Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
OVERNIGHT ALLOWANCE horses hold centrestage at Caymanas Park today when nine face the starter for the William Read Memorial Trophy race over 1300 metres.
Among the starters is the Peter McMaster trained EXPLOSIVE PEAK who bids for her fifth win from her last six starts.
The speedy American three-year-old filly, who now has the services of leading jockey Brian Harding replacing customary rider Wesley Henry, failed in her bid to make it five in a row when beaten into third place by the crack American colt CLOCK WORK in the fast-run Red Stripe Mile on November 12.
Although expected to start favourite, EXPLOSIVE PEAK should receive worthwhile opposition from old rival SPANISH SECRETS, CHOSEN ONE, HEARTOFAMAVERICK and BANJUHAR, all fit animals.
EXPLOSIVE PEAK won the RJR Classic and $1 million CTL Imported Stakes over 1400 metres in a driving finish from subsequent runaway winner EXCLUSIVE RUNNER and is even better for this race.
McMaster spoke in glowing terms about the chances of EXPLOSIVE PEAK earlier this week.
"After that good run in the Red Stripe Mile a month ago she has trained nicely for this race and will be hard to beat," he disclosed.
Why Brian Harding?
"Well, I had to bypass 'Callaloo' (Wesley Henry) this time not because I wanted to, but due to circumstances.
"Callaloo has got on really well with EXPLOSIVE PEAK and has won four consecutive races with her. However, he went abroad recently and was not available to work her and I had to turn to Harding who gets the ride as a result," added the trainer.
Henry, meanwhile, has switched to the Gary Subratie-trained imported filly SPANISH SECRETS and is threatening to use her to beat EXPLOSIVE PEAK. She advertised her well-being last Saturday when finishing a close second to NASATOL in a fast-run straight five race in open allowance company. But she was beaten by EXPLOSIVE PEAK when they last met in the CTL Imported Stakes on September 24 and still has some catching up to do.
Other firm fancies on the card are BLACK RIVER to win the Titania Trophy (7th race) over 1100 metres at the expense of recent winner SPARK PLUG, JIG YOUNG with champion jockey Trevor Simpson to catch super fit NO TEAR in the 3rd, MAKING DREAMS to stave off FIRE D TRAINER in the 8th for maiden two-year-olds and FRENCH MINISTER in the 9th.
Shirley Headley (left), widow of the late George Headley, Jr., presents the trophy named in his memory to Donald Williams, owner of Fusileer who romped the 10th race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday.
