Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Tassy's Whip (right) is driven out in the homstretch by Charles Hussey on the way to winning the Sweet Ruckus Trophy over 1400m at Caymanas Park on Saturday, ahead of Queen Tamara (Andrew Ramgeet) and Tallawah (Brian Harding) alongside the rails. Tassy's Whip's win secured the owners' title for Alexander Haber ahead of Barbados-based Elias Haloute. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A NEW season of racing gets underway at Caymanas Park today, the 10-race programme featuring the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race for the CTL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy over 2200 metres.
On a day when CTL says thank you to racing fans for their support during the past year, the Fan Appreciation Day Trophy sees seven starters vying for the lion's share of the $500,000 purse.
Also on the card are the New Year's Day Trophy over 1300 metres to be contested by 13 starters and the $160,000 claiming race for the McKay Security Trophy over the circular nine course, this offering a whopping purse of $445,000, thanks to the kind contribution of the sponsors who have put up $200,000 to the purse and a further $100,000 as incentives to the winning jockey, trainer and groom.
Ten starters have been declared, including the recent winners RAZZAK and MYBLUBELLE, who along with SAID I SAID I should carry the bulk of the betting.
Dethroned champion jockey Trevor Simpson, who had choice of rides between RAZZAK and MYBLUBELLE, has elected to ride RAZZAK who scored over 1300 metres on Christmas Eve under topweight of 57.0kg.
RAZZAK could now have the beating of this class and gets the nod over SAID I SAID I, the horse he beat by a length recently, and MYBLUBELLE.
The CTL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy looks tailored for UNLEADED, who won this very race last year under a light impost.
The six-year-old gelding, who is still trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, ran on strongly in the last furlong to win over the circular nine course on December 3 and having caught the eye at exercise, is tipped to repeat with Paul 'Country' Francis again in the saddle.
Topweight of 57.0kg should not deter the six-year-old gelding by Royal Minister out of Lavalier.
Nunes also saddles another live contender in his American 4-y-o filly ALPHA LUPA, a winner over 1500 metres in restricted company (non-winners of three) on December 7.
The daughter of WOLF POWER has also moved well at exercise, should have no problems with the distance and is a worthy opponent for top honours with former champion Shane Ellis now taking the ride.
MEDIC ON BOARD and the American filly SWEET SOUTHERN GAL with Simpson up can also enter the reckoning if running up to their best. But UNLEADED has more appeal.
The New Year's Day Trophy for four-year-olds and up (non- winners of three) should resolve itself into a straight fight between old rivals MYSON and JACK BE GOOD, first and second respectively over 1200m on November 26, Although JACK BE GOOD has since won in fine style, MYSON is tipped to beat him again on 1.0kg worse terms.
Other firm choices on the card are SOLID SOLUTION (1st race), TOCUMEN (4th), and EPICTATUS (7th).
