Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
RAMPAGE (Charles Hussey) passing the post nine lengths clear of rivals to win the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park on December 27 last year. Rampage is a huge favourite to land the 2000 Guineas. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
FOUR-TIME champion jockey Charles Hussey will be gunning to sweep the 1000 and 2000 Guineas Classics for the second consecutive year when he rides the respective ante-post favourites SWING BY and RAMPAGE over a mile at Caymanas Park today.
Offering a total purse of $2.25 million, the 1000 Guineas is confined to native-bred three-year-old-fillies and the 2000 Guineas, which offers a similar purse, is for three-year-old colts and geldings.
Hussey won the 1000 Guineas aboard SI MI TRIAL for trainer Wayne DaCosta last year and followed up aboard Richard Azan-owned and trained COLTRANE in the 2000 Guineas.
Significantly, SWING BY is conditioned by current champion DaCosta and RAMPAGE by Azan. History is about to repeat it itself.
Ten have been declared for the 1000 Guineas and from the look of things, it should resolve itself into a three-cornered tussle involving the stable companions SWING BY and QUEEN OF MY HEART as well as KYSHA BABY, who is trained by Gary Subratie for owner Neville Johnson.
When all three fillies last met in the March 11 Thornbird Stakes (Guineas Trial) over 1400 metres, SWING BY with Hussey aboard won by 6 3/4 lengths from QUEEN OF MY HEART with the then 1-2 favourite KYSHA BABY finishing another half length away third with U.S.-based Jamaican jockey Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez up.
Today, Rodriquez, who has riding engagements lined up in the States, gives way to another U.S.-based Jamaican jockey Allen 'Bungo John' Maragh who is usually at his best in big races.
Maragh was aboard KYSHA BABY when the Crucial Trial-Pretty Dan Dan offspring romped the Hot Line Stakes over 1200 metres on February 18, slamming SWING BY by four lengths at level weights.
Despite this, KYSHA BABY ran below expectations in the Thornbird Stakes and Subratie has confirmed that all was not right with her that day as she was affected by a virus.
"She will not be 100 per cent for the race but despite this I expect her to go close," said Subratie.
"SWING BY on paper is the horse to beat, as the two occasions on which she won she clocked six furlongs in 1.12 and a fraction.
"The thing working to my advantage is that SWING BY now sits level with KYSHA BABY. KYSHA BABY is also well drawn on the outside of the field and I have high hopes for her as she's a really good filly," added the second-generation trainer.
SWING BY, however, has been scoped and administered Lasix for the first time and this should only help her cause. Based on her effortless win in the Thornbird Stakes, SWING BY, who has worked well, should confirm her superiority over the improving QUEEN OF MY HEART, who looks more of an Oaks type, and beat the more dangerous KYSHA BABY as well.
ONE TO BEAT
Meanwhile, RAMPAGE is definitely the one to beat in the 2000 Giunieas.
Since his runaway victory over the distance in the $3.5 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes last Boxing Day, RAMPAGE has been the winter book favourite for the 2000 Guineas and despite his less than impressive victory over THE SMOKER in the Prince Consort Stakes last month, he's back on Lasix for this and should win from the Noel Ennevor-trained ALLIEDFORCE, a highly thought of chestnut colt who is unbeaten in three starts.
THE SMOKER, who is also trained by Ennevor, is improving and along with the consistent MINISTER ON FIRE on whom big-race jockey Winston Griffiths replaces Trevor Simpson, should complete the frame But class is represented by RAMPAGE.
Other firm fancies on the card are BLACK RIVER (Hussey up) in the third race, TOTAL MOTION in the fourth, MYTHICAL PRINCESS (Hussey again) in the sixth, POLISH MARKET in the seventh and FROM-RUSSIAWITHLOVE over KEELER in the 12th.
