Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Newly-crowned 'Horse of the Year' MIRACLE MAN is driven out by jockey Allen Maragh to win the Eros Trophy Grade One feature over 1400 metres from the fast-finishing FORMALLY GOLD (out of photo) at Caymanas Park on Saturday. At left is the 1-2 favourite CLOCK WORK, who finished last of the six runners. MIRACLE MAN is owned by Joseph Duany and trained by Allan 'Billy' Williams. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A COMPETITIVE-looking 1300-metre race for the James B. Dawes Memorial Trophy is today's feature at Caymanas Park. Post time is 1:00 p.m. and nine races are slated. Confined to horses in the $290,000 - $260,000 claiming spread, the race has attracted 10 starters and with several having good claims, it promises keen competition.
The main hopefuls are TOCUMEN, DON'T STAY NAKED, LIGHTENING ALLEY, MUSIC MASTER and THE AMERICAN GAL.
TOCUMEN, MUSIC MASTER and DON'T STAY NAKED should carry the bulk of the betting and the winner could well emerge from this trio.
TOCUMEN, who was a good winner over 1200 metres on a similar tag on January 25, has won two of his past four races and although not the best drawn at post position one, should still prove dangerous in the safe hands of former champion jockey Trevor Simpson.
IN GOOD NICK
Trainer Robert Darby Sr. has the seven-year-old bay gelding in good nick since claiming him for $240,000 on January 7 and with the distance ideal, TOCUMEN is confidently expected to fight out the finish. He is not too heavy with 54kg and really has little to fear from the present opposition.
DON'T STAY NAKED should also come in for a lot of support after chasing home ROCK STAR QUEEN at a respectable distance over 1500 metres on February 8. The four-year-old chestnut gelding by Law of The Sea out of Top Less was beaten 8 3/4 lengths that day and although not hard trained as usual, has the proven class to upstage rivals from the convenient mark of 54kg.
Also expected to figure prominently is the down in class THE AMERICAN GAL, to be ridden by in-form Paul Francis for trainer Stanley Findlay.
FIGURED PROMINENTLY
The four-year-old filly figured prominently for a long way before weakening behind METEOR MAN in a recent 1400 metres race and will appreciate this drop in class and reduced trip.
MUSIC MASTER advertised his well-being on February 11 when beaten a length by TWIN STAR over the straight five course and none will report fitter.
Trained by Steadman Curtis, MUSIC MASTER has already won over the distance and back in action with the same weight (54kg), is sure to make a brave bid. The five-year old son of Sir Lal Bahadur has good speed and along with DON'T STAY NAKED, PURE JUSTICE and THE AMERICAN GAL should ensure a strong early pace.
TOCUMEN, however, will not be far away and having shown a good turn of foot in his races, should prove too strong for MUSIC MASTER, DON'T STAY NAKED and THE AMERICAN GAL in the last furlong.
Other firm fancies on the card are STREET FIGHTER to romp the second race, recent winner QUIET STRENGTH to repeat in the third, ME LLAMO in the fifth, MARINERO in the seventh and TOTAL MOTION to catch DEARDREAMER in the ninth.
