Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
A KING IS BORN ... firm favourite to take the Gold Cup at Caymanas Park today. - File
TODAY'S MAMMOTH 13-race programme at Caymanas Park is highlighted by the 34th running of the popular Gold Cup race over 1400 metres, the field of eight including last year's winner A KING IS BORN.
Post time is 11:00 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, owing to 13 races.
Significantly, the Gold Cup was originally scheduled for last Saturday, but had to be postponed due to insufficient entries.
Caymanas Track Limited has put up purse money of $800,000, down from $1.25 million when the race was sponsored by the United Bookmakers Association last year.
STRAIGHT FIGHT
From all indications the Gold Cup should come down to a straight fight between A KING IS BORN and the speedy American three-year-old colt CLOCK WORK to be ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths and Dane Nelson, respectively.
Trained by outgoing champion Philip Feanny, A KING IS BORN has won five of his six races this season and bids for his 22nd career win on this his 27th start.
The Wayne DaCosta-trained CLOCK WORK looked awesome in victory on November 12 when making all in the $1.5 million Red Stripe Mile, and although yet to beat A KING IS BORN the three times they have met this season, will have to be caught from the handy mark of 49.0kg.
Still, the choice has to be A KING IS BORN, who truly represents the class horse of the field. What's more, the 2003 'Horse of the Year' has never lost to CLOCK WORK.
BLEW AWAY CLOCK WORK
When both horses last met in the She's On Wheels Trophy over 1100 metres on July 23, A KING IS BORN tracked a
lightly-weighted CLOCK WORK into the straight and blew past him to win by 4-1/4 lengths from FORMALLY GOLD. And five weeks earlier in the Chairman's Trophy over 1500 metres, 'KING' wore down CLOCK WORK approaching the distance to beat him by a length.
It could be conceded that CLOCK WORK is a better horse today. But while I expect him to make a brave bid, A KING IS BORN has moved so impressively at exercise since winning the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint on November 12 that he ought to be followed.
Other firm fancies in the card on a day when champion jockey contenders Brian Harding (97 wins) and Trevor Simpson (95) should dominate the programme are WILD SIDE (Simpson up) in the second race. Also, Wednesday's scorer TUTOR (Simpson again) in the 10th, while Harding is fancied to win the third with THE MINISTER, the sixth aboard CRUISING ALTITUDE, the ninth on SOY MUJER and the 13th with LA REINA, all trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes for champion owner/
contender Elias Haloute.
