in-form stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.
The mount of leading jockey Brian Harding, CALABASH BAY caught the eye at exercise on November 16 when galloping five furlongs out of the straight in 1:00.2 easily and should have little difficulty in putting away the more experienced MY BABY GIRL and the Nunes-trained debutante LADY SEETAEDO, who is fairly forward in condition.
Seven starters have been declared for the Trainers' Association Trophy including the recent winners RISING MOON and consistent RIGMAROLE, along with the useful pair of JEDI ROCKET and BUSTER JACK.
There was a lot to like about the manner in which RISING MOON won Race No.2 in the Red Stripe Jockeys' Challenge over the distance on November 12, sprinting clear of rivals from early in the straight to win by five lengths from IKAS in the fairly good time of 1:13.4. Trained by Deon Facey, the roan gelding reports in good nick and with little to fear from the present opposition, could repeat with competent Richie Mitchell aboard.
THE BEATEN FAVOURITE
While JEDI ROCKET is sure to keep them honest throughout, preference is for the Wayne DaCosta-trained RIGMAROLE who was the beaten favourite over the straight five course under topweight last Saturday, falling victim to the sparingly raced filly TWIN STAR after missing the break.
Prior to that RIGMAROLE failed by a head to stave off useful SIR KHAN over 1300 metres, a race in which he had the subsequent winner RAGING STORM behind in third.
Significantly, RIGMAROLE has been administered Lasix for the first time and being a bit classier than the rest of the field, should rebound at the expense of RISING MOON and JEDI ROCKET.
I also like DATING to repeat in the first race, EPICTATUS to hold NASATOL at bay in the fifth, VELOCITY to go one better in the seventh, recent winner PRINCE MOHAWK to reap in the eighth for the Charlie James Memorial Cup and MISS CHESTNUT to stave off stable-companion WICKY WACKY and recent winner DON LIMPO in the overnight allowance race over 1820 metres.
