Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
DONŐT STAY NAKED, with Brian Harding aboard, gets the better of Victoria with his arch rival in the race for the jockeysŐ championship aboard, Trevor Simpson, in the closing stages of the Cash Pot Canter Plaque over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park in October. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
HORSES FROM the $350,000-$320,000 claiming spread hold centre stage at Caymanas Park today, when nine of them contest the Paul Newman Memorial Trophy over 1600 metres.
Included in the line-up are the three-year-olds DON'T STAY NAKED, ASTRO CRUNCH and PADDY'S STORM.
Although the winner will more than likely emerge from this trio, others such as the recent winners LADY ISIS and KEELER are fit enough to be competitive and cannot be left out of superfecta consideration.
The Wayne DaCosta chestnut gelding DON'T STAY NAKED, the mount of leading jockey Brian Harding, is expected to start favourite by virtue of his performances during the second half of the season, but ASTRO CRUNCH and PADDY'S STORM should ensure he is extended in the closing exchanges.
SETTLED FOR SECOND
Running in high-claiming company on November 30, DON'T STAY NAKED was installed favourite over 1300 metres, but found a rejuvenated KING AL too strong and had to settle for second.
Prior to that (October 15) he beat a good field over 1500 metres, holding on well to stave off I AM NOT ORDINARY and VICTORIA in a blanket finish.
DON'T STAY NAKED also won over today's trip on September 10 ahead of subsequent winners POLISH MARKET and PRIOR PARK. The Law of the Sea - Top Less offspring not only has good speed, but is basically a better animal than this level.
It is unlikely that top weight of 57kg will prevent him from resuming winning ways.
NARROW WIN
ASTRO CRUNCH should provide keen competition, remembering her narrow win on September 21 when putting away a good field over 1400 metres.
She was then trained by Richard Azan but has since changed hands. With trainer Dennis Lee having her in good nick for this race, she is sure to make a brave bid from the convenient mark of 53kg.
The same is true of the Leroy Tomlinson-trained PADDY'S STORM, but she can only hope to win if DON'T STAY NAKED or ASTRO CRUNCH run below expectations.
Now dropped in class, DON'T STAY NAKED looks the right choice.
On a day when championship contenders Trevor Simpson and Harding have secured a number of live rides and should dominate the card, other firm fancies on the 10-race programme are LA PRESIDENTA in the first race, THUNDER SQUAD in the third, TUTOR in the fifth, TIGERINTHEWOODS in the sixth and ROYAL KINGDOM in the seventh.
