- IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Swing By is driven out by Charles Hussey to win the 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres, by 2-1/4 lengths from stable companion Bella In Bloom (not in picture) at Caymanas Park On April 1. Swing By is the hot favourite for today's classic, the Oaks.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE SEASON'S third classic, the mile and quarter Jamaica Oaks for native bred three-year-old fillies is on at Caymanas Park today, only this time it will be run without corporate sponsorship.
Formerly sponsored by Courts Jamaica Limited, the 67th running of the fillies classic is now sponsored by Caymanas Track Limited and, from all indications, victory should be a mere formality for the recent 1000 Guineas winner SWING BY with leading jockey Charles Hussey again riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.
In the April 1 1000 Guineas over a mile, the front-running SWING BY led home her lesser fancied stable-companion BELLA IN BLOOM by 2 1/4 lengths with the well-backed KYSHA BABY finishing another 2 1/2 lengths away third in a field of 10.
Significantly, BELLA IN BLOOM and KYSHA BABY are missing from today's lineup and this should make things even easier for SWING BY.
It is understood that the DaCosta-trained BELLA IN BLOOM had a setback in her preparation while Gary Subratie, trainer of KYSHA BABY, said his filly has been affected by a virus.
RAN A BRAVE RACE
"In retrospect, we should not have run her in the 1000 Guineas even though she ran a brave race in the circumstances to finish third. She is still not right, hence her absence from the Oaks," explained Subratie.
With KYSHA BABY and BELLA IN BLOOM out, SWING BY should not be extended to put away stable-companion QUEEN OF MY HEART and the Philip Feanny-trained MYLEGACY in this small field.
They finished fourth and fifth respectively in the 1000 Guineas and while QUEEN OF MY HEART, in particular, could get closer over this extended trip, with nothing in the lineup capable of pressing SWING BY on the lead, the daughter of Alisios-Skip By should have too much in reserve to be caught by QUEEN OF MY HEART.
DaCosta and Hussey should complete the feature race double with the well-trained FORMALLY GOLD in the Lady Geeta Trophy graded stakes co-feature over 1200 metres.
Both teamed up to win the race last year with LIL' COUNTRY BOY who bids to repeat under top weight of 60.5kg.
CLASSY COLT
In addition to LIL'COUNTRY BOY and FORMALLY GOLD, the seven-strong field includes the likely favourite QUIET STRENGTH, a classy American 4-y-o colt who bids for his seventh consecutive win.
QUIET STRENGTH made all impressively to win the St. Catherine Cup over 1100 metres by three lengths from MUSICAL MAESTRO (who renews rivalry) on March 25 and although hiked in the handicaps, continues to work brilliantly and can prove equal to the task with leading all-time Winston Griffiths riding for Feanny.
However, with QUIET STRENGTH set to give 2.5kg to the seasoned graded stakes campaigner FORMALLY GOLD, I suspect his winning streak will be broken by the American 5-y-o mare who was a shade unlucky on February 8 when failing by three-quarters of a length to catch 'Horse of the Year' MIRACLE MAN in the Eros Trophy over 1400 metres.
Other firm fancies on the card, which features two Super-6s, are MITAKA in the third race, DON'T STAY NAKED to stave off LADY ISIS and HI-JOE in the fifth, BLACK RIVER over SNOW PROSPECT in the sixth, OH NO GRANDPA to stave off KEELER and GOLCONDO in the eighth and FAST BREAK in the 10th.
